Veronica Cline Barton's Blog: Mistletoe and Mayhem: Yuletide at Castlewood Manor listed as, "One of the best suspense books of all time." - BookAuthority, page 23

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, It’s All in the #Attitude

Tiaras, palaces, and teas, oh my! T-minus two weeks and counting ’til our British Isles cruise and I’m so excited! I’m getting into my London #attitude and can’t wait to go back to one of my favorite cities. Hyde Park  walks, tea at the Savoy, and a visit to my beloved Hampton Court Palace is all lined up.

What a busy week it’s been—National Bat Day (who knew?), Passover began, Easter Sunday, Earth Day, and World Book Day. Whatever’s your favorite day, I hope you had a chance to celebrate. I’m in an #attitude of gratitude this week, thankful for all the opportunities at hand. It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#AmEditing #AmQuerying

Deep in the throes of editing/revising, well it’s not that painful but this one has been a challenge. I will be using Book 4 as my submission material for querying agents and will not be self-publishing as previously planned. Although theoretically it is the next story to my series, I’m making sure it can be viewed as a stand-alone read as well. So now the challenge is how to incorporate three books worth of happenings/background seamlessly into the new book….Entering new #writing territory with #prologue, #backstories, #flashbacks, but that’s the fun of being a #writer (right…anyone? anyone?)!

For my #AmQuerying efforts, I just signed up for Duotrope’s service: https://duotrope.com/about/  I’m very impressed with the search capability and weekly updates so far. A great tool to consider if you’re thinking of pursuing an agent/traditional publisher path!

Duotrope is a subscription-based service for writers and artists that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, a personal submission tracker, and useful statistics compiled from the millions of data points we’ve gathered on the publishers and agents we list.

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***NEW***   V’s AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

I thought I’d add in an extra feature to highlight some of the #IndieAuthors who are making a difference in the #WritingCommunity with their great support and awesome enthusiasm. I’ve been very blessed to get to know these amazing authors through social media. I’ve found many of them have awesome websites too, posting updates not only on their own books and experiences, but also giving #BookReviews for #readers and #booklovers to consider–as well as a chance to get to know them a little.

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This week I’d like to highlight the fabulous AUTHOR Travis Borne (@Travis_Borne). Travis’ site has a little bit of everything: Get to know Travis, take a look at his #Blog, read his #Bookreviews, learn about his genius reads (love the Lenders series) and BTW, he’s a great person to follow! You can find Travis on Twitter, FB, Goodreads, BookBub and Amazon. Check out his website here:

LENDERS. An Out-of-this-World 2-Book Saga, by Author Travis Borne

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#AmReading #AmReviewing

A holiday weekend filled with fun in the Hamptons!

Author Tina-Marie Miller, Everything Happens for a Reason (The Hamptons Book 1), 5 STARS

The first book in Author Tina-Marie Miller’s Hampton series is a delight to read as we peak into the lives of the residents and visitors of this British countryside haven. We see the story through the eyes of main character Poppy Jackson, a young woman who is dealing with the heart break and loss of her mother. She’s bright, successful and on her way up as the personal assistant of CEO Greg Sable, head of the investment stockbroker firm of Hawkins, Monroe and Sable. A professional success, Poppy is starting to look for the man of her dreams–but with a demanding work environment, will she ever have the time to find him?

Enter Oliver Sullivan, an up and comer at a competing firm with ties to her boss, Greg. A chance  encounter at first seems promising. Time and business intervene however, leading Poppy to think their evening together was just not meant to be. Fate deals a gentler hand with their second liaison, as Oliver and Poppy meet again, this time allowing their relationship to grow and flourish. Things seem perfect…but are they?

Family drama, tragedy, personal and professional turmoil emerge as we follow Poppy and her friends and family weave through a tangled spectrum of life events. We laugh, we cry, we hope for the future as we meet new acquaintances and experience the challenges that transform her life. A heartwarming tale with enchanting characters–a great read indeed! I’ll be back for more in this series, that’s the Hamptons!

Next up in the reading queue:

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Pre-order is here for the #WolfPackAuthors Anthology!

I’m so excited to be a part of this latest collaborative effort by the #WolfPackAuthor community. My short story, Yuletime at Cherrywood Hall; Pippa’s First Christmas is featured, and I’m very proud to be included. The eBooks are available for pre-order now (print version details coming soon). Here’s an overview of our effort:

The idea was simple: form a group of authors based on the mantra, “Do good things for the right reasons.” We are a pack – #WolfPackAuthors. Together, we expand exposure for our books, help one another with all aspects of the process, pick each other up when the lonely life of writing gets us down.

As with wolves, words can be dangerous or healing. The reintroduction of the wolf, hunted to the brink of extinction, carries such far-reaching results as to make vegetation grow on what was once barren, and to change the paths of rivers. Considering these powerful facts, we chose to donate the proceeds of this anthology to Lockwood Animal Rescue Center /LARC, a facility with a unique mission. They are one of the few organizations focused heavily on wolves, integrating military veteran rehabilitation into the caretaking process.

In this collection of work, you will find a showcase of many of our members’ talents: A young girl betrothed to a werewolf, yet her father, a human, is the true monster. Two snipers who lay in wait, an otherworldly supreme being watching them, in the form of a majestic wolf. A she-wolf sets her sights on a young woman, married to the man she loved. The paradoxical story of the big bad wolf, who through no fault of his own sets out on a calamity filled adventure. A batch of witty private investigators at work solving crime. A sarcastic banshee, a shapeshifting detective, and a vampire, all friends, investigate a string of murders. There are many others, varied in style or genre.

Come on an adventure with the #WolfPackAuthors. We’ve got the stories you want; together, we hope to make the world a better place for wolves, humans, and those who dare to dream.

We’d really appreciate your support and help to promote this collaborative work–the lifting spirit of #WritingCommunity comradery, a reading treat for story lovers, and helping a great cause makes this a win-win for us all! Thank you for your support (Amazon link is below).

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Post Time!

Spring fever is rearing it’s lovely head, and I have to say I am enjoying it, even without the cold and snow…

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Wanted: A Fresh Perspective

April, time to refresh and regroup, get the spring cleaning done– out with the old…in with the #book #editing! I know exactly what I’ll be doing the next few weeks and I can’t weight, ahem, wait.

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, April Happy Dance

Well hello, April! Hard to believe that a quarter of the year has whizzed by. Spring has sprung and I for one am very excited! No, not because warmer weather has arrived, I’m still craving cold and rainy days, thank you. I’m excited because I have finished the 4th book in my series, bring out the bubbly!

Writing this book has been very emotional for me, for there are many changes being made at Cherrywood Hall in this story. I’ve laughed out loud and cried a bundle as the characters and their antics once again stole my heart. As with the other books, the story took on a life of its own. I’m always amazed how the twists and turns play out at the end, surprise! It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#amwriting #ammarketing

Next up, the title, book cover design, and the wonderful world of #amediting. For some reason, unlike the other books, I am still deciding the final title for book 4. I’m torn between two ideas and unsure which path I’ll go down. you’d think after writing twenty chapters and 85K+ words I’d have it by now, but noooo…. My step-daughter Danielle is once again designing the cover and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. Finally, now comes the fun part, editing! I won’t be alone, the fabulous Theresa Snyder will be at my side to wade through the content. The next few months will be tons of fun, I’m sure!

The #BookTrailers are completed for all three published works and I just want to say thank you one more time to Author Aimee’Marie Bejarano (@books_hooks). I think the #booktrailers are great, and I’m excited to use them in marketing and promoting my books. Remember, “Every novel needs one”.  You can reach her on FB: Facebook.com/bookswithhookstrailers or email : Bookswithhookstrailers@aol.com. Pssst, she’s a delight to work with too! Take a look below, I’m very pleased!

The Crown for Castlewood Manor

Cast, Crew, & Carnage; the Filming of Castlewood Manor

Deadly Receptions; the Debut of Castlewood Manor

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#amreading #BookReviews

I’ve had less reading time this week as I completed my book, so the Lenders II read by author Travis Borne is still in progress. I’m thoroughly enjoying it, the high tech infusion is fascinating to me and this one takes you to places you’d never expect! Travis’ series is a great one for sure. I’m posting the review I did in January for the first book, and promise to have the review for Lenders II posted next week! Sci Fi fan or not, you’ll definitely want to read his books!

Author Travis Borne,  Lender’s: The Unlicensed Consciousness,  5 STARS

Author Travis Borne takes you on a mind blowing sci fi trek to the future where man is no longer the dominant species on the planet. Machines rule the world with an artificial intelligence that feeds on the minds of men, proving in vivid, disastrous detail the adage ‘be careful what you wish for’. Author Borne takes us back and forth in time as we learn how the technology developers of the past placed a deadly mortgage on humans in the future—and how the human spirit and consciousness is never quite quenched as the surviving few try to break free in the machine controlled, AI world.

The technology details and presumptions were fascinating to me, showing a path of human devolution that could quite possibly happen. The characters and settings are described in vivid detail as the reader time travels from club debauchery to software development labs to dodging killer drones in a wasted land to the lender map locations that must be consciousness swept every day if man is to survive, or else. Did the developers of the past foresee the destruction of the future? Is there a way to escape the AI shackles of the future? This was a page turning read for me and I am so glad Lenders II: The Time Tribulations is out, for I will be back. A suspense filled sci fi read, highly recommended!

Next up in the reading queue:

 

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Writing Fun with Author Bibiana Krall

I’m a huge fan of Bibiana’s, she has a way with words that gets me every time. I also admire her creativity and support to the #WritingCommunity. She’s always trying new technologies and challenges to keep us on our toes and have a little fun. This week I was inspired to try a flash fiction challenge she threw over the Twitter wall to me, my first!

I took this picture of a painting at the Fairmont in Banff and sent it to Bibiana. I was intrigued by the light reflections on the glass of the painting and the haunted beauty of the young lady. If you look closely at the painting, you’ll see it’s a clever artistic combination of a young woman, both as an adult and child (pssst, look at her hands).

Bibiana posted our stories on her blog a few days ago. Take a look at the flash fiction results here (And wander around her website too, it’s gorgeous!):

http://www.bibianakrall.com/single-post/2019/03/30/Annabelle

Five weeks ’til the big cruise and I can’t wait!

The first few days of our trip will be spent in London and Greenwich, before we depart for the deep blue seas around the isles. We’ll be spending the first nights not far from the feature picture image on the blog–can’t wait to get a snap of another gorgeous sunset. The excursions planned include a private trip back to Hampton Court Palace and tea at the Savoy, my character’s favorite London place to be. I’ve been starting the packing trying to find extra room for my beloved boots and shoes (and maybe a crown for good measure). More details on the port stops in the next few weeks!

Welcome to my #writing world. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend, friends.

Crowns and Kisses,

Veronica

P.S. This post is made in loving memory of Ray Ryan, a true friend and gentleman—father and grandfather of our lovely neighbors. You will be missed. 

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Springtime #CozyMystery Style!

Hampton Court Palace has become my favorite  springtime palatial ground  hangout. Pictured is the privy garden on the shores of the River Thames. I’ve been spending a lot of time here mentally as I write the 4th book in my series. Gemma and Kyle are having a royal luncheon at the palace with the queen and her prince consort. This is their hypothetical garden view as they sip their gin and St. Germain martinis before lunch.

I won’t give away any spoilers, but this luncheon scene is one of my favorites in the #WIP  so far. Hubby and I will be going back for a return visit in May, and I can’t wait to walk the gardens again, thinking of the conversations my characters had looking at this very spot! It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#amwriting #ammarketing

Featuring: British Review of The Crown for Castlewood Manor from Jessie Cahalin’s Books in My Handbag Blog: Be still my almost royal heart! I’m so pleased to share the latest review from Jessie’s blog. reading it warms my heart every single time. Enjoy, and check out her blog, #writers and #readers, #Justsayin ! Gemma would approve

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Keeping My #Muse Amused!

As #writers all know, if the #Muse ain’t happy, ain’t no writin’ gettin’ done! So much fun the past few weeks roaming the grounds again at Cherrywood Hall with Gemma and friends. My muse has been extremely cooperative this latest round of writing, and I’m very grateful. It takes a lot of blood, sweat, and inspiration to keep your writing muse happy (Well, more like Gin/St Germain martinis and credit cards, but you know what I mean, at least for my almost royal little darling!).

You can pretty much bet that my #muse is stylin’ her boots and crowns, are you surprised? As you can see from the feature picture, she likes her sparkle, the more the merrier. We’re up at all hours these days as the ideas are unleashed and the creative juices flow. It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#amwriting #ammarketing

I’m very heads down now with the writing of Book 4. It’s crunch time for me. i apologize for not being around as much in the Twitter-verse, but duty calls. I have some very anxious readers who are dying to know what happens next. Mustn’t disappoint!

I’m pleased to debut the #BookTrailer for cast, Crew, & Carnage; the Filming of Castlewood Manor.  Author Aimee’Marie Bejarano (@books_hooks) has worked her design magic once more. I love how the #booktrailers are turning out and am excited to use them in marketing and promoting my books. Remember, “Every novel needs one”. Aimee’ is having a sale now until the end of April, $75 for a book trailer, $15 for a teaser. You can reach her on FB: Facebook.com/bookswithhookstrailers or email : Bookswithhookstrailers@aol.com .

And now making its blog debut, in 3-2-1:

Very excited to use Mark Schultz’s (@wordrefiner) proofing services. Edits and proofing can make or break your book. I’ve worked with Mark several times now with his blog interviews. I’ve reserved his proofing services for Book 4.  Time to get rid of  those ‘handful of spelling errors’.

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Castle Primed and Ready to Write!

There’s nothing like a stay at a castle to get in that almost royal writing mood! I’ve had a chance to sit by regal fireplaces sipping libations, walk  on a frozen lake surrounded by ice palaces, indulge in a lovely afternoon tea (cucumber melon tea, who knew?), and soak in a hot pool surrounded by snow, ice, and starry lit skies. Fresh, cold mountain air has cleared the winter cobwebs that clogged my little gray cells–I’m refreshed and recharged!

I’ve unpacked, dodged some cleverly placed hairballs deposited by the cats (they were not amused during our absence, despite being in the care of the wonderful Mr. Art!), and ready to go into the #WritingZone. It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#AmWriting #AmMarketing

WordPress Upgrade: In order to improve my website presence and visibility, I’ve upgraded my site to WordPress’ Business Plan. I’ll be adding more features to the blog and expanding my site…stay tuned!

Women Writers, Women’s Books Interview: So excited to be in a featured interview this month! Come check out my early days and what drives me now! http://booksbywomen.org/interview-with-veronica-cline-barton/?fbclid=IwAR2pTxZP2pKVR-h0SbMUNudJUovh_3QOLXWetTX7G-aUzRHKjm52CF6dh4o

Books With Hooks Trailers in the works! From Author Aimee’Marie Bejarano (@books_hooks), I’m so excited to be working with her on a #booktrailers for the books in My American Almost Royal Cousin Series! I love these and so does Aimee’–“Every novel needs one”. Aimee’ is having a sale until the end of March, $75 for a book trailer, $15 for a teaser. You can reach her on FB: Facebook.com/bookswithhookstrailers or email : Bookswithhookstrailers@aol.com . Great for #ammarketing and book promo! And making its blog premiere, here is the fabulous #booktrailer for The Crown for Castlewood Manor!

Editing with Theresa Snyder..Once again the awesome author/editor Theresa Snyder (@TheresaSnyder19) has graciously agreed to work with me on editing Book 4. She was so awesome to work with on Deadly Receptions! Check out her editing services–highly recommended!  http://affordableproofedit.blogspot.com/

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#AmReading #AmReviewing

The #writers of Twitter entertained and delighted!

Author Ken Stark, Stage 3, 5 STARS

Imagine waking up one morning to a world that has descended into cannibalistic chaos all around–and not have a clue as to what has happened? Author Ken Stark takes us into this new world order through the eyes of main character Hank ‘Mace’ Mason, reluctant hero of a near miss airplane tragedy, newly dumped by his girlfriend, and saved from the proliferation of the man-eating plague by the grace of a few well-timed alcohol binges. As Mace sleeps, power grids, communication lines, and societal rule collapse—leaving every man, woman, child who didn’t succumb on their own to try and survive against the newly turned zombie population.

Mace is determined to escape the hoards of flesh eating dwellers who have overrun the city confines of San Francisco and seek the safety of the suburbs. His panic and desperation snowballs as he realizes the magnitude of what he’s up against–his chance of survival diminishing with each passing minute–is he the last of the humans?  Enter Mackenzie, a ten year old charmer looking for a lost aunt, whose plague induced blindness has gifted her with super human hearing–a gift that saves them time and time again as they seek safety from the flesh eaters. Mace’s heart softens in Mackenzie’s presence, leaving some of the bitterness and hurt of being dumped behind as they endure unbelievable situations in their quest to to survive.

Page after page your heart races as Mace and Mackenzie fight the unrelenting attacks of the flesh eaters and the wrath of a few crazed human survivors. Can they find her lost aunt? Is anywhere safe—or has the Earth become a doomed planet for the human species? Author Stark does a brilliant job of giving us a birds eye view of the chaos and confusion that is the new norm, and the holdout of hope for the surviving few. Lots of chills and twists in this horror filled read–fasten your seatbelts (and leave on the lights, #JustSayin). This is the first book in the acclaimed Stage 3 series–highly recommended! I’ll be back for more…

Author Paula Houseman, Odyssey in a Teacup, 5 STARS

I haven’t stopped laughing! Author Paula Houseman takes us on a hilarious coming of age story with Odyssey in a Tea Cup! We follow the trials and tribulations of main character Ruth (no middle name) Roth as she grows from child to teen to adult, feeling as if she never seems to fit in; mother Sylvia who seems to give her no slack; friends, foes and fashion ‘situations’ that will leave you rolling on the floor; and cousin Ralph, the one person who always has her back.

The scenes with family and friends (disco or funeral, there’s always something!) will leave you roaring with laughter. Author Houseman has such a way with words (be prepared, no shying away with F bombs or other ahem, ‘descriptive’ language here!)–you’ll experience the fears, the anxieties, the embarrassments, the happiness as we travel with Ruth and her squad as they mature and go through the milestones of growing up and becoming adults.

I loved being with Ruth and her friends in every stage of their maturation (or lack there-of), reliving many similar events, LOL! Adult Ruth is a woman who is coming into her own, dealing with love, children and preparing for whatever the future brings. This is a fun series that will keep the laughs and tears flowing–a highly recommended read that makes you feel good!

Next up in the reading queue:

 

Lovely Lake Louise

We had the opportunity to take a stunning drive from the Castle in Banff Springs to the Fairmont Chateau on the shores of Lake Louise. Surrounded by the towering Canadian Rockies, it has to be one of the prettiest drives there is. Here’s a few pics to close:

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The Canadians are so great–these arches are wildlife crossings over HWY 1 heading from Banff to Lake Louise.

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Let the Good Times Keep Rolling!

Well why not? I know Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday has passed, but what’s wrong with having just a bit more ‘Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler’ spirit in our lives? It’s a holiday dry spell after Christmas and I miss the comradery and fun the ‘Tis the Season’ brings (and all the lights…#JustSayin). So get out today and enjoy a little March holiday cheer–make someone smile. It’s good for the soul… 

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Time For Some #InspirationResearch (IR), Canadian Rockies Style, Take Deux!

Well, here we go again, or at least try to anyway! In a few days I’ll finally be in my eagerly anticipated winter chilled air (sub-zero would be nice), provided the Polar Vortex decides not to inundate Seattle again with blowing blizzards, cancelling all flights! Banff Springs, here we come–faux fur boots in tow. I’m so looking forward to being at the beautiful castle nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, sitting by the fire, reading, writing, and sipping on some delicious libations. Fingers crossed (if this trip gets cancelled, the queen will not be amused #JustSayin)!

Lots of fun this week, watching the Oscars , oops I mean Telly Tiaras, participating in some fabulous blog Q&As, designing some new graphics, and writing Book 4 (and if honest, I have done a wee bit of shopping…).  Also had some great news (see below) that warmed this writer’s heart! It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#AmCelebrating

Part of a writer’s angst is anxiously waiting for a readers review of your stories–will they like it, or not so much? I’ve been very blessed to receive fantastic reviews on my books and am very grateful. In 2018, I decided to really put myself out there and entered my books in some contests. I was very pleasantly surprised to receive an Official Selection in the Mystery category for New Apple Literary’s Summer EBook awards last fall with The Crown for Castlewood Manor.

Last week, I received notice that my first two books received recognition in New Apple Literary’ s 5th Annual 2018 Awards of Excellence in Independent Publishing. The Crown for Castlewood Manor, received an Official Selection in the Mystery category. Cast, Crew, & Carnage; the Filming of Castlewood Manor, received an Official Selection in the EBook Mystery category.

To me these are the equivalent of winning two Oscars, oops, there I go again, Telly Tiaras, as a newly published writer! I’m very, very happy and grateful. Time to celebrate!

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#AmMarketing #Amwriting

The brilliant and talented writer/reader/reviewer Bibiana Krall (@Bibiana1Krall) and I have had some lively conversations the past few days on the topic of #BookMarketing. She’s had some inspiring ideas on how to reach out more effectively to #readers, using the small but powerful #’s…We all send out loads of tweets and posts with our book covers shining brightly, but are we reaching and attracting #readers? I’m making a conscious effort to now include genre#’s, audience#’s tags (ie #amreading, #booklovers, #bookclubs…)on my tweets and posts. We can’t forget to include our audience, and pssst, let them know where they can BUY your books! Check out more of Bibiana’s bits of #writing wisdom: #BibianaWritesFiction on Twitter.

Honored to be featured in writer/blogger Jason Foss’ (@JasonEFoss2) blog this past Sunday! Jason is a great supporter of the #WritingCommunity–check out my Q&A (and see the other writers he’s featured too)! http://empowered-individuals.blogspot.com/2019/02/veronica-cline-barton-authors-contimue.html

“Veronica Cline Barton was motivated in 2016 when the end of ‘Downtown Abbey’ had concluded. First of all, her calling that a major life dilemma was hilarious! Any ‘Downtown Abbey’ fan would know exactly how she felt. Everyone can relate when their favorite show ends that there is a void to be filled. Binge watching it and having weekend marathons of each episode will be fun but after a while there is a better way to enjoy what you love. My favorite thing about Veronica is she found that better way. For someone that loves British cozy mysteries, Downtown Abbey, and has a passion for the imagined life on a British Country estate, why not create something for those that miss it too! She is brilliant! Now Downtown Abby fans have something new to look forward to. Written by someone that knows exactly what you’ve been missing and knows how to give it back to you in the form of a great book. Click on the link above and buy “The Crown for Castlewood Manor”

Coming up, lots more fun conversations with some great folks in the #WritingCommunity!:

Check out my discussions this week with Mark Schultz (@wordrefiner) website. We’ll be doing Q&As all week!  https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/deadly-receptions-the-debut-of-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton#comments
Tomorrow I’ll be a guest on Soulla Christodoulou’s (@schristodoulou2) A Cup of Conversation,  details next week!
On March 5th, I’ll be on Jena Henry’s blog (@jenabooks), stay tuned!

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#AmReading

Tales of romance and living life from the wonderful writers of Twitter this week!

Author Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Winter Fire: A Return to Kintail Romance, 5 STARS

Magically transported to medieval times in the Scottish Highlands, let the tale of romance and intrigue begin! Author Sue-Ellen Welfonder’s romantic tale takes the reader back in time as we meet the enchanted Katla Mackenzie, a woman in love with a Nordic god who she is convinced seduced her. Is she mad? Her family is concerned, and are working to get her married off. Katla will have none of it, she has fallen for the man of her dreams–and knows her godly lover will return to her one day…

Enter Gunnar Macleod, a man still throbbing from the memories of a night of forbidden passion on the peak of Odin’s Flame, and the woman who has captured his heart. He has returned from a long journey to claim his eternal love, but when she learns the truth, will she stay with him? Family drama and turmoil, battling clans, romantic tensions, and the promise of true love make this book a great read!

Author Soulla Christodoulou, Broken Pieces of Tomorrow, 5 STARS

Many of us have experienced the emotions of broken dreams—the sorrow and disappointment of losing a life you’ve built over the years, the anger of betrayals, and the fear of starting over again. Author Soulla Christodoulou takes us on this life changing journey with her main character Georgia. We experience her fears and heartbreak as she uncovers the dismal truths that undermine everything she’s known and believed in, and watch her as she makes decisions that will impact the rest of her life and her three sons.

We laugh and cry with Georgia as she goes back to school and prepares for a new career, experiences the good and not so good moments of the dating scene, and gets those needed hugs and support from her beloved family and friends. The quote on the front cover is so true, ‘Strong women don’t give up…They find a way through tears and thrills to love again…’  This is a great read, full of inspiration and hope!

Next in the reading queue:

Winning folks over, one crown at a time

Veronica’s #WritersDiary, Keeping Focused and Getting in That Almost Royal State of Mind!

Did you ever have one of those weeks where you felt you were being pulled in every direction–trying to keep all the crowns in the air as you juggle a billion different things–and oh, by the way, you’ve started a new book (and decisions, decisions, do I really need those faux fur slides…#MyBad)? “Don’t forget, check–don’t forget, check– don’t forget, #$x%&*” was my mantra this past week.

We made it through Valentine’s Day (uuggh, I am in chocolate overload–never thought I would say those words…), the weekend (lovely torrential rains here in southern California), President’s Day (a sunny day that included lunch with our son at the Cheesecake Factory–lemon raspberry, yummo!)–and the never ending book #AmMarketing sprinkled throughout. It’s Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:

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#AmMarketing #AmWriting

AuthorUpROAR page–very excited to finally get this page and promotion service set up. You cannot do all the #AmMarketing promo by yourself (well maybe you can, but not me). Author UpROAR does a great job featuring your books and goes that extra mile in giving readers some insights into your writing style, what motivates you as a writer, and different facts about your books and characters on your page. The promo tweet support on Twitter has been great too! Check out my page if you get a chance–this is a great value IMO! https://authoruproar.com/author-veronica-cline-barton/

30 Day Book Marketing Challenge update: This week I’m doing research on several of the sites Rachel recommends in her book regarding content/#’s/groups on the social media platforms, SEO rankings, and sites that help get the word out on your books and blog. I’m not moving as quickly as I’d like with this, but I’m doing a bit each day. Unfortunately this is not the only thing I have to do each day, and I’m not a tech guru in all areas. I’m taking time to make sure I understand these different areas before I act, it’s just the way I tick.

Amazon–key words categories for eBook vs printed Books–I noticed for my three books that Amazon had my rankings listed by eBook and printed Books for each (in the middle of your book page on the left hand side)–and the category breakouts that I selected with CreateSpace and BookBaby were different for the eBooks and printed books. For eBooks (where most of my sales come from), the categories did not include cozy mystery. I was pretty shocked to see this (and even more shocked that I was just noticing this). I went to my KDP page and made the category selections. It makes a difference in your ranking–make sure the categories are correct for eBooks and printed books!

Guest blog features: Next week (Feb. 26th) I’ll be starting my guest blog Q&A with Mark Schultz (@wordrefiner) focused on Deadly Receptions; the Debut of Castlewood Manor that I’m very much looking forward to! On February 28th, I will be on A Cup of Conversation on Soulla Christodoulou’s (@schristodoulou2) blog. Upcoming posts are also scheduled with Jena Henry (@jenabooks) on March 5th, and with Jason Foss (@JasonEFoss2) TBD, coming soon. Take a moment to get to know these fabulous writers/bloggers who are great supporters of the #WritingCommunity!

#AmWriting: Almost time for the deep dive in, which means I’ll be in the zone and I cannot wait (and yes, Hampton Court Palace will find its way into the storyline one way or another)! This storyline is wanting to get out, it will be interesting to see what the characters end up this go around–cocktail bar is stocked! #JustSayin

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#AmReading

Once again, the #writers of Twitter did not disappoint (and I am so glad I had something to read, relax, and unwind with this week!)

Author Jeff DeMarco, Into Armageddon; Ruler of Ashes Series (Book 1), 5 STARS:

It has been said the world is full of good intentions, a wonderful thought to think of and believe in. But it’s just as disturbing to think that our entire world can be brought to its knees by those in power who think they are ‘saving’ the world with their so called ‘good intentions’. Author Jeff DeMarco takes us on a chilling journey that details the actions of a stealth power organization called ‘The Order’, and their scientific manipulations that erupt as the chaos of these biological/genetically engineered intentions unfold, uncontrollable, devolving into a reality that brings the world as we know it to an end.

Genetically modified children with extreme powers, military madmen, humans that degenerate into vicious killing machines, and the power of the few who struggle to survive and rule using any means necessary in this new world makes for a chilling tale as the truth of what’s been unleashed is slowly decoded. There are dark secrets yet to be revealed–who should be trusted? Who will be successful? Or will everyone be doomed to destruction by the madness of power? A chilling, page turning read that will keep you on the edge to the end!

Author Lori Katherine, Twilight Carnivals, 5 STARS:

Words that inspire, words that touch and light the darkest corners of your heart and soul–Author/Poetess Lori Katherine gives us her wordily touch of magic that brings forth many emotions as you read. The pangs of lost love, fleeting moments, peaceful memories, tears of sorrow, and laughs of joy are just a few of the emotions you’ll experience and remember from the past and present as you read this lovely collection of poems.

I love sitting back and reading these gems of reflections and inspiration over and over–gaining me new insights every time. Author Lori Katherine has introduced me to the moving world of poetry once again, and awakened my love for this written style of word. A great read that does your heart, soul and spirit good!

Author Bibiana Krall, Abulon: A Modern Fairy Tale (short story), 5 STARS:

Author Bibiana Krall takes us on an unexpected journey into the fantasies of unknown worlds with this enchanting short story. A moment of passion with mystery man Pablo on a beach in northern California has chilling consequences for main character Branca that leaves a lasting imprint on her heart. As her destiny and past is revealed, will she leave her world behind or stay in the safety of the known? A short story that will leave you guessing and gasping to the end!

Next in the reading queue:

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What can I say…meet moi, Barbie style!

A girl’s got to have a little fun. To help get in my almost royal state of mind, I’ve been blinging things up a bit around the house. Hubby is involved in a super secret project bringing the Wedding Pavilion at Cherrywood Hall to life right here in southern California! Soooo, as I’ve been shopping and planning, I happened to run into the ‘Barbie’ version of one of my fave fashion icons, Iris Apfel, and I just had to get her…primarily because this doll could be moi! The faux fur, the fringe–I fell in love. Now I just need to find a Barbie crown….:)

Welcome to my writing world! Enjoy the rest of your week and have a fabulous weekend friends!

Crowns and Kisses,

Veronica

P.S. We’ll be celebrating the Oscars Telly Tiaras this Sunday–can’t wait to see all the fashion, slights, and celebrations! Gemma would approve!

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