Alyne Hart's Blog, page 11
March 21, 2018
How We Fall: Book 2 in The Men of Evansdale County
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*Whew* wiping sweat off my brow.
I was on a bit of a book hangover from writing The Space Between Us. It took a lot out of me emotionally and it’s taken me a bit to step back and regroup.
Dean’s brother, Finn, is an interesting guy. He comes from the same background and childhood as Dean obviously – but he’s dealt with it in a different way. Finn is refined, and seemingly at peace, running the top restaurant in Evansdale County. He thinks he’s got it all. Great career. Nice condo. Sweet car and a big flat screen TV and fully stocked wet bar.
In walks Hailee with her smart mouth – challenging him at every turn. Both of their worlds get flipped upside down in the best way possible.
I’ve just sent the first 1/4 of my book off to my early stage beta (who’s gotten her notes to me) and to my proofreader. Scenes are dancing in my head and I cannot wait to bring this story to you!
Stay tuned for more!
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March 19, 2018
The Space Between Us is FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
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The Space Between Us is now FREE on Kindle Unlimited! Grab your copy and start reading today! And if you haven’t checked it out yet, the audiobook is available on Audible.
For those of you who have purchased The Space Between Us I send you my humblest of thank you’s. The love this book is receiving is something I only dreamed of! You’ve kept my book baby hanging in the top 500 for two weeks 
I’m working HARD to get Dean’s brother Finn’s story to you! The first 20% has been sent off to my proofreader and my early stage beta reader.
Stay tuned for sneak peeks and a cover reveal!
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March 14, 2018
The Space Between Us Audio Book Now LIVE! And other updates ♥
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The Space Between Us audiobook is now live on Audible! I teamed up with producer Logan McAllister who worked diligently to make this title available so quickly. He was incredible to work with, and his voice – ladies and gents – get ready to swoon! Grab your copy and start listening today! —-> HERE
Some other exciting news to share about The Space Between Us – Last week The Space Between Us broke the US top 100 charts on Amazon in the Sports Fiction category! And hit #1 in the UK, Canada and Australia!
Thank you so much to everyone who has purchased this story. I put a lot of heart into it, and I hope Emma and Dean capture your heart the way they did mine!
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The Space Between Us
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She’s His Best Friends Little Sister. Well, Ex-Best Friend Now…
The Space Between Us is a Gritty and Emotional Second Chance, Bad Boy Boxer Romance. The first book in a four-book contemporary romance series.
He didn’t expect to see her again. He didn’t expect to want her the way that he does.
He never expected to peel back all of her perfectly controlled layers. Or for her to see through his.
Emma freaking Winchester
She’s the little sister of his ex-best friend, Forrest. She’s off limits like tempting forbidden fruit, and he’s the snake slithering through the grass.
She ignites a fire in him. One he can’t explain and one he sure as hell can’t control. It’s raw and primal.
She’s sweet, and he is not.
She’s pure, and he’s broken.
When Dean King came back to the town and past he’d left behind ten years ago to make it big in the world of underground fighting – it was for one reason, and one reason only. To take care of his Grandma Rose, and he’ll do it by any means necessary. Even if it means selling his soul to the devil…
Fate brings them together. Burning passion binds them. When the fires get too hot, can love save them?
AMAZON – KOBO – BARNES & NOBLE – GOOGLE PLAY – iBOOKS – AUDIBLE – 24SYMBOLS – SCRIBD – SMASHWORDS
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March 13, 2018
Kobo and Nook are links changing!
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My apologies for readers looking for The Space Between Us on Nook and Kobo. I am putting them up directly myself rather than using the third party distributor I was using before. Nook links should be active, and I am just waiting on Kobo to go through. There are a lot of benefits to me uploading direct – as well as some negatives I have recently learned about using a third party. (nothing wrong with that company! just on the metadata side!)
I will update all my sights as soon as possible – as well as making a singular book page here on my blog rather than each book having its own page.
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March 12, 2018
Romance Paperback Giveaway!
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¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶Romance Paperback Giveaway 
★ Enter to win 8 paperbacks from some amazing romance authors!
✩ One lucky reader will win paperbacks from Jennifer L. Allen, S.J. Lomas, K.L. Shandwick, Kara Liane, Alyne Hart, Phoebe Alexander, K.L. Montgomery, and Maria Rieggers!
► Click to enter: http://bit.ly/2p1j5od
#paperbacks #giveaway #romance
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March 9, 2018
Sitting Down With Author Kara Liane: and a FREE Novella!
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I met Kara last year in May on Twitter. We had both just released our debut novels and were overwhelmed by just about everything. I reposted a bunch of her stuff, she reposted a bunch of mine and then we started talking.
We’ve been friends ever since. Through every new release, through every trial and hard day. Through every win and celebration. We are part of each other’s tribe.
What I love most about Kara is her humor. She claims to not be a funny person, but she makes me laugh all the time. She loves puns and plays on words, and she can write some swoon-worthy men and some damn hot love scenes. So let’s get right to this, shall we?
Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I am a military spouse of sixteen years. I married my childhood friend, and we’ve known each other for twenty-five years. We have two adorable twin sons; they keep me incredibly busy since they both have special needs…and they’re boys! I am an environmental scientist by day, and write steamy, contemporary romance stories by night. I also do a lot of volunteer work on our local base in supporting military families.
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When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer?
In grade school, I loved to write. I entered essay contests in middle school. In high school, I was the sports editor of our school paper. I was on hiatus in college because of all the research papers I had to develop. But I’ve always had the writing bug in my blood. I’ve especially enjoyed writing poetry over the years. During one of my husband’s deployments, I decided to try my hand at writing a novel, and from that point on I became Author Kara Liane.
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What are you working on at the minute?
The fifth and final book in A Tryst of Fate Series entitled Nursing Myself Back; looking to release sometime this year. Also, a novella for a group holiday anthology. And I just started a donation project in which I pair my life in the literary world, with my life being a military spouse. I am raising awareness and funds for veterans that suffer from PTSD and TBI.
What genre are your books and what draws you to that genre?
I love how this genre brings heat and heart together. I gravitate to romance because it is my escape. Contemporary steamy romance offers me a way to tap into genuine feelings about life and love, and to delve into the connections of human beings on all levels. Plus, the steamy scenes are fun to write.
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Why do you write?
It is so rewarding knowing that other people can relate to my characters and are moved by my stories, just as much as I am. Being able to connect with people because of your books means everything. Telling your story means everything. I also write for myself and for my family because I want to show them, and prove to myself, I can grab hold of my dreams.
Where do your ideas come from?
Random places. I don’t always plot and plan things out. An idea comes to me and I just run with it. Then the characters take over and tell me how it’s going to go.
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What is the hardest thing about writing?
Being stuck. It’s not necessarily writer’s block. It’s more like character’s block. If a character isn’t speaking to me and relaying their story, then I can’t write it. I prefer to write from dual-POV, so sometimes one talks but the other doesn’t, and then I can’t finish what I’m working on.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Writing Book 2 (A Force of Nature) in my series was incredibly difficult. Because there are so many elements that are deep, gritty, and painful. More importantly, I had to get the story right. It is inspired by my real-life hero hubby, and I wanted to do his and stories about our military men and women justice. Talking about certain subjects like PTSD is necessary because it speaks to what they’re truly dealing with, and that needs to be brought to light more; there’s a certain way it can be done even in this genre.
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When you aren’t writing, what are you doing?
Working full-time, being a mother, being a wife. We like to go camping as a family. Again, I also volunteer my time to military families and to charities. I love to read, and occasionally get to watch a TV show or two.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Do your research. This industry is a tough field because there’s so much that goes into it. Know your genre really well, and know your market. Do your homework on things before just jumping in. Make sure you figure out what will work best for you. Sometimes making mistakes are the only way we learn, so just know it is going to happen; however, turn the situation into a positive one and move on.
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Social Media Links:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2sExJSn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkaraliane
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2tnKZPv
Author Central: http://amzn.to/2xiS7vi
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2w4cspS
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2orWctA
Web site: www.karaliane.com
Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/2j8lbjr
Pinterest: k_liane
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A Force of Nature
A Kindle Scout winning eBook and standalone novel. A steamy, contemporary, military, romance that will quake your world.
TSgt Brenneth “Brent” Peters moves through life like a storm—it’s just his way. From the moment he met captivating and complicated Everly, he moved through her too. His years in the military have shaped him and led to this path of upheaval and turmoil in love and life. What he and Ev share, though, is an unstoppable force. But can he hold onto her, or will he lose her along the way? Find out what happens when the storm rolls in.
For to love is to consume—it’s just the nature of it.
Kara’s novels can all be found on Amazon, and are FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Find here HERE.
You want your FREE Novella from Kara? Snag it here: http://bit.ly/2sli0sF
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March 2, 2018
Sitting down with author Krysta MacDonald
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“The memories are lodged in my throat, and a part of me wonders if you can choke on something that isn’t physically there. Can you choke on hurt?” – QUOTE FROM THE GIRL WITH THE EMPTY SUITCASE
I met Krysta shortly after releasing my debut novel, The Island. We connected on Goodreads and soon after became friends on Facebook. The best part of all of this for me was watching Krysta prepare for her book launch – the parties, the signings, the readings. On top of that, she has an active and adventure-filled life that I get to experience vicariously through what she shares! Doing this interview was a real pleasure for me!
Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
When I was five years old, I decided I wanted to live in the mountains, write stories, and teach people about them. I now live in a small town in the Rocky Mountains of Canada with my husband, two dogs and three cats. I’ve been teaching English Language Arts for ten years, and last November I published my first novel, The Girl with the Empty Suitcase.
What are you working on at the minute?
I’m working on entering a few contests for shorter works. It’s something that I want to work on improving in my writing, for both fiction and nonfiction. I think it helps expand my horizons, and makes me venture outside my comfort zone a bit. I’m also beginning my second novel, which looks at a woman in the early 1960s. She’s trying to choose between a career and family, and doesn’t realize how she can do both.
What genre are your books and what draws you to that genre?
I write creative nonfiction and realistic fiction. There are so many little moments that make our lives so dramatic and worth living, and I want to explore reality through my words and characters. The struggles and identities and relationships that make existence so worth noting.
Do you work from an outline or do you prefer just to see where an idea takes you?
I’m a “plantser”. I start with an outline, and go from there. I don’t have a full plan, or at least not a very detailed one, but I do have an idea of what’s going to happen.
What is the hardest thing about writing?
For me, it’s time. Despite what many think, teaching is not a typical full-time job. I have hours and hours of marking that I do at home every night, not to mention planning and extra-curricular work. I love my job, but it takes up a lot of time. That whole idea of writing a bit every day does not work for me. I write in huge chunks during Christmas break, Easter break, an occasional weekend, and summer.
Do you ever get writer’s Block and how do you combat it?
Not necessarily “writer’s block” in that I don’t know what will happen next, but more how I want to word what will happen next. When that happens I go back and reread the last section or sections. If nothing else, I get some editing done, but typically it also helps me get back into the frame of where I want my characters to go next.
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When you aren’t writing, what are you doing?
Marking. Teaching. Planning. Marking. Reading. Hanging out with my husband. Marking. Reading. Watching movies. Traveling. Marking. Reading. Snuggling with my pets. Marking. Extolling the virtues of Shakespeare. Camping. Reading. And did I mention marking?
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
I try to read as much as I can outside of school. I’m pretty eclectic in what I read, but pretty much any fiction is fair game. Science fiction has to be pretty good for me to like it, but I’ll still read it. I love classic literature. I’m a massive Shakespeare nerd. Last year I read all of Jane Austen’s works (well, reread most of them). I’ve also discovered Stephen King, and really am enjoying a lot of his pieces. And Margaret Atwood has always been an absolute favourite.
What would you say are the main advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing against being published or the other way around?
I actually wrote a blog post about this a few months back. Essentially, I think it depends why you’re trying to be published in the first place. I mostly just wanted to hold a book in my hands with my name on it. I got to do that by self-publishing. I’d stopped and started so many times that I knew if I had any excuse or hesitation, I wasn’t going to do it. Plus, this way I got to maintain creative control. On the negative side, it’s harder to get into bookstores or to be looked at for reviews and awards and such. Still, I was willing to do it all myself – and have the sense of accomplishment of figuring that all out – by self-publishing, and that was what I was after. Plus, I think my book looks pretty darn awesome.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
It works out. Someone once said, “Everything ends up okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” All those self-doubts, all those hesitations, all that bad stuff, none of it damages you permanently. You’re going to be fine. Moreover, you’re going to be pretty awesome. You can do this. You’re worth more than you think you are. You got this.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
It’s a toss-up! And they’re all writers. Shakespeare, probably. Or Jane Austen. How cool would it be to have tea with her? Or, living, Margaret Atwood. She just seems pretty bad-ass.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Just do it already. Even if what you write is abysmal, it’s better than not writing anything at all. Read and write and read and write and read and write some more. Just get started.
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The suitcase sat at the top of Danielle’s closet for years, holding memories, promises, and undeveloped film. From struggling with homework to her final farewells with her parents, this is the story of one woman’s life and loves. Through hopes and laughter, heartaches and tears, Danielle is shaped by the family, friends, and romances around her. This emotional and nuanced story gives us a woman, a window through whom we may see our own realities, our own challenges, our own quiet triumphs.
FOLLOW KRYSTA HERE:
Social Media Links
Website: https://krystamacdonald.wixsite.com/website
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KrystaMacDonald
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystamac.writer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/krystamacwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krysta.macdonald
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February 28, 2018
The Space Between Us: Meet Siobhan Excerpt and Audio Book Update
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Chapter Three
Emma
Dean freaking King. If he hadn’t said something, I might not even have noticed. Not that he wasn’t worthy of noticing, in fact, he was quite the opposite. I could only imagine that he had plenty of drooling admirers and my name just got added to the list.
Dean was attractive in the most obvious sort of way. Thick, dark brown hair that waved just right across his forehead and an angular squared-off jaw with high cheekbones. He’s tall. And not just tall, but the kind of tall that makes you take notice of his height. His naturally lean and muscular body only make him that much more noticeable. But the unfair advantages Dean had over the rest of the male species didn’t end there.
Dean’s smile is bright white—like it glows with a thousand watts of blinding electricity. And as masculine as his face is, he has deep dimples on each cheek that only show when he grins.
For me though, it was always about his eyes. They’re a nearly unnatural blue. Such a bright cobalt in fact, if you didn’t know him, you’d think they were colored contacts. I daydreamed about those eyes way too many times when I was younger. The second I actually looked him in the eye, I knew who he was.
But that isn’t Dean’s most noticeable feature. Not anymore, I should say.
Intricate ink designs ran seamlessly from his fingers to his arms and all the way up his chest where they curved in a graceful line along his collarbone. I assumed there were more, but that was all I could see around the black tank top he wore.
It had taken me a second of adjusting to that to notice all the piercings that perforated his skin. His nose, eyebrow, ears and inner ear cartilage were all sporting shining silver decorations.
I had mostly made it a habit of not looking at the guys that came into Charlie’s. Not in any way that might signal to them I was interested, that is. I’d learned a long time ago, that most guys took me being friendly as an open invitation to flirt, and usually crudely.
Guys in groups were worse, which is why I hadn’t even so much as given Dean or his friend a second glance. It didn’t hurt my tips any, and it saved me from having to put a customer in their rightful place—which is not in my love life. Not that I had any semblance of a love life at the given moment—or even wanted one for that matter.
But Dean? The second I landed my eyes on his I felt a fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach and a tingling pull even further down than that. I had the hardest time tearing my eyes away from his intoxicating stare before I thoroughly embarrassed myself.
He caught me off guard, and left me more than a little breathless and dazed when he cornered me in the server station where I’d been binning used glasses to wash.
Maybe I imagined it, but I would swear he was asking me out in an off the cuff way. It was almost laughable to think he was even interested in me. But then again—no, it wasn’t even worthy of pondering. He was my brother’s enemy and therefore mine. But still…
“So,” Siobhan sidled up to me. “Who was that?”
Siobhan and I have been friends since the eighth grade. We both shared the same misfortune of having braces, bad perms, and ears much too large for our heads back then. The delightful phrase ‘a face only a mother could love’ was not unfamiliar to either of us.
I’ll never forget the day I met her. She was new to Evansdale Highschool, and despite the lack of social status on both our parts, she walked around like she ruled the school. Everyone was teasing her about her name, and just like she does still to this day, she planted both hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side, and her hazel eyes lit up with exasperation.
“Shuh-von,” she rolled her eyes, correcting everyone all day as if it was that obvious.
It didn’t matter how many times she corrected them, they still called her what they wanted. ‘See-ya-bon,’ seemed to be the favorite amongst our classmates. She took a liking to me when I told her I thought it was pretty and asked her if she wanted to sit with me at lunch. We were stuck on each other like glue after that.
Luckily for both of us, Siobhan and I both outgrew the ears, got our braces off and never got perms again. As for Siobhan, she did end up ruling the school, and she took me along for the ride.
It seemed the only good thing to come out of that dark time was Siobhan and me. And all the stuff we learned pouring over beauty magazines, desperately trying to look as pretty as the popular girls.
Unlike me, however, when Von came out of her ugly duckling phase, she immediately spread her wings like a glorious butterfly. Von just had a way with guys. She just automatically knew exactly what to say all the time to have them eating out of her hands. Her skill level at flirting? Expert.
Mine? I still turn pink and stumble on my words—I’m stuck at beginner level flirting. And that’s being kind.
“Old family friend,” I cleared my throat hastily and got back to my careful placement of glasses and coffee cups in the giant plastic tub. “One of Forrest’s old friends.”
“He was seriously hot, and seriously checking you out,” Siobhan nudged me, jostling the glasses that were precariously perched in my hands with a loud clink….
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Audiobook production is well underway, and I have to say, Logan (my ACX producer) is killing it! I am enjoying this process immensely and loving hearing my words and my characters take on a life. For some reason, especially Mama Rose – who was the secret star of this novel!
Our target for this baby is to be done by March 6! So stay tuned for details
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February 25, 2018
Sitting down with N.D. Jackson
I met Natasha at a FaceBook takeover party. I recognized her from some YouTube videos and basically stalked her. I joined her REALLY fun readers group and basically slobbered all over her like an excited puppy until she slobbered back. Natasha has a wicked, naughty sense of humor, she loves a good cocktail and she can write one hell of a small town romance. Is it any surprise that I absolutely love her?
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Tell us a little about yourself and your background? I was born in Chicago but grew up in a surrounding suburb, if you’re familiar with Scott Peterson then you’ll know which one. 
Exciting Announcement: My First Book Signing Event!
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I will be an attending author at the Readers&Writers: Seattle 2018 event. I am so excited to meet people, talk about books and have a blast in general! I will have copies of Rocking Autumn and The Space Between Us available for purchase and fingers crossed: How We Fall.
Here is the full line up so far:
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Ticket information available HERE
Full information (event info, hotels, etc) HERE
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