A.O. Chika's Blog, page 13

Book Review: Unspoken by R.A. Padmos

Title:


Unspoken








Author:



R.A. Padmos






Genre:


Historical Romance





Publisher:


Manifold Press





Release Date:


May 1, 2012

REVIEW:

I really loved reading this book. As much as I love reading all things LGBT, I tend to have this skepticism towards historical books. The fact that from the blurb I knew Stefan was married didn’t help in the least.

The first chapter introduced Stefan as a family oriented man, devoted to his wife and kids and to be honest I was ready to judge the book without reading the rest because if he was so committed would did he cheat?

When Adri came into the picture, I could see that he was the opposite of Stefan and once again my skepticism resurfaced. I mean Adri was just 21yrs, to me he was a child who had no clue what he wanted, even worse they had very little In common.

I know that was a bit harsh and I’m ashamed to have judged him because Adri turned out to be a very complex person. On the surface, he seemed young and sort of jovial- he was more bubbly than Stefan. But despite his age, he had seen and experienced both the good and the bad, and despite that he didn’t change or conform to what would have been the better choice, he could have pretended to be straight or gone to a doctor to cure his ‘mental illness’ as was recommended by most people.

Another character who was just as complicated was Marije- Stefan’s wife. I spent the entire book trying to find out if he knew about Stefan and Adri’s relationship, but then again I knew it wouldn’t change anything even if she did. There were times her actions read as though she knew and supported their relationship, like the time she made them share a bed or the time she has Stefan bath Adri. But there were also times I was sure she had no clue, like her reasoning for the above actions.

I loved how the Author was true to the WW2 history and scenes, which is a funny thing to say as I know nothing about it and I really don’t want to know about it, I’m pretty sure if I do I’ll feel like crap afterward. The point is, despite my lack of knowledge on the subject, reading this book made everything seem authentic.

I’m definitely looking forward more books by this author.

SYNOPSIS:

When Stefan meets Adri, it is love at first sight. It does, however, take some time before he recognizes his own feelings. He’s a married man—a family man—with a strong sense of responsibility. In Dutch society of 1935, sex between men over the age of twenty-one might be legal, but acceptance is still a long way off.

As a working-class man without a steady job, he doesn’t have the means to ignore society’s rules and create his own little paradise in which both he and his lover can be together, without his family having to suffer poverty and shame. Despite all this, the lovers find a way to carve out moments of intimacy and happiness.

Then the Germans march into Holland and nothing will ever be the same again. The occupation, which will last five long years, offers both danger and chances, but choices have to be made—choices of the head and choices of the heart.

The post Book Review: Unspoken by R.A. Padmos appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Unspoken by R.A. Padmos

Is this a guest post? I’m still not sure how guest posting works despite my very (okay not really) extensive search on Google.  I could ramble all day about my great quest to understand how guest posts works, or I could get on with today’s blog post- Unspoken by R.A. Padmos.

Blurb:

When Stefan meets Adri, it is love at first sight. It does, however, take some time before he recognizes his own feelings. He’s a married man—a family man—with a strong sense of responsibility. In Dutch society of 1935, sex between men over the age of twenty-one might be legal, but acceptance is still a long way off.

As a working-class man without a steady job, he doesn’t have the means to ignore society’s rules and create his own little paradise in which both he and his lover can be together, without his family having to suffer poverty and shame. Despite all this, the lovers find a way to carve out moments of intimacy and happiness.

Then the Germans march into Holland and nothing will ever be the same again. The occupation, which will last five long years, offers both danger and chances, but choices have to be made—choices of the head and choices of the heart.

Excerpt:

They walked through the over familiar paths of the neighborhood park, not knowing where else to go and not wanting to say goodbye, though slowly the jobless with empty hours on their hands, the old men chased out of the house by their ever-busy wives and the mothers with prams and toddlers were already going home. Suddenly they were alone in a quiet corner. Under a tall tree they stopped, and before Stefan realized what was happening, Adri kissed him right on the mouth.

With an aggressive gesture born of fear, Stefan pushed him away. “Idiot.”

“I want you and you want me,” Adri pleaded.

“Tell me something I don’t already know.”

“I go mad from not being able to hold you or kiss you. Why do you refuse me?” Adri stretched out his hand and gently caressed Stefan’s arm.

Stefan didn’t simply allow it to happen, he was actually the one getting a step closer, curling his hand around his lover’s neck to angle him in and kiss him.

“We can’t do this. It’s too dangerous.”

They kissed again.

“We have to stop before we get all turned on.”

Once more, they kissed.

“Please make it stop.” Adri’s hands were touching all over. “Please…” He pressed Stefan’s body closer against his own. “Please, love, make it stop.”

“Then tell me how.” Stefan held his friend in his arms, trying in vain to shield him from the pain that was already becoming a fixed element of their love.

Interview with R.A. Padmos:

Q: For a start, could you tell a bit about yourself?

    I’m afraid there’s nothing too exciting to tell about me. I’m a woman, I write and I studied social history. I’m also in a relationship with another woman since October 1981, and we got legally married in 2001. My wife and I have two grown sons, who are both students.  

Q: What inspired you to write Unspoken?

    I guess I couldn’t not write it. WW2 and gay history? Now we’re talking, my dear.

Q: Was it hard to do research on the subject of being homosexual in Holland right before and during WW2?

    I’m a social historian with an almost lifelong interest in WW2 and gay history, so I already had a working knowledge to make the story believable. There’s always the matter of interpretation and choice of what to highlight, of course. Of course, I also have the luck that I speak Dutch, so all publications concerning these themes I can read without any trouble.

That’s how I learned that the history of homosexual men during the German occupation is quite a complex one. Unspoken is a reflection of that complexity.

Q: Apart from your love of history, what personal connection with the characters and/or settings made you write Unspoken?

     It’s part of gay history. I’m a Dutch lesbian. The main characters are male, but there’s still enough connection. And how many people realize that so far historians haven’t found a single Dutch man send to a concentration camp purely for his homosexuality? (It goes without saying that a number of Jewish and political victims/survivors were also gay or lesbian)

Please don’t interpret this as trivializing the discrimination of gay people and the fear they lived in. Life really was hard enough as it was without me telling historical untruths.

Q: What made you decide to write Unspoken from Stefan’s POV rather than Adri’s?

    I found it an interesting challenge. I’m one of a tiny minority of lesbians of my generation who never dated a man. So writing about a man who was married when he discovered that he actually preferred men, was great fun. Be it sometimes an uneasy great fun. I’m very monogamous and cheating on a partner is something I can’t even imagine doing.

Q: Who/what inspired Adri? He is a complicated character even though he doesn’t seem so at first glance.

    I wanted to write a more modern homosexual man, a gay man so to say, as a counterpoint to Stefan, who is married and can’t imagine himself being attracted to men until he’s madly in love with another man. Adri on the other hand knows what he is, and he tries to live according to his nature. Eighty years ago that took a lot of courage and imagination. Especially from someone who could easily pass as straight (or “normal” as was the term used then) and who had no money.  

Q: Did Marije ever find out about Stefan and Adri’s relationship? Would it matter if she did?

     Good question. There are some subtle hints in the story that might be interpreted as that she kind of knows. Seeing the poverty and the fact that there are four children, open knowledge wouldn’t change the outcome. It would make for some interesting conversations, but that would make the story too modern. Simply not talking about certain things was the norm for most.

Q: Were there any alternate endings you considered?

    Actually no. But Unspoken has a sister book, The Bookshop, that tells the story of bookseller Jakoba Huyzen. Stefan and Adri are mentioned several times, both before 1935 and after 1945.  So, if you want to know more, and have no problem with the main pairing being a male/female couple…

Q: What is the best part of writing in your experience? What the worst?

    Let’s start with the worst. That must be the moment I feel the story are getting nowhere, the main character is as flat as a Dutch pancake and I still have to write it because I promised the publisher to do it. (not that they force me into anything, but a promise counts for something and I really want to give it my honest best)

The best? When it all works and comes alive. The feelings only last a short time, to make place for a slight feeling of panic that I won’t make it, but from experience, I know I at least make a reasonable chance I end up with a complete story.

Q: Can we expect new books from you in the future?

    I just heard from one of my publishers that a short story with a lesbian couple as the main characters has been accepted. So in a number of months, I can tell that I’ve published m/m, m/m/m, m/f/m, m/f and f/f stories.

    I’m close to finishing a historical gay novella, that takes place at the very end of WW2. And there are always projects that get interrupted but somehow always get started again and one day they I can send them to the publisher.

UNSPOKEN

     

Find R.A Padmos on: Facebook Twitter Her Blog

The post Unspoken by R.A. Padmos appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Author Highlight: Interview with Laila Ibrahim

Today is the last day of Laila Ibrahim’s weeklong Author Highlight, Don’t forget to enter the giveaway as it ends in a few hours. A few days ago I posted the interview questions and today She’ll be answering our questions.

Don’t forget to download the sample chapter as well as enter the giveaway to win a free copy of her book.

INTERVIEW Q&A

Was any part of Living Right drawn from personal experience?

I’m gay, so coming out to my parents and the world has some of the same overtones as Josh’s experience without the explicit religious component. Coming out in a liberal context in the 1980’s required a lot of educating of people.

Who/what inspired Pastor Jerry?

I watched a lot of videos of leaders in the conversion therapy movement. He’s an amalgamation of those people with a little Ned Flanders from the Simpson thrown in.

What chapter was the toughest to write?

The scene where Steve and Jenn talk to Josh in his room, where he’s hiding under the covers. My heart ached for all of them. There is so much love between them and I knew it was about to be misdirected in a way that was going to be very hurtful.

What chapter was your favorite?

The epilogue, I can just enjoy the family at that point. I’m so happy that they can just be honest and whole. That scene was drawn from a time we said goodbye to our daughter, Maya, at SFO, so it makes me cry for that reason too.

Who/what inspired Jenn?

She’s a combination of me and one of my relatives who is evangelical. I’m religious, but Unitarian Universalist which is a very liberal faith tradition. I’m very certain like Jenn, just on the opposite spectrum when it comes to social values and politics. Like Jenn, I found being the parent of adolescents a humbling experience. I had to surrender and have faith in my children, and our connection.

Did you plan Maya’s character or was she just a convenient way to show Jenn’s growth?

When I was researching the book, I watched a documentary about the ex-gay movement. A mom spoke about her son’s suicide and the pain she lives with knowing that she only added to his distress by praying with him for transformation. Then I found the website NALT which played out biblically based arguments for accepting LGBTI people. Maya draws from those.

How much research did you do?

Compared to Yellow Crocus, hardly any! But, surprisingly, there was still a lot I couldn’t remember about the times even though I was writing about the previous decade. What phones were available? Could you register for the SAT online? How many megapixels in a camera? Those were all things I had to look up.

What was the weirdest thing you googled while researching/ planning Living Right?

I was very creeped out by Googling how many sleeping pills does it take to kill you. I really didn’t want to know if there are instructions on the internet. I ended up asking a neighbor who is a doctor about it.

Yellow Crocus is a hit! Do you anticipate the same for Living Right?

Fingers crossed! I wasn’t sure it would be as well received because Jenn is a harder main character to like. But, I think it’s as important a story. I know it’s not for everyone, but I believe there are people for whom it will resonate or be eye opening.

What made you decide to write Living Right from Jenn’s POV rather than Josh’s?

I almost wrote it from Sara’s point of view but realized that to have empathy for Jenn it needed be from her point of view. I really wanted to know what would make a parent make the kinds of choices she and Steve made. Once I was in her head it made sense, even though I disagreed with her, I understood where she was coming from.

What character is your favorite and why?

I think Sara, though it’s not an easy choice for me. Josh is so great, so is Steve. I love how loyal Sara was to Josh, seeing him in the hospital and taking him in when he needed a safe place to be. She started talking and thinking about reconciling her faith with Josh’s orientation and was able to give him guidance and support that was literally lifesaving for him, even though you don’t see it “on camera.”

Where there any alternate endings you considered?

I really wanted to get to that ending. The only other possibility is one where Jenn stayed rigid, but that would have meant the end of her marriage.

What was left out in the final draft?

Nothing. I’m a very sparse writer. ‘Elaborate’, ‘add more’, ‘put in another scene’ are what I hear from editors. The very last scene I slipped in is the one at the track meet towards the end. I love it, and I’m glad an editor asked me to show a little more family life before the ending.

What challenges did you face in the production of Living Right?

The hardest part for me is pushing the final ‘done’ button. I know there are mistakes in the acknowledgements at the end, but I didn’t realize it until it would have delayed the publication date. I’m sure there are mistakes in the manuscript, but I don’t know what they are and that’s after dozens of edits.

Did you consider publishing Living right with a traditional publisher?

Not really. I had two agents ask about representing me. I sent the manuscripts to them and when they turned it down I was fine. I really like the control I have as the publisher and the author, as well as how quickly I can get it out. I like that I chose the cover, how to promote it and price it. I won’t say no to Lake Union if they want the rights, but I’m not sure I’d go with a traditional publisher.

What is your writing process like?

I do my best work on retreats. I like going away to the mountains for three or four nights. I submerge myself in the world of my novel. When I get back home, I can edit work that’s done on the retreat. I have a hard time doing first draft work in my house, although sometimes I have to.

I hear a sequel to Yellow Crocus is in the works, what can we expect?

It will be set after the Civil War in Virginia. The research is very intense. Lisbeth will be going back to see her father before he dies. Her brother fought on the side of the confederacy while Matthew, her husband, fought on the Union side. You can imagine the tension. Mattie returns to Fair Oaks hoping to persuade her relatives to join her in Ohio, but there are personal and institutional stumbling blocks for leaving.

What drew you to writing?

Mattie and Lisbeth’s story. I thought of it in a flash, and it haunted me for 7 years before I started putting fingers to the keyboard. I’m so grateful that I let their story guide my heart.

Is there anyone you would like to say a special thanks to?

I’m grateful to my parents who taught me to be both determined and flexible. Their love for me fills me to this day.

Any message you would like to pass to people similar to Josh, Jenn & Pastor Jerry?

Put love first.

 

And that’s it for this week’s Author Highlight, next week I’ll be featuring Wesley Rivers. Don’t forget to download a sample chapter from Living Right, you can also win a copy of the book by entering the giveaway to win one of three copies.

Download Sample Here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Author Highlight: Interview with Laila Ibrahim appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Glove of Satin, Glove of Bone by Rachel White

Title:


Glove of Satin, Glove of Bone








Author:



Rachel White






Genre:


Romance, Fantasy





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


June 8, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

I loved this book, at first, I wanted to punch Enne and Muriel for their excellent communication skills, I mean damn someone needs to shove some truth serum down their throat and lock them in a room for a few hours! Sadly, it might not take as they are both witches.

I loved Leo, even though he only have a couple scenes, whenever I read a scene about someone knocking on the door, some part of me hoped it was him. The guy is so oblivious and carefree that watching him piss off Enne and Muriel without even trying was gold.

When Natasha came into the picture, I just knew Muriel would screw up and dammit I hated the fact that I was right. Listen, when your ex is that hot and she invites you to dinner at a fancy restaurant so you can ‘try being friends’ that shit is not gonna work. Muriel, did you forget that you made her spend eight years in prison, who the hell forgive and forgets something like that!

And Enne, woman stop being so goddam stiff, you’re hitting thirty, not seventy stop dressing like you’re going to your own damn funeral! Spice it up a bit.

This book had me feeling like a relationship counselor.

Okay now back to the book. I love the meaning behind the book title, although I relate more with Muriel’s understanding of the quote.

The Glove of Satin to me meant gentleness, and Glove of Bones to me meant aggression and assertiveness. Wearing both gloves meant knowing when to be gentle and when to make a stand and in a way, it also referred to Enne and Muriel relationship. They kept using the wrong gloves; when Enne should have been gentle, she was so damn pissy, and when Muriel needed her to be angry, to show that she cared Enne was so passive.

The same thing with Muriel; when Enne needed her to be gentle and to give a hint that things between them could still be mended, the damn woman had to mention that she was going to dinner with her ex… Her ex that way WAY hotter than Enne. REALLY?!

This book had me facepalming, there is a limit to how frustrating a person can be. Never the less I loved this book, it held my attention all the way to the end. Also, the scene where Enne smacked Natasha with a lamp was gold, the damn woman deserved it.

SYNOPSIS:

Enne Datchery and Muriel vas Veldina, ex-lovers and witches with a shared apprentice, are tasked by the Citadel, to repair an old grimoire together, despite the fact their relationship is tense at best.

The situation is further complicated when the book is stolen, and tracking down the thief stirs even more of Muriel’s past. It swiftly becomes clear to the two that dealing with their fractured relationship is going to be the easy part of the assignment—if they can live long enough to complete it.

The post Book Review: Glove of Satin, Glove of Bone by Rachel White appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Tantalus by Albert Nothlit

Title:


Tantalus








Author:



Albert Nothlit






Genre:


Sci-fi, Romance, Suspense





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


April 20, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

Interesting story, I loved Kyle and even though I couldn’t fully connect with Jim I somewhat understood him. Plus, there were cute fur balls which added a lot of cuteness.

The plot was interesting, and I loved how the Author tied Sci-fi, Government conspiracy, and romance into one beautiful book. I calling this book a romance book would be untrue as the romance while present was background to the other plot elements in the book.

When I think of how much research the Author most have done to get the near death scenes right I’m scared and impressed, and hey I got a free class on how oxygen deprivation can kill someone. I can’t wait to test it out. Ahem… ignore that last sentence.

Towards the ending, it felt a bit rushed and there were so many things happening at once and it was almost hard to keep up as I kept having to go back to confirm that I hadn’t missed anything. However, it also created this sort of urgency and tension and I was fully immersed in making sure I didn’t miss a thing! I’m glad Lieutenant McBitchface (Not her real name BTW) got arrested, any chance we get to see her tortured in next book… Ah, my sadistic side is showing gimme a minute.

I loved Kyle and I’ll admit I enjoyed laughing at his misery at the beginning because he was such a careless boy who couldn’t appreciate the opportunity he had, but as the story progressed, I began to understand the reason for his behavior. The scene where Kyle and Jim were finally about to kiss and a natural disaster it had to happen at that time is one of my favorite.

It was like one of those “If anyone has a reason why this two should not be together, speak now or forever hold your peace” moments. Nature not only interrupted their kiss scene but also decided to give them one week to live.

I loved how optimistic they were at first; I could feel the denial coming off them. I loved watching their optimism fade and they finally had to stop acting as if everything was okay, Damn, the feels smacked me in the face.

SYNOPSIS:

In the aftermath of a nasty fight after being jumped by four youths, faced with a mother desperate to get rid of the son she’s ashamed of, Kyle is forced to leave home to take up an apprenticeship he doesn’t want and can’t wait to be finished with.

On another planet.

Upon arrival, though, a nasty surprise awaits. The position he was hired for no longer exists and he’s going to be left standing around until Dr. O’Brien, the man he was to work for, can find him a new job. Following a strange compulsion, Kyle leaves the compound, only to nearly get himself killed out in the alien atmosphere. Kyle is told he’s too reckless to stay and fit only for the mining colonies, where he’ll be little more than a slave.

Distraught but helpless, Kyle counts down the days until his departure. He’s distracted from his misery, however, by the same compulsion that first drove him from the compound, a presence in his mind that seems to be coming from the local lifeform being kept in Dr. O’Brien’s lab…

The post Book Review: Tantalus by Albert Nothlit appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Good Together by Valentina Heart

Title:


Good Together








Author:



Valentina Heart






Genre:


Romance





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


May 4th, 2016





Format:


eBook





Pages:


87





Source:


NetGallery





Warning:


Background Incest

REVIEW:

Interesting premise, but the execution... not so much.

The characters were flat and hard to connect to, despite the fact that I knew their past. Their relationship also had no heat/spark/chemistry. I honestly got bored reading this book.

The incestuous relationship between Michael and his twin Gabriel didn’t really bother me, who I am I to judge? What bothered me was how whiny and annoying Adam was I mean OH MY GOD JUST GET OVER IT AND FIND SOMEONE ELSE!

The prose wasn’t smooth, it was rather choppy and the transition between scenes could use a little brushing up but I was given an ARC so maybe it has been fixed.

This is a romance book, meaning the focus should be on the growing relationship, I expected more heat or attraction between them instead I got an insecure guy that is good looking but doesn’t realize it (does this sound familiar anyone? Is this a trend now because it’s so overdone) and a whiny almost pathetic man hitting his forties.

I love a good book with a large age gap, as long as the characters are not so one-dimensional.

The book wasn’t completely hopeless though, despite the flaws the book, had it still managed to convey the theme and I was glad that Troy was finally releasing his emotional baggage, going out and learning to be more confident.

Our past’s shouldn’t define us, bad things happen sometimes and it sucks, even worse it leaves us emotionally scarred but we have to pick ourselves up or at lease find someone to help us in our journey of self-acceptance.

Yea, I'm that deep ＼(￣▽￣)／

PS: What is wrong with Troy’s mother? Someone needs to smack the shit out of her.

 

SYNOPSIS:

A legacy of bullying and insecurity has left its mark on Troy, affecting all his interactions in the present. Adam is an ex-hockey player turned tattoo artist who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. But no matter how hard he tried, time and again he sends the easily scared Troy running.

Though both are nearly convinced it could never work between them, they agree to give it one more try. But then bad luck and fate conspire to leave Adam floundering to reach Troy while Troy worries over losing touch with Adam.

The post Book Review: Good Together by Valentina Heart appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Death Comes Darkly by David S. Pederson

Title:


Death Comes Darkly








Author:



David S. Pederson






Genre:


Mystery, Crime, Suspense





Publisher:


Bold Strokes Books





Release Date:


April 1st, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

I started reading this and stopped at around 20% as I wasn’t excited about it. I picked it up and started all over again and HOLY CRAP I WAS HOOKED! I'm not that much of a crime fan when it comes to books. I prefer to watch a good crime series, like criminal minds or something similar because some part of me always assumed that a crime book would not be able to show the crime scene without going overboard with descriptions.

In a sense, this is my first crime book, and wow I seriously underestimated crime books.

The suspense and tension were light but no doubt present. I was curious as to who was responsible because there were five people with motive.

This book was more plot driven than character driven even though it was told from a first person POV. One interesting fact about this is that first person POV are usually very personal but this read like it was written from a third person POV. It was almost impersonal. A good strategy if you ask me. I liked this because I didn’t know everything going inside Heath’s head, and I was able to do my own crime solving without cheating.

I love Alan, sweet beautiful Alan that I don’t quite understand. However, I love the way his imagination goes wild and he jumps to the most ridiculous conclusions.

I love Woody also. I mean damn it must suck that Mr. Darkly hated him so much, that when he killed himself and made sure the clues pointed to Woody. That must suck!

There were other characters but Heath, Alan, and Woody were the only ones I was interested in. I almost cried when Heath suspected Woody of Mr. Darkly's murder, and pork face wasn’t helping (that isn’t his real name, but let’s be honest calling him that would be an insult to pigs).

The prose was smooth and light, there was a couple editing errors but it didn’t ruin the story nor were they obvious.

SYNOPSIS:

Can a detective and a policeman find love amidst murder? Heath Barrington is an attractive, clever, big city detective, confident, strong, and crazy about police officer Alan Keyes. Down-to-earth, noble, and naïve, Alan struggles with his desires for Heath versus 1940s America and his guilty conscience.

Heath’s skills of deduction and reasoning are put to the test as he and Alan work together to solve the murder of an eccentric millionaire in his mysterious, isolated estate. They search for clues and uncover long buried secrets of the weekend guests while keeping secrets of their own.

It’s up to Heath to solve the mystery and convince Alan that some secrets aren’t worth keeping, and lust can lead to love.

The post Book Review: Death Comes Darkly by David S. Pederson appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Living Right Giveaway Ends Today

 

This week I had the pleasure of running a weeklong Author Highlight with Laila Ibrahim, Next week I’ll be hosting Wesley Rivers.

The highlight when better than I planned and thanks to it I’ll be having another author feature- Weekly Author Interviews. I already have eight Authors linked up which you can read about Here.

The living Right Giveaway ends Tomorrow so don’t forget to enter the giveaway, the sample chapter is also available for download so don’t forget to get your copy.

On Thursday, 20 questions were posted for Laila Ibrahim to answer and I’m pleased to say that she’ll be answering them tomorrow!

Thank you for sticking with me throughout the feature!

Download Sample Here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Living Right Giveaway Ends Today appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Living Right Giveaway ends Tomorrow

 

This week I had the pleasure of running a weeklong Author Highlight with Laila Ibrahim, Next week I’ll be hosting Wesley Rivers.

The highlight when better than I planned and thanks to it I’ll be having another author feature- Weekly Author Interviews. I already have eight Authors linked up which you can read about Here.

The living Right Giveaway ends Tomorrow so don’t forget to enter the giveaway, the sample chapter is also available for download so don’t forget to get your copy.

On Thursday, 20 questions were posted for Laila Ibrahim to answer and I’m pleased to say that she’ll be answering them tomorrow!

Thank you for sticking with me throughout the feature!

Download Sample Here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Living Right Giveaway ends Tomorrow appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Upcoming Author Interview List

My week has been great, a bit hectic as I might have RSI on my entire right arm, but hopefully some rest would help with that. Ooh, guess what! I’m now a book reviewer for Gay Book Reviews also!

I hope you enjoyed Laila Ibrahim’s weeklong Author Highlight. Starting Monday I’ll be hosting another Author Highlight but this time for Wesley Rivers –Author of Letters to Laura.

I’ll admit running long campaigns is a lot tougher than I imagined but I like to think I’m doing well so far, so I’ve decided to add another feature to my blog- Author Interviews.

I’ll be posting Author interviews every Saturday, starting next Saturday. I’d love to start today but my arm is acting up and Googling ‘cure for RSI’ brings up some very scary information- I’d rather not lose my arm.

Authors interested in the interview feature should please send the following:

Author Bio: It would be nice for readers to now a bit about who is behind those amazing books.

Links to Online Presence: This includes Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page(Not necessary as the same thing would probably be on your Goodreads Author Profile), Blog etc. PS: If you have a mailing lost you can also include a link to it as well as whatever incentive you offer to new subscribers.

Draft Q&A: I might not cover everything about your latest book in my questions so it’ll be best for you to send your own Q&A, that way you can include everything you’d like to make known. I recommend that you include a few things about your other books too.

The Draft Q&A will also help me come up with some questions in case I haven’t read your book. I’m not a fan of generic questions and I’d rather know a bit about you rather than asking you something like this:

What is your name? 
What genre do you write?
Is this your debut Novel? 

They sound too impersonal.

Images: This isn’t necessary but an image of you (Doesn’t need to be professional, it can also just be your logo/brand image), as well as the book cover of your latest book. I can download your book cover from Goodreads but sending it would be easier.

Free Book/ Sample (Optional): If you have a free book or a sample chapter of a new/past book please feel free to include it. Links to the location of the free book is also allowed.

Here’s the Author Interview lineup so far:

21st May- R.A Padmos, Author of Unspoken
28th May- Kate Pavelle, Author of Lucky Starflowers
4th June- Brigham Vaughn, Author of Bully & Exit
11th June- Sarah Beth James, Author of Save me
18th June- M.H. Silver, Author of The Captured Omega
25th June- K’Anne Meinel, Author of Doctored
2nd July- Lily G. Blunt, Author of Finding Love
9th July- Jaclyn Osborn, Author of Strength to forgive

NB: Lineup is arranged based on a first come first serve basis. Interested Authors can send me a message with the above details to book a slot and claim their date.

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