Jan Scarbrough's Blog, page 20

Welcome Valerie Twombly and her new release Eternal Flame

Welcome Valerie Twombly, a fellow Resplendence author. She has a new release called Eternal Flame, book one of the Guardians series.

Summary

A woman he cannot have, a man who is only a dream…

When guardian Marcus Dagotto, discovers the Gods have gifted him with a mate, he is pissed. He has no room for love and even less for a human who has no idea he exists.

Cassandra Jensen, has a shattered heart and has given up on men. Only one man can set her body on fire, but he is a fantasy that haunts her sleep.

Two worlds, one desire.

When the two collide, fate will rip them apart and test their resolve. Will darkness and evil prevail? Or, will love conquer all?

 Buy Links

 Resplendence Publishing

 Amazon

Meet Valerie

As a child, Valerie would often get into trouble for peeking at her mother’s favorite TV show, Dark Shadows. She can still hear her mother saying “It will give you nightmares.” She was right of course, but that did not stop Valerie from watching. As an adult, her love of the fanged creatures never waned. She would watch any vampire movie she could find.

Being a true romantic, Valerie was thrilled when she discovered the genre of paranormal romance. Her first read was one of Lara Adrian’s, Midnight Breed Series and from there she was hooked.

Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper. When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and her two German shepherd dogs, in Northern IL.

 Connect with Valerie

Website| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Cowboy Up!

It’s easy to get discouraged as you live your life. If you are a writer whose goal is to publish, your life may be filled with rejection and frustration. In the past, it was worse with traditional publishing. In today’s self-publishing world, you can control what and when you upload to ebook vendors. However, when your sales stagnate or fail to take off, you often experience the same disappointment as you did when you received a rejection letter.

In 2001, Steeple Hill author Renee Ryan and I gave a talk at RWA in New Orleans. Entitled “Perspective, Passion & Persistence: the Three P’s of Success,” it was our twelve-step guide designed to help writers ‘stay the course’ in the world of publishing, whether on the verge of publication or experiencing a ‘dry spell’ after a book sale.

One of the three “P’s” was the word “persistence” (synonyms: persevere, remain, endure, stand, abide, plod, and continue). We presented examples and we offered quotes from famous people about persistence.

My favorites quotes were from Rick Pitino’s Success is a Choice: Ten Steps to Overachieving in Business and Life. Broadway Books, 1997. (Rick Pitino is the basketball coach for our beloved champions, the University of Louisville Cardinals.) Here’s what he said:

“It’s persistence that makes you great. It’s persistence that allows you to reach your dreams. It’s persistence that enables you to perform at your fullest potential.”

“Sometimes of course, we fail to accomplish our goals. But we have to remember that failure is a part of life and failure is only fertilizer for future success.”

“The only time failure is truly bad is if you use it as an excuse to quit.”

I once found a term that struck me as being just right for a writer. Cowboy Up!

It means “when things are getting tough you have to get back up, dust yourself off and keep trying.”

I practice the same philosophy when horseback riding. The times I have fallen from a horse as an adult, I’ve picked myself up and climbed right back into the saddle.

The next time I’m discouraged and frustrated, I’ll remember to Cowboy Up!

It’s High School Reunion Time Again

When I mentioned to co-workers that I was attending my high school reunion this weekend, I got negative reactions—most wouldn’t go to their reunions simply because high school didn’t bring back any fond memories. All they wanted from high school was “out.”

High school for me was a little different. My dad was vice-principal. I enjoyed being in the band, having a foreign exchange student, and editing the school’s literary magazine. Boy friends? Not! Popular in-crowd? Not! But I remember shedding a tear on graduation night when my classmates were rushing from the football field jumping for joy.

When it was time for my XX year class reunion, I was pregnant and couldn’t travel. I made it to my XX one with my ex-husband. I wrote a blog about it in August.

 

When I attended the XX with Bill, I wondered who all those old people were. I had a good excuse for not attending the XX reunion. I went to Moonlight & Magnolias in Atlanta, and then vacationed in the Outer Banks.

This reunion should be fun, simply because it is a “Grand Reunion” of the local bands we listened to in high school. The Soul Sanction will be there. So will The Rogues, The Embers, and The Impacts. Former members of The Knight Riders have been invited to perform.

So what important things were going on when I was in high school?

In Oak Ridge, McDonald’s hiring wage was $1.40 per hour.

The Skyway Drive-In was playing Valley of the DolIs. Grove Theater was showing Bonnie and Clyde and Ridge Theater was showing Yours, Mine and Ours. The cost of admission for students was $1. The Odd Couple was featured at the Oak Ridge Community Playhouse.

Crusin’ from McDonaIds to Shoneys was the “groovy” thing to do. Dancing at the Armory was the after-the-game hot place to be after a football game on Friday night.

We were listening to Otis Redding, the Righteous Brothers, the Beatles, the Rascals, the Fifth Dimension, Simon and Garfunkel, Gary Puckett and The Union Gap, the Four Seasons, and The Four Tops.

Top 5 songs were Hey Jude, Honey, Love is Blue, Sittin’ on The Dock of the Bay, and People got to be Free.

Oak Ridge High School graduated 522 seniors that year.

 

What I Learned Writing Tangled Memories

Writing my Gothic romance Tangled Memories was a leap of faith for me at a time in my life when I needed a leap of faith.

 History

I rewrote the first version after disappointing contest results. The second version became a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest. I “sold” it to one of the first e-presses in 1999 before the advent of decent e-readers. That didn’t go so well, because no one used e-books back then.

Later I contracted with ImaJinn Books for a paperback version. Once I had my rights back again, I contracted with The Wild Rose Press for a few years. Today Tangled Memories is with its fourth publisher Turquoise Morning Press.

Tangled Memories can be purchased in paperback at Amazon.com and is available in various e-book formats including Kindle.

I am giving away three paperback copies of Tangled Memories on Goodreads.

What I learned

Tangled Memories taught me that a book can be “re-purposed.” Once you have good content, you can re-write, re-edit and re-use it.

I also learned I liked to write first person. It feels natural to me. My writing voice is strong when I write using the first person “I.”

Gothic Romance

From Infoplease.com: Gothic romance is a type of novel that flourished in the late 18th and early 19th cent. in England. Gothic romances were mysteries, often involving the supernatural and heavily tinged with horror, and they were usually set against dark backgrounds of medieval ruins and haunted castles.

During the 1960s so-called Gothic novels became enormously popular in England and the United States. Seemingly modeled on Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, these novels usually concern spirited young women, either governesses or new brides, who go to live in large gloomy mansions populated by peculiar servants and precocious children and presided over by darkly handsome men with mysterious pasts. Popular practitioners of this genre are Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, Catherine Cookson, and Dorothy Eden.

As a fan of old-fashioned Gothic romance, I realized I needed to write more such books. Timeless is my newest Gothic romance, and maybe the best book I’ve written to date. Check it out.

 

Tangled Memories Book Giveaway on Goodreads

The Goodreads team has approved your giveaway for Tangled Memories. It is scheduled to open for entries at midnight on Thursday, September 26 and end at midnight on Saturday, October 26.

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Tangled Memories
by Jan Scarbrough

Giveaway ends October 26, 2013.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Tangled Memories is my first paranormal Gothic romance.  To promote my new paranormal Gothic romance Timeless, I am giving away 3 paperback copies of Tangled Memories on Goodreads.  Enter to win!

Timeless – supernatural inspiration

Sylvia Browne, James Van Praagh, John Edward, and Theresa Caputo, the Long Island Medium, are well-known psychic mediums who are part of our popular culture. Believe them or not, they all bring messages of love from the spirit world.

When I was presented with the cover of Timeless and the idea of a child ghost, I needed a character who could communicate with her. Enter Jeff Halstead, the hero and my reluctant medium.

As I was writing Timeless, I mentioned the book to my medium friend Dale. She told me something fascinating. My spirit guides where helping me write it! And having a good time doing it!

As I mentioned in my blog about Inspiration, the definition of “inspiration” says this creativity is a gift of the Holy Spirit. As easy as Timeless was to write, I believe I had some supernatural help writing it.

I met Dale several years ago at a “psychic faire” in Jeffersonville, Indiana. When I discovered she taught continuing education classes at night, I took a couple. Later, I attended her workshops and meditations at her home, and occasionally scheduled readings. I’ve learned many things from Dale over the years—the most important is to trust my writing and the voices in my head that help me do it.

Like the more famous mediums, Dale has also written a book, or more correctly, Dale channeled the book that was actually written by her joy guide Daisy.

Dale explains: Our Joy Guides are magical in their efforts to help us in all our adventures, as well as our daily lives. Daisy’s book will help you in many ways to recognize your Joy Guide and the many other Angels, teachers, and guides… but will also help you know how to get to know your own Joy Guide.

From Daisy: As a fairy guide, I am here to help you understand more about your world and mine.

Daisy, My Life as a Joy Guide can be purchased at Amazon in paperback and Kindle. And although Dale has moved away from the Louisville, Kentucky, area, you can still reach her at her website where you can schedule a reading over the phone.

Timeless—A step into the past

My upcoming release from Turquoise Morning Press—Timeless—is the result of the cover publisher Kim Jacobs put on the TMP website. She was advertising the new category lines, and one was paranormal. My name was on its cover just as a sample. Immediately, I told Kim I wanted to write it.

So how do you start a book that only has a cover? You look at the cover! The picture shows a man and a woman, probably in love, and a little girl in the background. This book was supposed to be a paranormal, so of course the child had to be a ghost.

I pulled out a couple of books from my research library: Haunts of Old Louisville by David Domine, and The Great Louisville Tornado of 1890 by Keven McQueen. I wanted to use information from both books as inspiration and background for my story.

I went to the Internet for other research. It’s strange what a novelist needs when writing, and the Internet is a handy place to find that information. Some of the things I researched were Baxter Square Park—Louisville’s first park—a party game called Flip Cup, posttraumatic stress disorder, and the events of September 11, 2001. I also researched a hill in Cherokee Park where people sled in the winter, but that is still called “dog hill.” I investigated carriages from the 1890’s and period clothing.

Being a history major as well as an ex-English teacher came in handy when writing Timeless. It didn’t take long to research and the book was easy to write. Maybe more about that later. Let me know if you read the book and like it.

I believe Timeless is the best book I’ve written so far.

Best Birthday Present Ever

Thanks to my husband’s hard work, Betting On Love went live on Amazon on Labor Day—which just happened to be my birthday this year.

I can’t think Bill enough for all his hard work. My editor Karen Block and my cover artist KJ Jacobs share in the success of my first self-published novel. I only hope my readers share in my excitement.

One reader, Jan Hougland, has already given Betting On Love a five-star review on Amazon.

Simply put, I loved this story about Sarah and Lane. Being a woman, I can relate to Sarah’s desire to meet and marry a Prince Charming. Who wouldn’t want that?? But I can also understand Lane’s reluctance to get involved in a permanent relationship due to his past history. What I really appreciated was Sarah’s naïve honesty in declaring what she was looking for despite Lane’s “beat around the bush” technique in avoiding a serious entanglement. This was a delightful courtship “dance” these two participated in, at times uproariously funny, at other times frustrating, but always with the sensual heat escalating. I found myself on the reader sidelines, cheering on and encouraging Sarah and Lane to grab their obvious-to-me chance at love and win their happy-ever after. I REALLY loved this story and can’t wait to read what other stories Ms. Scarbrough has written and will write. Her stories are gonna be on my “keeper” shelf for sure.

If you read any of my books, it helps my ranking if you will review them. A review, even if it isn’t five-star, will benefit any author. It gives us feedback on what we should work on the next time, and tells us what we are doing right.

Betting On Love is out now at Smashwords.

 

Self-publishing—A Brave New World

Exciting things are happening for me! I’m self-publishing a book thanks to the technical help of my husband. After his day job as a computer programmer ends, he spends time learning the ins and outs of self-publishing. He’s better suited to the task than I am.

Bill has already uploaded Betting on Love to iTunes. Tonight, he promises to work on Amazon.

I have to share with you a little history of Betting On Love. Originally, it was called A Man of Her Own and published by Resplendence Publishing in 2008. They published a nice trade paperback, and put the electronic version on various sites—but never on Kindle!

When Resplendence gave me my rights, I dived into the book for a cleanup. Then my terrific, freelance editor Karen Block got a hold of the manuscript. Her editing has caught things that I, as the author, have missed. The book is better for her editing.

My friend, KJ Jacobs provided the cover. Isn’t it terrific? That’s cover model Jimmy Thomas in the picture. Who cares about the identity of the woman?

Betting On Love: When Bluegrass chef Lane Williams meets Sarah Colby, a romantic virgin with a head full of fairy tales and a matchmaking aunt, his bachelor days are threatened.

 

Timeless

[image error]A contemporary Gothic romance, Timeless has all the elements of an intriguing paranormal: a resident ghost, evil entities, tragic lovers, and ultimate redemption. Set in Old Louisville, now and in the past, Timeless brings together the elements of history and contemporary New Age belief.

When Beth Abbott receives a surprise inheritance from her birth mother, she travels to the family’s nineteenth century mansion in Old Louisville, now a bed and breakfast. There she meets the resident ghost, a little girl whose crying scares, but intrigues guests. Beth sets out to discover the identity of the ghost and why she appears happy to Beth, not sad.

Jeff Halstead, a man with several secrets, runs the bed and breakfast. But he’s more than that to Beth, and she feels their connection immediately. A psychic medium who doubts his skills, Jeff slowly uncovers the truth of their past lives. Will he be in time to reveal the identity of Beth’s enemy? Will the love they shared in the past follow them into the future?

Available for Pre-Sale Now!

Watch Kobo, B&N and iTunes for preorder pages.

 

Excerpt

Chapter One

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Present Day

My life changed on a dreary day in December. Oh, the day started out as usual. I made it to work at Eggs-to-Go with six minutes to spare. The seven o’clock starting time has always been hard on me because I’m not a morning person. But I like my waitressing job. I like serving the variety of people who come into the breakfast and brunch restaurant. Many of them are college students because Bowling Green is a college town. Gulping down cups of hot coffee has helped me make it through the longest shifts with a smile.

On the day my life changed, I had a test to study for, so I stopped by the Western Kentucky University library before going home. I can’t study in the apartment. Mom is always watching CSPAN or Fox News, and the noise drives me crazy. Mom’s a little hard of hearing, so she turns up the volume, you see. The quiet library is better for me. For one thing, studying there makes me feel as if I’m a real college student, not a twenty-five year, old part-time night school student.

Anyway, I got home late, because I stopped on the way to pick up a quart of skim milk and a carton of peppermint ice cream. It was close enough to Christmas for Mom’s favorite ice cream to be in the store. I thought I’d surprise her.

I was the one surprised.

We live in a two-bedroom apartment. Nothing grand. We’ve lived there together since my dad left us. He’s not my real dad—just my adoptive dad—so I don’t claim any of his irresponsible genes. When Mom got breast cancer, the jerk declared he couldn’t handle it. That left me to take care of Mom when they divorced.

After all, since my mom adopted me as a baby when my birth mother gave me up, I figure I owe her. Oh, sure, I understand her subtle message that I’m her reason for living, especially now that he’s left us. Being someone’s reason for living is a chore. It’s not easy carrying someone’s happiness on your shoulders. But this had been my way of life for a long time. It was the only life I knew.

Until that day when I unlocked the apartment door and walked into the living room. Sitting beside my mom on one end of the sofa was a balding man with thick, black-framed glasses. He wore a three-piece suit and a red power tie. He looked official, but not particularly powerful. When I walked in carrying the plastic grocery bag, he stood up.

Mom jumped up too, as if she was nervous.

“Beth, this is Mr. Carmichael,” she said. “He’s from Louisville, and he’s come to see you.”

He stepped forward and extended his hand, tight lipped, his eyes boring into mine. I took his hand. It was limp and clammy. I didn’t think much of him, not with a handshake like that. Shouldn’t city lawyers be more manly?

“You look like your mother,” he said.

That got my attention, I tell you. I glanced at Mom. We didn’t look a bit alike. She’s dark haired with an olive complexion. I’ve always been blond and fair. But then again, we aren’t really related. Not by blood anyway.

My gaze shot up to meet the man’s black eyes. What had he said? A knot of something like panic tightened in my stomach. I licked my lips. They were suddenly dry.

“Well, sit down, everyone.” Mom was flustered. I could tell by the way she pulled her worn sweater around her as if the old blue yarn would protect her from the awkward coldness that filled the room.

I plopped down on the straight-back wooden chair near the writing desk and put the plastic grocery bag on the desktop. I sat bolt upright on the edge of my chair, clenching my teeth together, and folded my hands in my lap. Something was coming, and I felt the raw energy of it. I didn’t know if it was good or bad, but from Mom’s expression, it couldn’t be too bad. She was obviously agitated but not all teary-eyed like the day she learned Grandpa had died.

Mom fidgeted. She smiled and shifted her gaze between us. “Mr. Carmichael has good news for you, Beth.”

I lifted my eyebrows, daring the man to say what he’d come to say.

“I am the attorney for the estate of Melissa Chadwick Williams,” he said hesitating, as if weighing his words. “Mrs. Williams died of pancreatic cancer two months ago.”

I tilted my head to the side as if to ask “So?” What did this have to do with me?

Mr. Carmichael glanced at Mom. “Do you want to tell her, Mrs. Abbott?”

I guess he thought my mom could soften whatever blow was to come, but I’d already figured it out. This woman who’d died was my real mother, and he was her lawyer.

So I saved everyone the trouble. “What do you want with me, Mr. Carmichael? I assume this Mrs. Williams is my birth mother. She’s dead. I’m sorry. But what does her passing have to do with me?”

“Everything, Miss Abbott.” He cleared his throat. “You see, she left the bulk of her estate and that of her late husband to you.”

Now I couldn’t speak. My mouth dropped open, and then I clamped it shut so I wouldn’t look like a goon.

“Beth, it’s a lot of money!” Mom’s eyes gleamed with excitement, as if we’d just won the Powerball.

“Just how much money is it?”

“In the ballpark of two million dollars in property and investments.”