Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 529

So you want to be the next (insert famous author's name here)? Guest Blog with Alexia Purdy

Story telling is one of the oldest crafts in the history of the world. But what does it take to be a great storyteller and sell it? Writing and selling books can be harrowing and definitely not as easy as it may seem. Just type you say? Well, anyone can do that! But can anyone weave together words just right to formulate a world that can engross a reader to the point of neglecting daily tasks and not notice the hours fleeting by? Not everyone can do this, not everyone can spin a tale so endearing that thousands will buy it and be left so affected by the author's words that they will never be the same ever again after the adventure they have just experienced.

Every author strives to get to this point, the point where there is not turning back for the reader past page one. To venture into the author's mind and imagine the people, places and sights in one's own mind as the author has spread out before you. How do they do that? What can a writer do to hone their craft in such a way?

Who do you have to kill?

Well, being a debut author myself, I find this question constantly running miles through my head, a relentless nag that makes me want to be that kind of writer–to be the next Suzanne Collins, J.K. Rowling or even Stephen King. Yet how? As I continue my journey into this vast world writing stories, publishing and fandom, I discovered that the answer is never a clear one, but there are guidelines out there to help you on your way. You may have heard them before, but I live by these words. Every type of the keyboard and daydream I tap out comes from sticking to this list; each one of these rules have helped me to stay on track and become a better writer in every way.


Alexia's rules to being a good writer/storyteller/seller…..

1. Write every day and often (Stephen King says it best! Plus, it is a muscle, use it or lose it, duh!)

2. Read even more–you want to be like someone? Read their stuff! (but of course!)

3. Jot down every story idea, even if they suck. (Okay, that was the easy one)

4. Read it out loud, you'd be surprised how different it sounds when not just in your head.…(Reality vs. Illusion here)

5. Do try to keep it organized (Yeah right! Outline? What is that?)

6. Get some feedback! (Eek!)

7. Get yourself out there with the social networks. (Hello Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Blog, website, Tumbler, Pinterest, Google +….gulp!)

8. Shameless Promotion! (gulp gulp!) Chat and, well, do it a lot! (YES, mingle!)

9. Get a mentor (or 2 or 3 or 4) and ask them lots of questions! (Yep, I've annoyed many a person, this I know.)

10. Don't forget to live your life. (Yes I mean you, shed this self-imposed isolation stuck on the PC, how else do you get ideas? Go and seek them out!)

There you have it in a nutshell, I'm sure there are other rules, but feel free to make your own. Happy writing ;)

Where to find Alexia Purdy:

Blog:
http://alexiapurdy.blogspot.com

Website:
www.alexiapurdy.com

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/AlexiaPurdy @AlexiaPurdy

Goodreads Author page:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5038699.Alexia_Purdy

Alexia Purdy's Facebook Fan Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexia-Purdy/141367132649647

Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale) Facebook Fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Dark-Faerie-Tale-Series-by-Alexia-Purdy/

Reign of Blood Series Facebook Fan Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reign-of-Blood-series/294556733940025




Ever ShadeA Dark Faerie Tale
By Alexia Purdy
Blurb:

A dark twist on faeries. For Shade, a chance meeting with a powerful Teleen faery warrior who wields electrical currents and blue fires along his skin- has her , joining him on a treacherous mission for the good Seelie Faerie Court across the land of Faerie. Magic and malice abound and nothing is what it really seems to be.

The evil Unseelie Queen and her treacherous allies are round every corner... as Shade makes her way across the breathtaking landscapes of the world of Faerie, which exists alongside the mundane human world. Shade discovers her own uncharted magic and meets some of the most powerful warriors in Faerie while battling evil dryads, conniving Teleen guards and challenges on her life with every step in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.

About the Author:

Alexia currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada- Sin City! She love's to spend every free moment writing, or playing with her four rambunctious kids. Writing has always been her dream and she has been writing ever since she can remember. She love's creating paranormal fantasy and poetry and loves to read and devour books daily. Alexia also enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and Italian food. Currently working on launching her debut dark parnormal fantasy Ever Shade- A Dark Faerie Tale series with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Carly Fall Author of Finding My Faith

Hot Men From Another Universe – Carly Fall

When the idea for this series began to form, frankly, the thought of writing about beings from other universes grossed me out.  When I think of the word "alien," it is not a pretty picture that comes to my mind.  I see movies like E.T., or Alien, or War of the Worlds.  Not exactly the picture of an entity that I want to swoop me off my feet.
I knew I wanted my aliens to look like humans and interact like humans, but I also wanted them to have specific characteristics that identified them as aliens (seriously, I even hate writing the word!!).  And I wanted them to come from a peaceful place and not be the type of race to wage war on every other planet.  I wanted them to have a distinct purpose.  I didn't want them to really want to come to Earth, but for them to have to come to Earth.
And I think I accomplished my goals.  My boys are all hot alpha males, but with faults and imperfections, as well as vulnerabilities.  They are the Warriors of their planet sent to Earth for a noble purpose:  to eradicate the evil from their world that has wreaked havoc on Earth in the form of some of our most notorious criminals, such as Jeffrey Dahmer, Saddam Hussein, and Jack the Ripper.  They want to achieve their mission and then go home.
Their planet is a beautiful, calm, serene place, as are its inhabitants.  Their alien forms are made up of wisps of brightly colored smoke.  To blend into to this world, they have been given large, strong human bodies, and the only way you would know they are aliens is because at night their eyes glow the color of their alien beings.
For me, mission accomplished.  I'd let any of my Warriors swoop me off my feet any day!


Finding my Faith
By Carly Fall
Growing up in a small Northern Arizona town, Faith Cloudfoot's life was spent playing in the forests surrounding her house under the protective eyes of her father, and learning about the legends of her Native American heritage.

Yearning for more out of her life, she moves to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of twenty-three where she is kidnapped and almost killed.

Rayner has a special ability, one that weighs on him like a curse. He can see spirits trapped in between life and their final resting place. Because he can't do much to help them, he studiously ignores them. He concentrates, instead, on working with his fellow warriors to right the wrongs caused by the evil criminals from his home planet.

When Rayner sees Faith in her spirit form while investigating a lead in Phoenix, his attraction to her is immediate, yet he follows his own personal code and ignores her cry for attention. When he realizes that she may be a stepping stone to getting him home to his own universe, he engages Faith and begins to use her as a means to an end: going home.

As the attraction grows stronger, Rayner finds himself breaking all sorts of self-set rules, as well as the code of ethics set by him and his fellow warriors. When Faith nears death, Rayner realizes that he must do everything in his power to save her, because if he doesn't, he may just lose himself.




About the Author:

Carly Fall lives in Arizona with her incredibly supportive husband, their son and their dog.
She enjoys the weather in Arizona, and when she isn't writing, you can find her spending time with her family, or lazily floating in the pool.

Carly has spent twenty years writing business materials, and Shackled to the Night was her first foray into fiction.

For more information on upcoming books as well as freebies and giveaways, visit her website at www.CarlyFall.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carly-Fall/135934843166283

Twitter: CarlyFall1





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Book Tour Guest Blog and Giveaway: Eyes of the Seer by Peter Dawes

The Paper-Thin Villain – Adding More Dimension to Your Bad GuyPicture the scene, if you will.
A mad scientist looms over his table, admiring the monster laid out on the slab before him. Rubbing his hands together, he grins wickedly while taking in the culmination of years' worth of work. His trusty sidekick Igor hobbles over to him, his gimp leg and humped back giving him a ghastly, yet, cartoonish appearance. "It's alive!" the mad scientist declares. He repeats it once more for emphasis. "It's alive!"
Now, absent from this scenario is any idea as to who this villain is and why we should care. Granted, unleashing a menacing monster upon the populace is enough reason why anybody should scorn the evil creator, but both he and the hero look two-dimensional when one leaves it at this. The hero will swoop in and defeat the monster. And he might even slay the scientist before he is able to scurry away. But before the end of the piece, we are still left with one question: Why?
It is a question we ask more often of the hero than the villain. Why does Prince Charming rescue the fair maiden from the brink of certain doom? What motivates the teenage girl to summon a maturity well beyond her years as she defeats the establishment? Too often the coin is not flipped, however, and the same questions are not asked of the antagonist.
Picture the above scene, once again, but with more thought into the motives of our villain:
Dr. Menacing paused amidst the flurry of activity to study his new creation. Its features were gruesome, its body a patchwork mess of pieces cobbled together from fresh graves and stolen cadavers, but it bore a beauty only a parent could appreciate.  Caressing the side of his monster's face in a loving stroke, his mind became lost in the throes of memory.
He hadn't meant to be a villain. He still recalled a time when he lived in the village, untouched by the world's burdens and enchanted both with his work and the beautiful milkmaid whom he had married. It was perfect, something interrupted only when his wife collapsed on the floor one evening under strange circumstances. The village doctor had no idea how to treat her. In the days which followed, her condition went from bad to worse until it became terminal. He had only wanted to find a way to cure her, then sought a way to make her immortal.
Now, they called him mad. It was a pity she was not alive to argue otherwise.
A sound broke him from his thoughts and led his gaze toward his assistant. The disfigured dwarf had been a willing accomplice, himself cast out of the village for not fitting in to their cookie-cutter mold. He smirked in a manner which mirrored the twisted smile on Dr. Menacing's face.
Dr. Menacing nodded, his voice a loud breech upon a quiet, peaceful world. "It's alive!" he said in a shrill cry which set even Igor's teeth on edge. The scientist felt power pulsing through him and declared it once again. "It's alive!"
Now, the above piece suffers from moments of telling without showing, but you understand my point. In a longer narrative, we might open on a young genius with his beautiful wife and their cottage in the village. We might see the ostracized scientist, but with a bounce in his step brought about by the love inside his heart. Until the day she falls ill and necessity spurs him to find a cure for her condition, even if it drives him insane. His slow descent into madness might accompany her slip into death. And when she dies, so does that thread which kept him tethered to reality.
How does this impact the hero?
The hero might have been an old friend – the one person who understood all along that Dr. Menacing was not a bad man deep, down inside. When his friend's wife dies, it drives a wedge between the men which lasts for years as one pursues one path, and one, another. Their lives do not cross again until talk of a monster stirs the village and Mr. Hero tells himself, surely it could not be his old friend Dr. Menacing. The moment he sees the twisted ghost of a man he once knew, though, it ceases all denial. Menacing has never crawled out from the pit. And Hero is faced with the gut-wrenching realization that only he knows enough about Menacing to stop him.
The details might change, but the best stories are ones in which the villains are craftier, or more conflicted, or show some sign of a past which has led them to become what they currently are. They might want the nations to fall on their knees before them, but at some point, something drove them into the maw of madness or caused their sociopathic tendencies to have much more damaging avenues. The meddlesome wizard gets locked into a deal with a demon and forced to plan the destruction of the world. Along the way, though, a seed germinates, and the wicked becomes the diabolical.
So, before you pen your own Dr. Menacing, think about who he is and why he wants to unleash his monster upon a quiet village. It will add depth and color to your tale, even if his past never makes it into the pages of your book.
***Peter Dawes would like to thank the host of this blog for inviting him to visit. He would also like to apologize for referring to himself in the third person. His When not slaying monsters or following sorceresses around the globe, he calls himself an urban fantasy author and writes The Vampire Flynn Trilogy. People have accused him of naming the main character after himself, but he has responded by asking, "How do you know I am not a vampire assassin?"
His psychiatrist is not available for comment.
Eyes of the Seer
By Peter Dawes
It all started with a murder. Two victims lay dead at the hands of Peter Dawes, but what laid in wait for him was not the sound of sirens or the banging of a gavel. It would turn a doctor into a killer and a man into a monster.

Follow Peter as he exchanges his blood-stained clothing for tailored suits, his scalpel for fine-crafted daggers, and is reinvented as the newest vampire-child in a coven of decadent sophisticates. He even takes on the name 'Flynn' – a child of red – in honor of his new-found devilish side and to further distance himself from his human past.

For four years, Flynn embodies every bit the bloody immortal he was sired to become. Under the reign of his maker, Sabrina, he establishes a reputation as the most feared assassin to ever terrorize the covens of Philadelphia. But the surefooted-steps and quick hands that make him a virtuoso when it comes to killing humans and vampires alike are attributes of the mortal destiny which haunts him even beyond death. And despite all efforts, Peter's humanity is not as dead as some would prefer.

On the verge of completing their vie for power, Sabrina's 'dark-killer' will suddenly find himself wrestling his devotion to his mistress when an impish sorceress named Monica awakens the hidden powers he was destined to possess. In this world of macabre and shrewdly practical immortal beings, will Flynn's supernatural gifts be used to orchestrate the wicked deeds of his maker? Or can the cold-blooded nature of a vampire be warmed by the compassion of a Seer?

EYES OF THE SEER is a gripping tale conspicuously authored by Peter Dawes – years later, he's decided to put the story of his life to paper, albeit listed as 'fiction'. (Vampires can't really claim to exist, after all. It would ruin the whole gig.)


Kindle               Print

About the Author:

Peter Dawes is an author of urban fantasy, native to the Philadelphia, PA area. The stories he writes often focus on the paranormal, with real life people being thrown into extraordinary circumstances. The clash of good vs evil and hero vs villain is a staple of his work, though he is never content to leave the hero unscathed by the end of the day. There is always a trial experienced and a lesson learned, even if it's learned the hard way. Far from being an archetypal author, though, Peter Dawes recognizes that what is black and white is often painted with shades of gray and even the heroes fall while the villains rise above. To Peter, the classic struggle epitomizes something within all of us that digs deep for the last mile, doggedly holds on to love, and sometimes ignores the safe path for the road less traveled. He also may or may not be a vampire. He leaves that for the reader to determine.

Website: http://crimsonmelodies.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/poeticimmortal
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EyesOfTheSeer
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CrimsonMelodies



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The New Breed of Vampire by Ashlynne Layne

The New Breed of Vampire
Why write about vampires?
I've been obsessed with horror movies since I was very young. My grandmother took me to see Creepshow at the dollar movie when I was nine. The dollar movie has long been gone but that day spurred my love of the horror genre.
I'm a horror fanatic. I'll watch anything—slasher, cheesy b rated, zombie, vampire, witches. You name it; I will or have already seen it. My movie library is more than half horror.
My upcoming series is about a family of vampires and one within their family who is different, yet the same. Ascher is a half-bloodling (half-human and half vampire). His skin possesses the warmth of a human's yet he lives off blood and is immortal like his family.
I and other authors are bringing forth a new breed of vampire. The days of the cold-blooded, garlic fearing, cross avoiding fiends of old are slowly giving way to a new warrior. The new blood is tougher, meaner, and more human-like. They fall deeper in love than any of their predecessors. These guys have the gentle touch of a feather but will tear an enemy apart with the same hands. They're as passionate about their clan ties as they are about the women who stir their blood.
They're bold, sexy warriors with hearts of gold and wills of steel. Their bodies are lean, sculpted immortal vessels of paranormal strength and ability. They're devoted brothers, enemy slayers and erotic lovers capable of completely satisfying their chosen mate.
Authors like Brenda Dyer and myself, believe that our imaginations dictate our characters' worlds. We've empowered ourselves to freely interpret our mythical beings—even if it goes against the grain of traditional vampire roles. We've created feeling and intense vampires that are outside the typical vampire box. In Brenda's paranormal romance, Love's Prophecy, her vampires are demon slayers who appear just as human as you or me. They love passionately, eat food and feel the full gamut of human emotions.
While I'm not one to conform, I subscribe to the fact that vampires are pale and blood drinkers. I, however, don't have mine running around draining the life out of poor, unsuspecting victims. I'm a purist in believing that they are cold-skinned and burn in sunlight. I'm not one to believe that vampires are emotionless, evil fiends who sleep in coffins and plan the demise of us warm-blooded humans.
The humanization of the "undead" makes for more interesting and intense love stories with the ability to suck the reader in while fueling the imagination.
And really...why is it so hard to believe that a vampire might have the emotional capacity to love as much as a human? They typically were human once and surely felt the full range of emotions during that time. So, why wouldn't that carry over into immortality?
With the Twilight craze, True Blood and the Vampire Diaries (all of which I think are fabulous) vampires have taken on a sexy, new persona becoming objects of longing, lust and rabid curiosity for young and older women alike. And who could blame us? I mean...if a vampire that looked like Ian Somerhalder wanted to bite me, I wouldn't say no.
He wouldn't need his vampire mind control for me to comply.



The Progeny
by Ashlynne Laynne Book One of The Progeny SeriesPublisher: Novel Concept Publishing
Release Date: February 15, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance

The Progeny Blurb

"No fate other than the one I choose." The timeless creed, and tattoo, bore by the Rousseau's— a vampire clan with the purest bloodline of any vampire family. Out of this clandestine group came one who was different, yet the same: Ascher - a half-bloodling— half- human, half vampire.

Ascher questions the purpose for his existence and which world he truly belongs to: the human world or the vampire world. Two months from sealing to Ursula— a prearranged union to a woman he abhors — he's at his wit's end. He knows if he calls off the sealing, the Romanian clan will strike with deadly force, but he cannot see eternity with a cold empty shell of a woman like Ursula.

Just when he thought life was complicated enough, he meets Shauna— a beautiful, bi-racial human Wiccan — and immediately develops an unshakable attraction to her. She makes him feel alive and vital despite his origins and Ascher makes a decision that turns his immortal world upside down.


Buy Links

Amazon Kindle   Barnes and Noble Nook  Smashwords


About Ashlynne:

Ashlynne Laynne has always had a soft spot in her heart for vampires but grew tired of the garlic fearing, sun loathing creatures of old. An avid horror movie fan, she tends to enjoy media and music that is of a younger, more eclectic nature. This was the catalyst for her writing The Progeny. The vampire/witch pairing is unique and different when most books pair vampires with werewolves.

The infinite possibilities, for such a wickedly unique couple, intrigued her. There is no shortage of romance, steam and surprises in The Progeny. These books are for adults and contain adult sensuality and themes, but minimal profanity. She loves writing on the edge and teetering between the erotica and romance genres. She thinks of Ascher and Shauna as the damned version of Romeo and Juliet.

She's currently working on book two of the series entitled Blood Bonds. In her spare time, Ashlynne enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. Ashlynne juggles the hats of wife, mother, full time employee and part-time writer, hoping to write full time one day soon.

Ashlynne lives in North Carolina with her husband and teenage son.

Ashlynne appreciates and loves to hear from her readers.

Connect with her online at:

Twitter: @qlane

Facebook: Book Page-
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Progeny-Series-by-author-Ashlynne-Laynne/129418917161599

Author Page-
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Ashlynne-Laynne/118945981513261

Author Blog: http://ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com

Now on Tour Vaempires Revolution by Thomas Winship

March 26 Promo and review stories with bite o,.,oravencorinncarluk.blogspot.com
March 26 ReviewRondo of a Possible Worldrondoofpossibleworld.blogspot.com
March 27 review and promoBumbles and Fairy-Tales http://bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com
March 28 Guest blogCe-Ce`s Garden of Reviewshttp://cecesreviews.blogspot.com
March 29 InterviewThis From My Heart http://janieraeldridge.blogspot.com
March 30 review and guest blogJordan @ The Ink Puddle
March 30 Guest Blogwww.embracetheshadows.wordpress.com
April 3 Guest blog and reviewDoctorsnotes-shy.blogspot.com
April 4 Interview and reviewPicked by Poisonhttp://www.pickedbypoison.com
April 5 PromoJ.D. Brown's Book Blog http://darkfantasybookclub.com
April 8 Promo and reviewEveryone Loves A Sinnerwww.zenes-escape.blogspot.com
April 9 PromoParanormal Romantic Suspensehttp://sjclarke.com/blog-2/
April 10 Promo and InterviewJeanzBookReadNReview http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/
April 12 Promohttp://aobibliosphere.blogspot.com/
April 13 Guest blogI Just Wanna Sit Here and Read! sithereandread.com
April 15 Guest blog and reviewLissette E. Manninghttp://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
April 16 Guest blogSpeculative Salon: http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/
April 16 Guest blogwww.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com
April 17 PromoInk Spots and Roseswww.inkspotsandroses.com
April 18 ReviewWTF Are You Reading?http://wtfareyoureading.blogspot.com/
April 19 reviewhttp://aobibliosphere.blogspot.com/
April 20 Interview and reviewBooks Are Magic http://vidya-booksaremagic.blogspot.com
April 20 Promo and reviewChapter by Chapterwww.chapter-by-chapter.com
April 21 Guest blogGraveTells.com
April 22 Interview and reviewReader Girlswww.readergirlsblog.com
April 23 reviewSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
April 23 ReviewMr. Book Wonderhttp://mrbookwonder.tumblr.com
April 23 Guest blog and ReviewKeeping Up with the Rheinlanders http://www.mnmrheinlander.com/
May 2 Guest blogVamp Chixwww.vampchix.blogspot.com

Vaempires
Book One The Evolutionary WarBy Thomas Winship
It is the morning of Princess Cassandra's sixteenth birthday. Everyone's attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation's capital to celebrate the momentous event.

Cassandra's boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He's still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution.

Væmpires—former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood—have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet.

The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes

Interview with Jayne Fordham Author of Intuition

1. Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to write in this particular genre?
Hello, thank you for having me. My name is Jayne Fordham and I am a writer from Sydney, Australia. In my day job, I work as a psychologist and in my spare time I write. I have self-published two titles, the first a YA fantasy romance novel, A Season of Transformation and my newest release Intuition, a supernatural suspense novel. I really enjoy the paranormal/ fantasy genre and read quite widely within this scope. I had been playing around with stories for years, but when I added the fantasy elements it just gave me more to work with and more challenges for my characters to face- which was very exciting. So, when I wasn't at work I would escape into fantasy worlds either through books or through writing and my stories eventually evolved and the characters had special abilities.  I suppose there are really no limits to the fantasy genre and this means I can really stretch my imagination and challenge my characters.
2. Please tell us about your latest release.
Intuition is the first book in the Elite Series, which I plan to develop into a trilogy. The protagonist, Olive Morgan is a psychologist. She is in a bit of a rut in her job and is unhappy in her relationship and she has the ability to see into peoples' memories when she touches them. When an explosion in a Sydney shopping mall causes havoc in the local community, Olive is approached by a government agency to utilize her skill and she joins an Elite team of consultants with skills like hers. Here's the blurb: Olive Morgan is not your typical psychologist. She can also access the memories of anyone she comes into contact with. After an explosion in a Sydney shopping mall, Olive is enlisted alongside a team of 'Elite' consultants. She joins Canan Jones who can attune to the emotions of other people, including Olive. Initially, she distrusts the agency, but when another explosion threatens more lives Olive has no choice but to use her skill to prevent another disaster. Is terrorism really at play or is the agency hiding the real reason behind these attacks? Olive wants to solve the case, but her personal life is suffering. Despite having a boyfriend, she feels a connection brewing with Canan, who has an uncanny way of making her feel calm when life becomes overwhelming...

3. What inspired you to write this book?
When I finished my first novel, I had a nagging feeling that I wanted to write about a young psychologist who had special abilities. Even though I love my job, there's something very appealing about working for a secret government agency using specialist skills. So I came up with the idea for the Elite Team, a group of consultants with special abilities who are recruited by a government agency. The protagonist, Olive Morgan is also a psychologist. I really enjoyed writing Olive's story because it gave me the opportunity to write what I know as well as getting my daydreams down on paper!
4. Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?
I like to choose unique names for my protagonists. In A Season Of Transformation, I chose Makenna which I think is a beautiful and strong name. In Intuition, I did things a little differently. I chose names for each of the Elite consultants that reflected the ability that they possess.
Olive has the ability to see into the memories of other people- her name is represents the olive branch that has been seen as a symbol of "peace" in biblical times. I thought this reflected on her ability to help someone find peace in the past.
Canan has the ability to attune to other peoples' emotions. His name means compassionate and merciful.
Zac has the ability to persuade people. His name is short for Zacarias which means devious in its Spanish origins.
Hope's ability is to see into the future and her name is fairly self-explanatory. Nerina has an elemental ability and she can manipulate water. Her name is Italian and means 'water.'
Aiden also has an elemental ability and can manipulate fire. His name means 'littlefire' in Gaelic.
5. Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?
I think I have the opposite problem- too many ideas and not enough time to get them all down on paper! Over time, the way I plan a novel has evolved. I tend to start with a vague outline and then I try to fill in the gaps. Then I start to write. As I write my characters come to life and little nuances emerge in the plot and this helps me to move forward and come up with new directions for the story as I go along. Once I hit the half way mark, I read back over what I have written and then I find more details that I can expand on and work with in the story. Each time I sit down to write, I have a scene in mind that I want to work on. The only time I have 'writer's block' may be when I get started on a scene and I'm not sure where I want the scene to go. Once I figure that out, I'm on my way. I aim to just get words down on paper, even if it's not the scene I had envisioned or I'm unsure where the plot is going… but if I don't move forward and get the words down then I am likely to procrastinate- never a great writing strategy!
6. Do you write in different genres?
Yes. I am an eclectic read and I suppose I write eclectically as well. I enjoy trying new things and challenging myself across various genres. So far I have written YA fantasy and then supernatural suspense and currently I am working on a romantic suspense novel set in rural Australia.
7. Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I love to read and I read a lot. I have a book review blog which I update daily which aims to promote Australian authors and books. Outside of writing and reading, I really value my 'quiet time' and enjoy spending time outside in the garden, going for walks with my dog Buddy and snuggling up with my boyfriend to watch a DVD.  I'm also involved with an online writing group this year which has been invaluable. I also play soccer in a local women's comp and have played for many years. It's a lot of fun!
8. What can readers expect next from you?
More books, hopefully! I'm currently working on two projects: Book Two in the Elite Series where the Elite Team's adventures continue and I'm also working on a romantic suspense novel as I mentioned earlier.
9. Where can readers find you on the web?
I have a book review blog @ http://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com
My author page @ http://jaynefordham.com
Goodreads @ http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4810810.Jayne_Fordham
Twitter @ https://twitter.com/#!/AustBookshelf
Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Australian-Bookshelf/207587435934278?ref=tn_tnmn
10. Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Excerpt from Intuition, Book One of the Elite SeriesBy Jayne FordhamOlive's phone rang before she could locate the remote control. The phone number on the screen was blocked; she had no idea who would be calling her.         "Hello?" Olive asked tentatively.         "Olive Morgan?" A stern voice asked.          "Yes, that's me."         "My name is Regent. I work for a confidential agency with the government."         "Um, hi," she mumbled. She wondered if this was going to be some kind of sales pitch.          "You better turn on the news. There's something you need to see," he said firmly.          "Huh?" Olive was feeling a bit confused, but the man sounded quite serious, so she did as she was told. The remote had fallen between the cushions on the lounge, so she retrieved it and hit the power button.          An image of an explosion flooded the screen. Olive stood up straight, her eyes glued to the display.          "What's that?" Nat cried, getting up from the table to come closer to the television.          Olive turned up the volume on the news channel where a young woman was now on the screen with a microphone. There was black smoke behind her and people running all over the place.          "An explosion in south-west Sydney has caused havoc," the reporter announced. "It is feared that many are dead and many more injured. The circumstances are considered suspicious at this stage."          "Oh my gosh! This is so scary," Nat gasped.         Olive was shaking. An explosion so close to home. They thought it was suspicious; she felt her stomach recoil. She placed the phone back to her ear.          "Who are you?" she asked suspiciously. 


This is From My Heart http://janieraeldridge.blogspot.com
Guest blog and reviewThe Readers Roundtable Smokin' Gunhttp://thesmokingun.thereadersroundtable.com
Review and promoStorm Goddess Book Reviews & Morehttp://www.stormgoddessbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Review and PromoParanormal Romantic Suspensehttp://sjclarke.com/blog-2/
Guest blogflutey wordshttp://authoraubrie.blogspot.com
Guest blogI Just Wanna Sit Here and Read! www.sithereandread.com
Promo (review later)Beverly @ The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com
Guest blog and reviewLissette E. Manninghttp://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
PromoRoxanne's Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
PromoThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
Intuition
by Jayne Fordham

Synopsis:

Olive Morgan is not your typical psychologist. She can also access the memories of anyone she comes into contact with.

After an explosion in a Sydney shopping mall, Olive is enlisted alongside a team of 'Elite' consultants. She joins Canan Jones who can attune to the emotions of other people, including Olive. Initially, she distrusts the agency, but when another explosion threatens more lives Olive has no choice but to use her skill to prevent another disaster.

Is terrorism really at play or is the agency hiding the real reason behind these attacks?

Olive wants to solve the case, but her personal life is suffering. Despite having a boyfriend, she feels a connection brewing with Canan, who has an uncanny way of making her feel calm when life becomes overwhelming...

Intuition is a tale of supernatural suspense and the first book in the Elite Series.

Purchase links coming soon
Amazon:
Barnes n' Noble:
iBookstore:
Lulu (paperback available April 2012)


About the author:

Jayne Fordham resides in Sydney where she works as a psychologist and freelance writer while working on another novel. Jayne has also authored the YA fantasy novel, A Season Of Transformation.


Author blog http://jaynefordham.com

Book blog http://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4810810.Jayne_Fordham

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/AustBookshelf

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Interview and Giveaway with Susan Abel Sullivan Author of Cursed: Wickedly Fun Stories

*So your book is not just your first published collection but also the debut release from new publisher World Weaver Press, how does it feel to be the debut author for a publishing company?It's quite an honor.  I'm thrilled that they took a chance on me.*Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?I loved the horror genre as a kid.  I grew up hearing my aunts tell delightful ghost and spook stories and I lived at the foot of the hill from a haunted house (or so all the kids in the neighborhood said).  I currently live in an old Victorian house in Alabama with a husband, two dogs and way too many cats.  When I'm not writing, I teach Group Fitness classes including Zumba.*What is it about the paranormal that fascinates you so much?I love the mythic quality and other worldliness of the paranormal.  And it's fun to suspend disbelief, which takes a really strong imagination. *What inspired you to write this book?Since the book is a collection of stories, no one thing inspired it, but the individual pieces were inspired by such things as a talent show accident, a train smothered in kudzu, and vacuuming, of all things.*Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?No set formula.  Sometimes a name will pop into my head; other times I'll do some brainstorming.  For comedic pieces, I like the name to reflect something of the character's personality and/or background like Bernie Lludd, the school nerd.*Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?Characterizations are one of my writing strengths. It's like being a method actor for me, something I immensely enjoy.*Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?I could really relate to Bernie Lludd because I was a nerdy, geeky, awkward kid in middle school and played clarinet in the band.  I always had crushes on boys who had no idea I was even alive.*Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
No formula for that, either.  I let my characters come onstage and speak and act.  They inform me of their characters rather than me forcing them into a preconceived mold.
*What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?My favorite scene involves a talent show accident that has a basis on a real life event that happened to my sister in high school.  But everyone will have to read the book to find out what happens.  *laughs**Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?I had to do extensive research on Elvis when writing THE REAL HAUNTED HOUSEWIVES OF ALLISTER, AL.  I discovered Elvis thought he could make contact with spaceships and that he scarfed down fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches on a daily basis.*Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?Oh, sure, almost all of my characters have part of me in them.  I say almost because I've written about a sociopath and I am definitely not one myself. *Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?Yes.  Almost two years ago, a series of major life events occurred in rapid succession and I was unable to write for more than a year.  I just weathered the storm and the desire eventually returned.*Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?I wish I could say yes, but I don't.  *laughs**When did you consider yourself a writer?I've been a writer since the summer I graduated from high school.*What are your guilty pleasures in life?I collect cats, and by that, I mean, cats collect me.  We have eight of the furry beasts.  They just show up needing homes, although we are currently at our limit.  I love watching TV on DVD like DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, GREY'S ANATOMY, and SEX AND THE CITY. I love silly little Annalee collectible felt animals.  Their happy faces balance the dark side of me that is drawn to all things weird and spooky.*Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?I teach group fitness classes and am a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor.  I actually hold a B.S. in Exercise Science and am a certified instructor and personal trainer.  I collect artist-made teddy bears made from real mohair.  And I am a dancer/singer and have performed in several community theater productions.*What was the last amazing book you read?I'm currently reading THE MERMAID CHAIR by Sue Monk Kidd and it's an engrossing tale that's part mystery, part romance, and part women's fiction. *Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?I used to have a special reading chair, but then our puppy chewed it up and that was the end of that.  I love reading outside when the weather is nice.*What can readers expect next from you?I'm shopping an urban fantasy novel to agents and publishers—THE REAL HAUNTED HOUSEWIVES OF ALLISTER, AL--and am revising the sequel while writing the discovery draft of a YA novel about the supernaturally challenged.  I like to work on multiple projects. *Where can readers find you on the web?My publisher: www.worldweaverpress.comMy website: www.susanabelsullivan.weebly.comtwitter@susan_abel Would you like to win an ebook copy of Cursed?Leave a comment on this spot with your email addressCursed: Wickedly Fun Stories by Susan Abel Sullivan. On sale now! "CURSED is a small package of strangeness and charm, delivered by a writer blessed with imagination and wit." – Hugo Award Winner Allen Steele, author of THE COYOTE TRILOGY and THE COYOTE CHRONICLES"Quirky, clever, and just a little savage, CURSED is a delightful read!" – Lane Robins, critically acclaimed author of MALEDICTE and KINGS AND ASSASSINSWickedly fun short stories featuring witches, werewolves, limericks that can change fate, and a sinister vine bent on murder and the destruction of Alabama! Inside quirky settings with creepy plots, characters discover new and unsettling powers as their worst fears manifest.Let these stories draw you in with their lighthearted tone — then delight you with their wickedly sly sense of humor. You'll laugh, you'll shudder, you'll think twice about taking a deal from a bucktoothed woman."Engrossing, imaginative, and funny … Susan Abel Sullivan's debut collection of short stories will have you both laughing out loud and checking your closet for monsters." –Kelly L. Stone, author of GRAVE SECRET and THINKING WRITE: The Secret to Freeing Your Creative Mind. Read digital edition for $2.99  from these ebook retailers:
Amazon.com for Kindle
BarnesandNoble.com for Nook
Smashwords.com for most devices and computers (.mobi, .epub, .lrf, and others)

Interview and Giveaway with Jamie McDougal Author of Echo Falls

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
My pleasure. I'm an American expat now living permanently in beautiful Australia. Stories have always been a part of my life, and I can still remember how thrilled I was when I learned how to write. (A permanent record of my writing! Not always a good thing…) My first short story featured my brother making the earth uninhabitable with a nuclear fart.
Things could only improve from there.
The funny thing about Echo Falls is that I always told myself that I wouldn't write about werewolves or vampires. I adore both, but I didn't want to say, "I'm going to write about vampires/werewolves. Now I have to think of a story." I didn't want to write supernatural for the sake of writing supernatural.
Lo and behold, the story came to me. Phoebe, my main character, crashed into my mind in an absolute panic (the first chapter), making me scramble for my pen and notebook. By the time I finished writing that first chapter, I sighed and said, "This is about werewolves, isn't it?"
The story wouldn't let me go, though, and I am happy with the way it turned out. Instead of a story about werewolves, I have a story about people who happen to be werewolves. The distinction is a fine one, but I wanted their wolf sides to be a part of their life rather than the reason for their literary existence.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular werewolves, that fascinates you so much?
Oh, by far it would have to be the pack dynamic. People have a lot of 'packs' that they drift in and out of (and sometimes stay in) in the course of their lives. But werewolves take that element to an entirely new level. You can have a significant number of people all bound together and subject to the rules of this one thing, and they might never talk to or see each other in 'regular' human life.  Even with the wildness of the wolf, you have the order of the pack – from alpha to omega.
That yin and yang of wild and calm is what will always keep me coming back for more werewolves.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Oh, absolutely. Even though she is the main character of Echo Falls, Phoebe was very hard to write. She didn't want to give me any details. As a survivor of traumatic events in my life, I understood why it was hard to get into her head; it was a matter of getting into my own head and recognizing feelings there.
Phoebe and I are different in every other way, but that common element meant that it wasn't until I was into writing the second draft that I felt like I had a real handle on her as a character.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I almost hate to admit it, but I had the most fun writing Mia. She is a mean and nasty person, but she is also unabashedly herself. Oh, she acts different around certain people to manipulate them, but she has no qualms about showing her true colors to the people who don't matter to her.
She is one of the best bad people I have written in a long time.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I used to be all about letting things flow organically, but that's not the case anymore. Because I floundered so much with Phoebe and wrote so many drafts of the book because of it, I have taken up character sheets.
I have notecards with their basics so I don't forget eye color or other things like that, but I also get into their history. What is the character's favorite possession? When does the character feel the most vulnerable?
I will keep going beyond the basics until I feel like I truly know the character.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
That's an easy one, actually, because it occurs at the beginning of the book. When Phoebe wakes up in her apartment and Aidan is there. I think it's a fun introduction to both of them because you get his good nature and you get her feeling too tired to feed into all her hang-ups. There is also something she says that it one of my favorite lines in the book, but I don't want to spoil it.
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
I loved researching for this book because I got to watch a lot of wolf documentaries. The specific most interesting one was researching how a pack hunts. In an earlier draft, I didn't have a hunt scene. Then a beta reader told me that having a wolf transformation without a hunt scene was like sex without the orgasm. (She's an awesome beta reader.)
So I ended up sitting down with a bunch of wolf hunt scenes, taking notes as I watched. I loved getting to know how they both worked together and did what they thought was best to bring down the kill.
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
Haha. I once spent a week in a pub (they had rooms) in a tiny country town learning about how a pub works. That was a lot of fun. The entire town adopted me and I was shouted (bought) drinks, invited over to the bowls club (I'm terrible at lawn bowls), invited sheep shearing (which I turned down because I'm so not a morning person) and much more. To this day I absolutely adore that town and everyone in it. I can't wait to go back.
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
The only things that make Echo Falls different are that it doesn't exist and that werewolves live there. I didn't want the city of Echo Falls to be dramatically different from 'Anywhere, USA' because the story is about the characters rather than anything else.
I did, however, take inspiration from some of my favorite places around the world to create Echo Falls. The waterfalls spaces were inspired by waterfalls in the north island of New Zealand. The mountains were inspired by some mountains here in Victoria called The Grampians. The smaller elements of the city center of Echo Falls were inspired by some of the smaller, historic suburbs of Melbourne, while pretty much everything else is based off the city where I am currently living.
So, luckily, I was able to take a lot of inspiration from a lot of different places to create a map for my characters to wander around in. I've heard from readers that they want to read more about the town and what it's like, so I'm having a lot of fun exploring that in the upcoming book, Fading Echoes.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
As I am currently writing the second book, I can't say anything concrete yet. But I will say that I fully intend for the books to be read as standalones if the reader chooses. The second book takes place nearly twenty years later, so you will see characters from the first book. But the focus will have shifted away from those characters to a new set.
There will be an arc of sorts for the city of Echo Falls with all kinds of things changing twenty years after the first book.
There will, however, be a certain character who deserved a lot worse in the first book and will gets it in the second…
Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?
I'm afraid I suffer more from writer's procrastination than from anything else. I always remember a saying – and I don't remember where I heard it – that nothing attracts muses faster than the clicking of keys. That's certainly the case for me. The struggle is to get my bum in the chair and just do it.
It comes down to a matter of will power… which I don't have much of, so I have been known to bribe myself with treats. Usually chocolate.
Do you write in different genres?
Yes, I do, though I'm only published in paranormal romance and nonfiction at this point.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
Not as such. I imagine it would be more difficult if I had a pen name for each genre. I find the difficulties lie always within telling the stories, not because stories are in this genre or that genre. I do have the common thread of romance in all the fiction I write (so far), so that helps keep me grounded in a way.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Haha. Too many to name. One would have to be Tim Tams – and only the double-coated kind. Plus, using one of those in a Tim Tam slam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tam#Tim_Tam_Slam) is the guilty pleasure of a guilty pleasure. Absolutely delicious.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I am very much into doing papercraft, specifically card making and scrapbooking. Getting supplies for these hobbies would be a second guilty pleasure. Lately I've been learning about distress inks and have been having a lot of fun trying them out.
What can readers expect next from you?
At the moment, I am working on the next Echo Falls book, Fading Echoes. This takes place about twenty years after the first book when Charlotte has graduated high school and is feeling a lot of pressure about what she should do with her life. What she should do with her life is influenced heavily by being the daughter of two natural born werewolves, which brings a whole new assortment of difficulties to the Were life.
Where can readers find you on the web?
I blog and occasionally rant at my site: http://www.inkyblots.com
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
My pleasure. A little clip from the beginning…
Keep running, keep running, keep running. Phoebe's lungs burned as her mind screamed the mantra. Keep running, keep running.
How many steps can there be?
She should know. She lived in this apartment building.
Tears ran down her cheeks and her lungs burned for air. Only the random irrational thought broke through the panic keeping her feet moving down the steps. Keep running. Keep running. The light of the emergency exit came into view. Almost there…
The door to the stairwell slammed open with a hollow boom. She tripped and clung to the railing to steady herself.
Keep running.
The shock of the cool night air sent a shiver of relief through her body. She'd come out a side exit into an alley. If she could just get to the front –
Suddenly she was thrown to the ground from behind. She hit the concrete, what little breath she had knocked from her lungs. Blood began flowing from where her head hit the ground, and small sparks of light floated into her vision.
How did he catch up so fast?




Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.

After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.
Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart.
Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?
*Warning: Contains adult situations and language

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Things to Do Before You Publish a Book Guest Blog and Giveaway with Sibelle Stone

When you're considering taking on the job of publishing your book as an Indie (Independent) author, there are some steps you can take to make your job easier.
1. Think about how you will promote your book. Do you have a website? Facebook page? Twitter account? Have you ever contributed to any blogs? What listserv and professional groups do you belong to? Think early about the book promotion, because just putting a book on a distributers website could mean it will live a lonely life. Sad and ignored.
2. Create a timeline for the entire process. Begin at the end, the date you want to publish your book by. Build in at least one week for loading on distribution channels, (Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Smashwords are all distribution channels). Put dates on a calendar.
·         Rough draft - when will the book be ready to be sent to an editor. IMPORTANT NOTE: You really, really do need a good editor.
·         How will you get a cover? Have you searched  popular cover artist sites for samples?
·         Do you want ISBN numbers for your books, (some distributers require this, some not?
·         Realistically - how long will it take for revisions once you get the file back from your editor?
·         Complete revisions and send out to "Beta" readers. People you trust who will give you honest feedback and find all those little things you and the editor missed.
·         Once you've done another revision, you can begin the process of formatting the book.
READ the Guidelines for formatting very carefully.
                I start with the Smashwords guide, because it forces you to strip out all the Word formatting  in                order to submit the file. This will provide a cleaner copy to format for Pubit! (Barnes & Noble)     and Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing).
You will need to create some documentation when you upload the files to the distribution sites, so prepare a Word document with...
                A short blurb --this is something  like the "elevator speech" that sums up the book in just one    sentence.
                A long blurb -- this is the back cover copy that "sells" the book. Read a lot of copy so you can get               an idea of the rhythm of the words. Who is your hero? Who is your heroine? What brings them     together and what threatens them? Make the reader care right from the start.
                Make sure you have the cover art in the right format, and put it in an easily accessible file, as      you will need it.
Start thinking about how you will publicize the book after it's released.

Whistle Down the Wind

Book One The Mystic Moon Series - Featuring the Glyndwr sisters
Elemental witches!
Genre: Historical romance with paranormal elements
Publisher: Moon Valley Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9839103-2-9
Page count: 360

Blurb:

Escaping from the persecution of the European witch hunts, a beautiful witch with the power to control the wind joins forces with a handsome Cavalier on a mission to save the King of England and the colony of Virginia.

Catlin Glyndwr is a tenth generation Mistress of Elements -- a hereditary witch who can call upon her elemental spirits for assistance in casting spells.

Accused of witchcraft in seventeenth century England, she faces the hangman. Even though she took a vow never to hurt anyone with her magic, if her true powers are revealed, she'll be executed.

Sir Griffin Reynolds is on his way to the colony of Virginia, on a secret mission to locate Puritan rebels intent upon seizing the throne of King Charles II. When his best friend becomes deathly ill while interrogating a beautiful Welsh maiden accused of using magic to attack a local official – Griffin is forced to strike a bargain with her in order to save his friend's life.

When Catlin and Griffin travel together on a voyage to the American colonies, they try to resist the pull of erotic sensuality that flares between them. It is a temptation they both soon crave. But danger lurks aboard ship and evil haunts Catlin. She must learn how her destiny is linked with that of the man who has vowed to protect her.

In a dangerous and unexplored world, where superstition exists along side the new discoveries of science, powerful elemental spirits are capable of assisting the magical adepts. But there is always danger in harnessing magic and a price to pay when one calls to the spirit world for help.

While Griffin tries to deny his attraction to Catlin, she works her own special magic on his heart and he discovers he cannot resist falling under her sensual spell.

Together, Catlin and Griffin learn that a journey of the heart requires courage, trust and the ability to believe in the astonishing gift of love.

Tagline: A beautiful witch discovers there's more then one way to be wicked!

Short Blurb:

Whistle Down the Wind
By Sibelle Stone

Escaping from the persecution of the European witch hunts, a powerful witch with the ability to control the wind joins forces with a handsome Cavalier on a mission to save the King of England and the colony of Virginia while a dangerous stranger hunts them both. Book One: Mystic Moon Series.

Author Bio

Sibelle Stone is the pseudonym for award winning historical romance author Deborah Schneider. Sibelle writes sexy steampunk and paranormal stories, filled with magic, mad scientists, dirigibles, automatons, and creatures that would scare the panties off Deborah. In her spare time Sibelle enjoys dressing up in Victorian ensembles, modding play guns into something that looks a bit more sinister and wearing hats.

Author Bio: Deborah Schneider

A lifelong love of American history led Deborah Schneider from teaching high school to writing novels. Her first book, Beneath A Silver Moon won the Molly award for "Most Unsinkable Heroine" from the Heart of Denver chapter of RWA and was later a finalist in the New Historical Voice Contest in 2000. Her most recent release Promise Me won the 2011 EPIC Award for Best Western Romance. Her first steampunk story, No Ordinary Love was published in fall 2011. Deborah is employed by the busiest and best library system in the U.S. She's received the "Open Book Award" from Pacific Northwest Writers and was named "Librarian of the Year" by Romance Writers of America in 2009.




Sibelle is giving away a copy of Beneath a Silver Moon -winner's choice of format -either a free Ebook or a print copy- and a One $10 Starbucks Gift Card open to US Shipping- To enter fill out the Rafflecopter

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Interview with Mayra Calvini Author of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing

What inspired you to write The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing?
I wish there had been a book on how to write reviews when I started reviewing. It would have prevented a lot of amateurish mistakes from my part. Actually, on second thought, I'm glad nobody wrote such a book—that's the reason I came up with the idea in the first place! J
After several years of reviewing, I felt confident enough to put together a set of 'rules' and guidelines for beginners, a manual of sorts to help aspiring and beginner reviewers hone their craft. I mentioned my idea to my dear friend, author and reviewer Anne K. Edwards. She was excited about collaboration and we jumped into it. In six months we had the first draft.
Besides being a reviewer, you're also a novelist and children's picture book author. How do you handle negative reviews of your own books?
I once heard an author say about negative reviews: "If you've never received a negative review, there aren't enough people reading your book." That's become one of my mantras.
That's not to say negative reviews don't sting. Of course they do—a little. But I always put the situation under perspective. A review is, after all, one person's opinion, and the fact is that not everybody is going to like my book. Some might love it, others might hate it. If I can please some people some of the time, that's enough for me.
If you read reviews of well-known books by famous authors, you'll see a wide range of reviews, from the very good to the very bad. If famous New York Times best-selling authors sometimes get bad reviews, why can't I? I don't let my ego get in the way of my common sense. That said, positive reviews are definitely ego boosters! (grin)Nowadays, many aspiring authors review books on their blogs. What are 5 benefits of reviewing for beginning writers?If you're an author or your goal is to become one, the benefits of book reviewing are enormous. ·         You learn about the craft of writing because you get to identify both the weaknesses and strengths of a book. You learn what works and what doesn't, and eventually you become more apt in avoiding amateurish mistakes when you write your own books. You can do this because you're able to look at someone else's book objectively, something that it's hard to do with your own writing. In this sense, reviewing can make you a better writer and a better judge of literature. This comes very handy if you belong to a critique group or serve as judge at contests.·         Your writing becomes easier and better. Reviewing is writing, after all, and the more you write, the better it gets. Reviewing helps to hone your skills as a word builder.·         You become familiar with publishers and the type of books they publish. This is especially helpful if you review in the genre that you write in and if you're looking for places to submit your work.·         You become familiar with agents and the type of books they like to represent. How do you know this? Most authors thank their agents in the acknowledgements page.·         You develop an online presence, a platform. If you have an attractive blog where you post honest, intelligently written reviews, eventually you'll build a good reputation as a serious reviewer and readers, publishers, authors and publicists will want to become your followers. Having lots of followers will instantly make you more attractive in the eyes of a publisher when you submit your book for consideration.What is the difference between a review and an endorsement?At its most basic, a review can be positive or negative, but an endorsement is always positive.A review's primary purpose is to inform the reader and help him make a decision on whether or not he should spend his money and time on a book, while an endorsement's primary purpose is to help promote a book.Also, unlike a review, an endorsement doesn't have a certain structure that includes an opening or lead, a brief summary of the story, and an evaluation. An endorsement is simply a 1-3 sentence recommendation of a book. Often, publishers approach well-known authors to write endorsements on an upcoming title. These endorsements, or parts of it, are often placed on the front or back cover of a book.When reviews are positive, however, snippets of it can be used as endorsements for the book. So parts of a review can be used as endorsements, but endorsements aren't reviews.Obviously, the advantage of an endorsement is that it is always positive, but endorsements, unless they come from a well-respected source, are viewed by readers with suspicion, especially when written by fellow authors.The con of reviews is that, of course, they might not always be positive, and authors may not always be able to use them as endorsements. But reviews are considered a more trusted resource and, unlike the endorsement, give the reader a well-rounded evaluation of a book.Can a freelance reviewer make a living reviewing books?Take it from James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief of Midwest Book Review: "The only way to make money as a reviewer is to marry rich!"
How important are book reviews for the sale of a book?
Book reviews are one of the most effective tools of book promotion. In fact, some experts consider reviews the most effective tool.
For librarians, top review publications such as Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, School Library Journal, etc., play a vital role in the selection of titles. Reviews are the strongest criterion for selection. While it's true booksellers look at different criteria when making a decision about which books to stock, reviews are a tremendously useful and helpful factor, especially when in doubt or when the author is unknown. Pre-release review publications like the ones mentioned before play an important role in the selection of books, allowing bookstores to order titles in advance of their official release dates, thus making them available to the public immediately after their release. Online reviews are particularly important when selecting titles from small presses or unknown authors who often don't get reviews in the major pre-release publications.
The fact is, most people read reviews. Reviews and readers go together like wine and cheese. Before spending money on a book--especially in the case of expensive hard covers--most people turn to reviews to get an idea of the book's quality and whether or not there's a recommendation. In this age of computers when almost every person has a PC at home, it's easy for booklovers to access the Internet and read book reviews. With the rise of so many niche review sites, book blogs, and readers sharing their reviews on sites like Amazon, it's popular to read reviews. Also, the more reviews about a book, the more buzz and exposure. What's the best writing advice you've ever received?
I have always found Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way and The Right to Write, incredibly inspiring.
She says: "Writing is about getting something down, not about thinking something up."
These powerful words were very revealing to me and changed the direction I took with writing. If I have to 'think something up,' writing becomes something lofty, something I may not be able to grasp. I'm straining. On the other hand, if I focus on getting something down, I have a sense of attention but I'm not straining. It's like I'm taking dictation. Or like I'm watching the movie in my head and writing down what I see.
This simple philosophy completely freed and revolutionized my writing. 
How about offering an online crash course in book reviewing? Actually, I do teach book reviewing courses at www.SavvyAuthors.com as well as individually. Information can be found on my website at www.MayraCalvani.com.

Reader Girls: http://www.readergirlsblog.com
Rabid Reads http://www.rabidreads.ca
Fang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Reading Romanceshttp://reading-romances.com/
Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf – http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
Cindy's Love of Books Http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com
Work A day Readwww.workadayreads.com
Babs Book Bistro http://www.babsbookbistro.net/blog
Bookin' It Reviews ~ http://www.bookinitreviews.com/
B'Tween Prose http://btweenprose.blogspot.com
Book Bags and Cat Napshttp://bookbagsandcatnaps.com
Just Viewsjustviews.net
A Bibliospherehttp://aobibliosphere.blogspot.com/
Louisa Bacio -- Love Knows No Boundshttp://louisabacio.blogspot.com
http://www.jaclynsmusings.com/
JeanzBookReadNReview http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/
Mama Knows BooksHttp://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com
Sapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
Picked by Poisonhttp://www.pickedbypoison.com/
Urban Girl Reader – http://www.urbangirlreader.com
Romancing the Bookhttp://www.romancing-the-book.com
BookSpark http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
It's All About Meheathercim.wordpress.com
My Neurotic Book Affairhttp://myneuroticbookaffair.blogspot.com
Keeping Up With The Rheinlander'shttp://mnmrheinlander.com
Young Adult Book Reviews- www.yafictionbookreviews.blogspot.com
Jade Mystiquewww.jademystique.blogspot.com

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing
Author: Mayra Calvani and Anne K. EdwardsPublisher: Twilight Times Books
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-933353-22-7
Genre: Reference/Writing
Format: Trade paperback
Price: $16.95 print, $4.99 ebook
Pages: 180
Chapter excerpt:
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/SlipperyArt_ch1.html

Description:


Are you passionate about books? Do you have the desire to share your thoughts about a book with readers, yet are unsure about what makes a good review? Are you curious about the influence reviews have on readers, booksellers, and librarians?

If you're an experienced reviewer, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing will serve as an excellent reference tool and amalgam of resources. If you're a beginner, this book will show you how to write a well-written, honest, objective and professional book review. It will also teach you:

• How to read critically
• How to differentiate the various types of reviews
• How to rate books
• How to prevent amateurish mistakes
• How to deal with the ethics and legalities of reviewing
• How to tell the difference between a review, a book report, and a critique
• How to start your own review site
• How to publish your reviews on dozens of sites and even make money while you're at it, and much more

If you're an author, publisher, publicist, bookseller, librarian, or reader, this book will also bring to light the importance and influence of book reviews within a wider spectrum.

What reviewers are saying…

"There's not a reviewer out there that wouldn't benefit from this review of reviewing… this is a great reference book for libraries…"
–Heather Shaw, Editor-in-Chief, ForeWord Magazine

"This book from Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards is the first 'Reviewer's Desk Reference' for book reviewers at all levels."
–Reviewed by Ernest Dempsey, The World Audience

"As an experienced reviewer I learned that I do not know it all and will keep my copy of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing for reference. It is not a book I will loan out because it won't be returned…If you want to break into book reviewing, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing is a must-have reference. Heed the author's advice and you can write reviews that will get you and the books you review noticed."
–Reviewed by Sharon Broom, Armchair Interviews.

"The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing is a useful took for both amateur and professional book reviewers, as well as book review editors. There should be no doubt that the good tips, thoughtful perspective and resource information can be of considerable value to anyone wishing to practice this art."
–Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.

"I do recommend The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing as a must-have resource guide. Calvani and Edwards present a well-written gold-mine to potential reviewers as well as a source of information for experienced reviewers and authors."
–Reviewed by Irene Watson, Reader Views.

"The Slippery Art… is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in book reviews – writers, reviewers, publishers, publicists, librarians, booksellers and readers."
– Reviewed by Francine Silverman, Editor of The Book Promotion Newsletter



Awards:


ForeWord Best Book of the Year Award Winner under the Writing Category!
2011 Global Ebooks Awards Winner for Nonfiction/Reference!
*US Book News National Best Book Award Finalist!
*Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist!
*EPPIE Award Finalist!
*Used for reviewing course at 3 US universities and 1 university in the Netherlands.

For more information, visit Amazon or Twilight Times Books.

Authors' bios:

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. She's had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published both online and in print, in publications such as The Writer, Writer's Journal, Acentos Review, Bloomsbury Review, Mosaic, and Multicultural Review, among many others. A reviewer for more than a decade, she now offers numerous book reviewing workshops online. She also offers workshops on the art of picture book writing. She's represented by Mansion Street Literary and Savvy Literary. Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com

Anne K. Edwards is an award-winning multi-genre author, reviewer and editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. Her latest novel is the suspense thriller, Shadows Over Paradise, published by Twilight Times Books. Visit her website at www.AnneKEdwards.com