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Echoes of the Past, Fermosa Bay #1, by Iris Blobel

#OnTour with @HeaBookToursPR @_Iris_B | #HBTPRM

««««« BLITZ TOUR »»»»»

ECHOES OF THE PAST, Fermosa Bay #1, by Iris Blobel

#NewAdult #ContemporaryRomance

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Release Date: February 16, 2016

 

««««« SYNOPSIS »»»»»

Emily Bradshaw waited over twenty years to see Connor again…

When her childhood friend, Connor Walsh, returns home to see his ailing father, Emily is elated to be reunited with the handsome man who moved to London so many years ago. But excitement fades to disappointment when he doesn’t remember her—or their first kiss. With her crush on Connor still in full swing, she’s determined to enjoy the short time he’s in Fermosa Bay, even though she knows her heart will break when he returns to his life in London.

When Connor receives news that his biological father is terminally ill, he returns to Fermosa Bay, Australia.

With memories of his childhood tucked fondly in the back of his mind, returning to the small, coastal town leaves him to wonder how life would have been if his mother had never taken him away. Would he have been married and had children? Perhaps with Emily Bradshaw…

Secrets from long ago begin to unfold…

As Connor and his father grow closer, Connor learns his parents have a broken love story of their own. Will the echoes of the past lure him into staying, maybe for good? Or will he relive his parents’ tragic story and flee to London?

Walking away from a real chance at true love…

««««« #ONECLICK »»»»»

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/23ZYPS5

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/23ZYVJw

AMAZON AU: http://bit.ly/23ZZ27R

««««« EXCERPT »»»»»

Connor leaned against the window frame with his arms crossed as he watched the waves crashing against the rocks. In front of him, as wide as the horizon, was the ocean. With the clouds drifting in from the sea, the sky had turned grey and dark, and he knew there’d be even more rain coming later in the day.

 

He would’ve enjoyed the scene if it hadn’t reminded him of his changing life. He’d been back in Fermosa Bay for two days already, but the memories of the first seven years of his life he’d spent in this small Australian coastal town were tucked away in the back of his mind. Seemingly inaccessible. Nowadays, his life was in London and had been for the last twenty-three years. He took a couple of deep breaths as he looked towards the harbour in the distance, and the small town in the alcove with the hilly forest in the background where he’d spend the first seven years of his life. It was truly one very picturesque little place.

A noise from the other end of the house hauled him back from his thoughts, and he stepped away from the window. Over the last few weeks, since he’d decided to accept Jack’s invitation to Australia, he’d had visions of what he’d find here. His mother hadn’t told him much about the time she’d lived here, except about Jack owning a pub. Connor had been furious for her lack of memory, but in the end admitted to himself it’d probably not been a time she’d like to remember.

So he was surprised to find out that Jack lived in this massive house just outside Fermosa Bay, on the top of the cliffs, with a view over the ocean. The house had five rooms and a small study at the back. The lounge room, with a high pitched ceiling, had wood fire heating and a big window front. Connor had loved the house the instant he’d stepped into it.

When he entered the hall, he saw his father and said, “Good morning, Jack.”

The old man sighed sadly. “You still can’t bring it over your heart to call me Dad?”

Connor’s gaze wandered from his father to all the many framed photos along the wall. Jack was in many of the photos, but most them had people in them he didn’t know, except the biggest one, which showed Connor as a child in Jack’s arms. A wave of sadness shook him. No, it wasn’t in him to call him Dad. Or to even think of him as his dad.

After a moment’s silence, he turned to his father and shook his head. “Sorry.”

Jack coughed, and Connor quickly rushed to his side, holding him upright.

“Another bad day?” Connor asked.

“Son, there will be no more good days. One day is like the other, until it will be the last.”

The words struck Connor deep enough to feel some emotions for his father. He knew time was running out, but hearing it made it sound final.

“There’s a front coming, but I think you’d be able to sit outside for a little while. At least until the nurse comes.”

Jack simply nodded.

Connor helped his father out onto the deck where the old man sat down on his swing seat.

“Thanks, Son.”

Without a reply, Connor stepped away and watched the sea again.

“I couldn’t keep you away from the water when you were a child,” Jack said.

“What do you mean?” Connor asked.

Jack didn’t answer, so he turned around to look at his father. The old man stared into the distance, a withdrawn expression on his face.

“You were constantly in the water. Whatever opportunity you had, you grabbed your little board and spent most of the day there.”

“So what happened?”

His father shrugged. “You left with your mother.”

Sitting down on the chair next to Jack, Connor let out a long breath. “Something must’ve happened. I never go near water, let alone go in it.”

Still gazing into the distance, Jack said, “I still have the blue board. Ethan’s little son sometimes uses it nowadays.”

Not sure where the conversation was heading, Connor just went along. “Who’s Ethan?” he asked.

The reaction from his father wasn’t what he expected. With his shoulders sagged, Jack closed his eyes. He looked so old and frail. From what Connor saw in all the photos around the house, cancer had taken a lot of life out of his father, leaving behind a haggard body with no energy left. Initially, he’d been taken aback by their similarities in looks, with their dark brown eyes and dark blond hair, including the stubborn curl above the ears, but after all, Jack was his father.

“Ethan was your best friend when you lived here.”

Pain shot through Connor as he was again confronted with a piece of information about his past that he knew nothing about. What had happened all those years ago, that his memory blocked these recollections of his childhood?

“How is your mother?” Jack asked suddenly.

Was it a sign of his illness that the old man wasn’t able to hold on to one topic anymore, or was he out to annoy Connor?

“She’s doing well.”

“Married?”

“Yes.”

Jack nodded. “She was beautiful when she lived here. So beautiful.”

Leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees, Connor asked, “Why did you ask her to leave?”

Finally, their eyes locked, and his father’s confusion took Connor aback.

“Son, what are you talking about?”

________________________________________________

««««« What reviewers are saying about ECHOES OF THE PAST: »»»»»

I received this book as an ARC – and absolutely loved it!!!!

It is sweet and gentle yet filled with very strong emotions book, which will make you ponder upon the fate and decisions of the characters long after you finish reading :)

It will appeal not only to the true romance-loving readers, but also to those who, like me, reach for that genre occasionally, when in need of a read that would touch their hearts :D And this is it!!!

I honestly do not remember last time I’ve read something so gentle, so dear – yet tugging on all the inner feelings strings with quite a strength!

– Amazon Reviewer

Who said you can’t find your soul mate at seven years old?

For Emily, who lived her whole life in the sleepy Fermosa Bay Australia she always knew that Connor was the one. At seven years old, the whole town had them married off living a quiet happy life. But when an innocent accident happens, Connor’s mother takes the opportunity to whisk her son away to a life that offers more.

Growing up in London in the shadow of his step father, Connor becomes a successful and sought after lawyer with the world at his feet. When his biological father tracks him down, a father he has no memory of and asks him to return home to Australia, Connor can’t say no. Especially to his dying father.

This is a beautiful tale of rediscovering what you already had and what really matters. Reconnecting with old friends and old loves opens Connor’s heart to a world he never anticipated. Iris had me in tears with this sweet story of coming home. Congratulations. A must read for anyone with a romantic heart!

– Rebecca Barber, author

________________________________________________

««««« ABOUT THE AUTHOR »»»»»

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.

Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_iris_b

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel

– Tour Host –

HEA Book Tours, PR & More: http://heabooktours.blogspot.com/

Tagged: Echoes of the Past, Fermosa Bay, Iris Blobel, Limitless Publishing

Lost and Sometimes Found

I’d like to share an experience I had recently of locating a very special item that I thought was lost, my 1984 Laurence C. Lobaugh Memorial Award for Journalism from Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus. For those, like me, who are constantly losing or misplacing belongings, I’m also providing some tips for keeping them safe or finding them when they are missing.

Most people realize that, like a detective, you have to follow your last steps of where you last had an item in order to try to trace it. In my opinion, there are three types of things that go missing. The first we can refer to as Only Misplaced  (OM). This is something you put away either for safekeeping and then forget where you put it or something you left in a place it didn’t belong because you were either in a hurry putting it away or didn’t have a good place for it. This was the case with my journalism award. I could’ve sworn I’d put it in my jewelry box in a special section, but it turned up in a small box in my closet that was not even the box it originally came in. This forgetfulness loss is the easiest to remedy, as items are usually eventually found ironically often when looking for something else.

The second type of missing item is more difficult to find. We can refer to it as the Unknown Missing  (UM). It’s when you realize something is missing like an earring or other type of jewelry, but you did not put it anywhere. It may have fallen off and, because you usually don’t know exactly when you lost it, it’s hard to trace your steps leading up to its loss. This happened to me with one of my favorite earrings and an anniversary ring. This loss is usually permanent, as the objects which are usually small, either get vacuumed up, thrown in the garbage, or blown away by the wind if lost outside. Occasionally they are found, but the person finding them has no way of matching them up with you.

The last type of missing item is something that is just misplaced temporarily such as keys, water bottles, cell phones. In most cases, the person just forgets where they left these items. Sometimes this happens on a regular basis. I’m a big water bottle misplacer. I usually leave them in doctor offices and in various places around the library where I work. We refer to this type of missing item as the Commonly Misplaced (CM).

Here are some tips to dealing with all 3 types of lost items:

For OM’s, the best course of action is to not lose these items in the first place. If they are valuable to you either financially or emotionally, set aside a place for them. Put them in a firesafe box or a jewelry box you can lock (but make sure not to lose the key). If you’ve already lost the item and are sure it’s in your house, don’t panic. It will turn up eventually when you are looking for something else. If you’re in a rush to find it for some reason, you can try cleaning the room where you have similar objects. For instance, if it’s jewelry, you might look through all your jewelry boxes or in the room where you normally keep your jewelry. If it’s an item of clothing, you might look through your drawers and closet or even where you store your out-of-season clothes.

For UM’s, all you can do is try to retrace your steps. If you’re not even sure where and when you lost it, you will have to look everywhere. The sooner you do that after you discover it missing, the better your chance of finding it. To prevent losing this type of item, you should make sure your jewelry fits well. For earrings, you should check that the backs are secure. For those that dangle, like the one I lost, be sure that you use the tiny plastic back to secure it. Also, if you are wearing a coat, check that it might have fallen inside or to the floor when you’ve put it on or taken it off and especially check the place you put the jewelry on in the first place. If it’s a ring, make sure it’s not too loose, as mine was. Items like these can fall off without you feeling them drop.

For CM’s, you just have to be more aware of where you place things. However, there are now apps and devices you can buy to track your objects. My husband got the whole family a  Tile tracking devices for Christmas that can attach to your keys and other items so that you can track them with a cell phone app (and you can track that too as long as you keep it signed into the program). I actually find this more of a nuisance, although I have to admit it helped me find my keys once.

When all else fails, you can say a prayer to St. Anthony, the saint of lost items.

 

 

 

 

Tagged: C.W. Post, journalism, Laurence C. Lobaugh Award, Long Island University, Lost, Monday Blog, Saint Anthony, Tile, Tracking Device

Monday Blog Post: Lost and Sometimes Found

As a change of pace from my writing posts and author interviews, each Monday I will feature a blog post about a topic I think may interest followers of this blog. This week, I’m sharing an experience I had recently of locating a very special item that I thought was lost, my 1984 Laurence C. Lobaugh Memorial Award for Journalism from Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus. For those, like me, who are constantly losing or misplacing belongings, I’m also providing some tips for keeping them safe or finding them when they are missing.

Most people realize that, like a detective, you have to follow your last steps of where you last had an item in order to try to trace it. In my opinion, there are three types of things that go missing. The first we can refer to as Only Misplaced  (OM). This is something you put away either for safekeeping and then forget where you put it or something you left in a place it didn’t belong because you were either in a hurry putting it away or didn’t have a good place for it. This was the case with my journalism award. I could’ve sworn I’d put it in my jewelry box in a special section, but it turned up in a small box in my closet that was not even the box it originally came in. This forgetfulness loss is the easiest to remedy, as items are usually eventually found ironically often when looking for something else.

The second type of missing item is more difficult to find. We can refer to it as the Unknown Missing  (UM). It’s when you realize something is missing like an earring or other type of jewelry, but you did not put it anywhere. It may have fallen off and, because you usually don’t know exactly when you lost it, it’s hard to trace your steps leading up to its loss. This happened to me with one of my favorite earrings and an anniversary ring. This loss is usually permanent, as the objects which are usually small, either get vacuumed up, thrown in the garbage, or blown away by the wind if lost outside. Occasionally they are found, but the person finding them has no way of matching them up with you.

The last type of missing item is something that is just misplaced temporarily such as keys, water bottles, cell phones. In most cases, the person just forgets where they left these items. Sometimes this happens on a regular basis. I’m a big water bottle misplacer. I usually leave them in doctor offices and in various places around the library where I work. We refer to this type of missing item as the Commonly Misplaced (CM).

Here are some tips to dealing with all 3 types of lost items:

For OM’s, the best course of action is to not lose these items in the first place. If they are valuable to you either financially or emotionally, set aside a place for them. Put them in a firesafe box or a jewelry box you can lock (but make sure not to lose the key). If you’ve already lost the item and are sure it’s in your house, don’t panic. It will turn up eventually when you are looking for something else. If you’re in a rush to find it for some reason, you can try cleaning the room where you have similar objects. For instance, if it’s jewelry, you might look through all your jewelry boxes or in the room where you normally keep your jewelry. If it’s an item of clothing, you might look through your drawers and closet or even where you store your out-of-season clothes.

For UM’s, all you can do is try to retrace your steps. If you’re not even sure where and when you lost it, you will have to look everywhere. The sooner you do that after you discover it missing, the better your chance of finding it. To prevent losing this type of item, you should make sure your jewelry fits well. For earrings, you should check that the backs are secure. For those that dangle, like the one I lost, be sure that you use the tiny plastic back to secure it. Also, if you are wearing a coat, check that it might have fallen inside or to the floor when you’ve put it on or taken it off and especially check the place you put the jewelry on in the first place. If it’s a ring, make sure it’s not too loose, as mine was. Items like these can fall off without you feeling them drop.

For CM’s, you just have to be more aware of where you place things. However, there are now apps and devices you can buy to track your objects. My husband got the whole family a  Tile tracking devices for Christmas that can attach to your keys and other items so that you can track them with a cell phone app (and you can track that too as long as you keep it signed into the program). I actually find this more of a nuisance, although I have to admit it helped me find my keys once.

When all else fails, you can say a prayer to St. Anthony, the saint of lost items.

 

 

 

 

Tagged: C.W. Post, journalism, Laurence C. Lobaugh Award, Long Island University, Lost, Saint Anthony, Tile, Tracking Device

Join my Newsletter for Exclusive Updates and Giveaways

To update the readers of this blog with my new books, I’ve created a Ruff Drafts newsletter where I will share the latest news about my books and other projects as well as hold exclusive giveaways and contests for prizes.

As I’ve been hard at work on the second book of my Cobble Cove Mysteries that began with A STONE’S THROW, I will soon be able to give you details and some sneak peeks into the sequel. This content will be shared with my newsletter subscribers first, and some will not even be featured on this blog or any of my social media sites.

So subscribe today to receive my newsletter and become part of my inside fan group. I appreciate your support. The first newsletter will be out in March and will be sent on a monthly basis or more often when I have some extra special news to share.

In addition to other contests and giveaways I will be offering on a regular basis, all those who subscribe during the month of February will be entered into a random drawing for an autographed copy of their choice of A STONE’S THROW or the sequel when it is published (U.S. subscribers only).

 

Tagged: A Stone's Throw, Cobble Cove Mysteries, Contests, Debbie De Louise, Giveaways, MailChimp, Newsletter, Prizes

Feature Friday February 19 – S. Valentine – His Confession

HIS CONFESSION by S. Valentine

The Black Door Trilogy, #1

GENRE: Erotic Romance

PUBLISHER: Limitless Publishing

★ SYNOPSIS ★

When Gabriella Woods finds matches from a gentlemen’s club in her fiancé’s pocket, her suspicions require a search for answers.

At the club, she realizes it’s not her fiancé’s fidelity that can’t be trusted…

It’s her own.

Darion Milano is daring, intriguing, and unpredictable…

Unable to get him out of her head—and against Darion’s explicit warning—

Gabi begins a torrid affair. No longer fighting the urge to enter the depth of his dark and mysterious lifestyle, she indulges in his most intimate desires.

They become the most exciting, wild, infatuated couple everybody knows.

Until his confession changes everything…

Her heart is telling her to stay.

Her instinct is telling her to run.

She can never match his outrageous ex-wife and become the fun, fearless woman he craves…

Or can she?

Discover a world of sex, secrets, and seduction.

★★ PURCHASE  ★★

AMAZON US – Kindle:  http://amzn.to/1PA96Nr

AMAZON US – Paperback:  http://amzn.to/1oEu3Ov

AMAZON UK – Kindle:  http://amzn.to/1NTaEhj

AMAZON UK – Paperback:  http://amzn.to/1NTaEhj

★ BOOK TRAILER ★

WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoVV8l943j4

★   ★  WHAT EARLY REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HIS CONFESSION  ★   ★  

“His Confession was a surprisingly engaging read with believable characters who were easy to connect with.It dealt with subjects a little different to what I’m used to, but the author did a great job of pulling me into her world.” – Mia Hoddell, YA/NA author.

“His Confession pulled me through from the first paragraph! The enigmatic Darion practically leapt off the pages and I could picture his every move and facial expression clear as day in my head! This story is definitely one to add to your “want-to-read” list-especially if you love a captivating plot as well as scenes so hot that they fog up your glasses. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it for future readers but DARION and GABI put Christian and Ana to SHAME! Enough said. LOL.” – Kiarra M. Taylor, contemporary romance author of THE QUARTER CHANGE.

“I loved it and I’m excited to read more to find out what happens. Darion is a great guy who was hurt badly and doesn’t know how to handle, which in steps Gabi. Love love love her! Hopefully she fights for him! When does the next book come out, as I’m dying to know what comes next! I also hope the girls get their own stories.” – Susan Flynn, Beta reader Writers club.

“S. Valentine does an exquisite job at creating a dynamic between two characters, both from different worlds, that goes beyond a physical attraction. His Confession is book one in The Black Door Trilogy. It is a fast paced story that is full of hotness and anticipation that heats you up from your head to your toes. Gabi, is tired of always playing it safe. Darion, has demons that he can no longer control. When these two get together, boundaries are pushed, control is tested and emotions run wild.” – AV. Scott, author of High Heels & New York.

“A brilliant book which leaves you wondering what happened in Darion’s past that has left him so wary and so afraid to put himself and his heart out there not to mention to put his faith and trust in Gabi, the one woman whose managed to penetrate the walls he’s built. I can’t wait for book 2 and I’m hoping that Darion and Gabi can overcome the obstacles that stand in front of them, including Eva, Darion’s ex wife.” – Rebecca Barber, author Nobody’s Obligation.

★   ★  ABOUT THE AUTHOR  ★   ★

S. Valentine grew up in England. Studying English language and literature, as well as law, she worked in a solicitors for many years before moving to Spain. She does however still visit the UK, which in a way, will always be home.

 

Returning to her lifelong passion of writing books, she’s also a weekly columnist for The Ibizan newspaper on: lifestyle and fashion. Her other interests include reading, shopping and a nice glass of wine. She’s a social media addict, and loves connecting with new people.

For more information, please visit: www.s-valentine.wix.com/books.

If you join her newsletter, you will be the first to receive sneak peeks of chapters, teasers, news, giveaway prizes and more!

WEBSITE: www.s-valentine.wix.com/books

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthor

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/SophiaVAuthor

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/SophiaValentineAuthor

PINTEREST: www.pinterest.com/SophiaVWrites

GOODREADS: www.goodreads.com/SophiaValentine

BLOG: www.lifestyleandliterature.wordpress.com

Newsletter sign up: www.s-valentine.wix.com/books

 

 

 

 

Tagged: His Confession, Limitless Publishing, S. Valentine

Author Spotlight Sophia Valentine

Welcome to the Limitless Library Lounge where I interview fellow authors from Limitless Publishing. Today, I am chatting with Sophia Valentine (pen name S. Valentine) from Spain.

Thanks for joining me, Sophia.  Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable.

I understand you have a novel that is just being released by Limitless today. Can you give me some details about it and your writing?

I write a few genre’s. At the moment, book 1 of my erotic romance series, His Confession will be published today, 16/02/16. I’m working on book two and three of that series. I have also completed two contemporary novels. I’d say one is a gritty drama, and the other leans more towards women’s fiction / chick-lit.

Sounds very diversified.

Would you describe your goals as a writer to us. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

I hope to publish all of the manuscripts I have written, and that readers are entertained by my writing to want to read more. My goal is to get all of the plot ideas I have jotted down into completed and published books.

Nice. What type of reader are you hoping to attract?  Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

My reading will attract mostly females above the age of 18. My contemporary / drama novel is for a wider audience, both female and male.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

Never give up. If it takes you a year or five, if you stick at it, you will eventually get there. Read a lot, treat it as not only for entertainment purposes but study material. Research how to perfect a manuscript, format it, and how to write a good query letter and synopsis.

Very good advice.

What were some of the struggles you faced before you became published?

The struggles I faced were lack of confidence. Every time I received a rejection from agents, it killed me! There were also times where I was affected from writer’s block. No words would come out. The best advice I can give to people is to never give up. Believe in yourself, and you will get there! It may take time, it may happen quickly. Never give up on your passion.

I think many writers can identify with those issues. Persistence pays off, and facing struggles along the way makes becoming published that much sweeter.

Did you or are you taking any helpful writing or publishing classes?

I studied English literature and language at college, besides Law. English lit has always been my favourite subject, even in school. I loved when it was creative writing time.

You sound like me, Sophia. In addition to my MLS in Library Science, I have a B.A. in English, and creative writing was one of my favorite subjects. as well.

What hobbies and interests do you have besides writing?

Reading, blogging, shopping, and a glass of wine to shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Gossip Girl, Dexter and SATC.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

I enjoy being able to get the ideas out of my head, and it’s a great achievement eventually seeing it it print. The most favourable tough part is the marketing and promotion. Writing the book seems the easy part once you have to tackle that!

lol. I totally agree. I also find editing a challenge, although beta readers are a great help.

Can you please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. so readers can connect with you.

www.s-valentine.wix.com/books

www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthor

www.twitter.com/SophiaVAuthor

www.instagram.com/SophiaValentineAuthor

www.pinterest.com/SophiaVWrites

www.goodreads.com/SophiaValentine

www.lifestyleandliterature.wordpress.com

It was wonderful speaking with you in the Limitless Lounge today, Sophia, and best wishes on your release of HIS CONFESSION and all the great books I’m sure will follow.

 

 

Tagged: Erotic Romance, His Confession, Limitless Publishing, Sophia Valentine

Author Spotlight – Bradon Nave

Welcome to the Limitless Library Lounge where I interview fellow authors from Limitless Publishing. Today, I am chatting with Bradon Nave from Piedmont, Oklahoma.

.

Thanks for joining me, Bradon.  Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable.

I understand you had a novel released recently and another being released by Limitless tomorrow. Can you give me some details about them and your writing?

I signed my first project, Keeping the Tarnished with Limitless in August of 2015. Prior to this the book was self-published. Since signing my first book, I have published two others, Copper Lilies and the first book of my series, Before we Fractured: Jessie Kasper.

I’m inspired by life. I think we all are. My inspiration is evident in my writing and summing that up into a single genre is almost impossible. I like exploring and trying new things. If there’s a voice in my head, screaming to get out, I let it out…regardless of genre.

My book, Copper Lilies, released Feb 9th. It’s about a 23 year old woman and a rag-tag group of friends in the late 1980’s that come together to assist people affected by AIDS.

My series, Before we Fractured, is my first attempt at YA. In the first book, Jessie Kasper, I tried to address issues like depression, loss and anxiety in a very real light. The book comes out tomorrow, Feb 16th, and the follow-up, Kacey Monroe, releases May 17th.

I’m also in the process of developing an outline for a romance novel…the inspiration for this actually came from my work (I’m an organ recovery coordinator).

Also, I’m part of a horror anthology project that I’m very excited about. If all goes as planned it should be out this year.  

I hope to publish all of the manuscripts I have written, and that readers are entertained by my writing to want to read more. My goal is to get all of the plot ideas I have jotted down into completed and published books.

That’s awesome, Bradon. It sounds like you’re quite busy, but I’m sure enjoying it. It’s great that you are able to write different genres. It shows a lot of creative versatility. I like your idea about developing your plot ideas into novels, and it’s also nice to explore anthology opportunities. I recently submitted a non-fiction piece to an anthology, and my first mystery was published in the Cat Crimes Through Time anthology.

Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

Getting published with a reputable publisher was the main goal for so long that right now I’m in a honeymoon phase. I’m new to publishing, so I’m taking the opportunity to learn from the awesome staff and the authors at Limitless. There’s literally a wealth of knowledge and resources at my fingertips.

Like many authors, the main goal is to do what I love for a living.

The idea of waking up, enjoying coffee, and then working from my office—pounding out the next best-seller is of course the ultimate goal.

In the next few years I plan to continue improving all areas of my craft on a practical level. There’s so much about this industry that I need to educate myself on. Fine-tuning and advancing go hand in hand. I believe with the resources I have now, there’s no reason that I can’t be successful.

I can certainly relate to that. As a fellow Limitless author, I can say that the support and information gained from other authors is so important. I also self-published my first book, Cloudy Rainbow, and I really feel that, although self-publishing is a good option for some, the having a publisher and being able to network with other authors makes a big difference.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract?  Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

There is no greater reward than opening up my email or social media to a happy reader that has praise or constructive feedback. I have several readers that have followed me from the beginning and I look forward to their interaction. I’ve even mentioned them personally in my acknowledgments.

The readers I’ve attracted thus far have been pretty diverse…I wouldn’t have it any other way.

That’s great. It’s a wonderful feeling when you have positive feedback from readers. When people tell me that they’ve stayed up until 3 in the morning reading A Stone’s Throw, couldn’t put it down, and was totally surprised by the book’s twist, that really makes my day.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

Don’t give up. Persistence will pay off eventually.

Research your publisher.  It’s always exciting to get an offer, especially when there’s been nothing but standardized rejection letters prior to it.  Just because they can ‘publish’ you, does not mean they are someone you want to partner with on your project.  Don’t allow your hard work to be associated with a poor representation of the industry.  A good place to start your research is Google.

Be strategic about where you send your material.  When I queried Limitless Publishing, I researched their authors and books for days before I even studied the submission guidelines.  I had a good feeling about them.  When I queried them, I did exactly as instructed.  I read and re-read my query letter repeatedly, making sure it was perfect before pushing send.  Two days later, my entire manuscript was requested, and literally ten days after my initial query, I inked my first deal with a reputable and established publisher.  It all happened so fast that I didn’t really have time to absorb it. I’m still smiling about it.  Now when someone asks who I’m signed to, I’m proud to tell them, Limitless Publishing.

If and when you get your work out there for people to read, THANK THEM for reading it.  Without demand there can be no supply.  Keep in touch with your readers and let them know how much you appreciate them.

Have fun.  Write what you’re passionate about.  The market is subjective and there’s room for all of us.  I promise if you write what you love it will come naturally.  If you force yourself to write what you think will sell, the reader may pick up on it.  And be proud of what your write!  Who cares if you get a bad review?  That is one person’s opinion.  They may not like your genre or writing style but I assure you there are readers out there that will.  

Very well said, Bradon. Those are excellent points. 

What were some of the struggles you faced before you became published?

Where do I start? It seems easy, right? Just sit down and write this book and people will be clawing at their keyboards to buy it after I secure this awesome advance and an outstanding agent…wrong.

There was SO much that I didn’t know about the industry. I grew up reading and writing, but when it came time to pursue my dream of being published, I was shocked at the hoops authors had to jump through.

The struggles of marketing and getting out there can be so overwhelmingly oppressive that at times it took away from the fun of writing. To be completely honest, at times it still feels that way.

I’m thankful now that I have a team of experienced professionals ready to answer my questions and offer guidance. As a new author the insight from experienced authors and editors willing to offer it is priceless.

Definitely. I feel the same. As you said, unless you’ve published a book, you don’t realize how much more is involved than writing it. As you also indicated, that’s why the help of others with more experience is so important and why being part of Team Limitless has been rewarding for both of us.

Did you or are you taking any helpful writing or publishing classes?

During graduate school I opted to enroll in several creative writing electives. Although these courses offered insight to some extent, applying the teaching to what I was doing was difficult for me. I took some aspects of character and plot development from school, but as a whole, I don’t feel it affected my craft to the extent it did my pocketbook. An author will always be an author…that’s just what they are. As with any craft, it takes practice. In my opinion, there’s a wealth of priceless knowledge in the books that inspire us. My favorite authors have taught me much more than I ever learned in an overpriced classroom…but to each their own.

Very good answer, Bradon. I was an English major in college and also learned a lot about journalism through my volunteering at the college paper. However, I’ve always felt that the authors I’ve read have been my best writing mentors.

What hobbies and interests do you have besides writing?

I run 20 or more miles a week on the backroads surrounding my rural Oklahoma home. I like to fish and campout in the summer. I love animals, too. My wife calls me Dr. Doolittle. I’m always doing something with my minions…my son, Brennon, and my daughter, Blaike.

Sounds like you’re into nature and enjoy being outdoors. That’s a nice way to take a break from computers. I’ve gotten into walking in good weather too. It seems to clear my head, help me write, relieve the stress of sitting at a computer at home and at work, and is also good for your health and and weight. As you know, I also love animals, cats in particular, and I have an 11-year old daughter, Holly, who is in Middle School.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

The good: I love the fact that I can make up a life…or several lives rather, with vibrant characters that I end up actually caring about. I can escape into this make-believe world as an adult and it’s socially acceptable. And then I get to share that world with you.

The bad: I understand rules are important…however, I feel too many rules in literature stifle creativity. That’s all I’m going to say about that. 

Okay. Can you please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. so readers can connect with you.

https://www.facebook.com/bradonnavebooks

Twitter:@bradonnavewww.bradonnave.com

It was very nice speaking with you in the Limitless Lounge today, Bradon, and best wishes on your release of Copper Lilies, Jessie Kasper, and all the great books I’m sure will follow.

 

 

Tagged: Bradon Nave, Copper Lilies. Jessie Kasper, Keeping the Tarnished, Limitless Publishing

Putting Some Mystery into Romance

I’ve always enjoyed reading mysteries and romantic suspense novels. My favorite current authors are Nora Roberts and Mary Higgins Clark. I also like to read new authors and different genres, but I prefer a little romance with my mysteries.

When I first started writing, A STONE’S THROW (Limitless Publishing 2015), I knew I wanted to include both romance and mystery in the book. Everyone likes a nice love story, but adding an element of danger or suspense can make a plot more gripping. Likewise, adding some romance to a mystery can create more relateable characters.

It’s interesting to note that even though a book may be categorized and marketed as either a mystery or a romance, most books include both in varying degrees. A STONE’S THROW is more of a mystery, but I believe the romance that develops between Alicia Fairmont, the widowed librarian main character and small town newspaper publisher, John McKinney, increases the appeal of the book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During February, bookstores and libraries tend to display romance novels for those seeking a romantic read for Valentine’s Day. As a librarian as well as an author, I’ve followed this trend and was happy to learn that my library decided to participate in a book selection program this year that other libraries have already been offering to their patrons each February. The program known as “Blind Date with a Book”  involves putting out a display of gift-wrapped books for patrons to choose from without knowing what book they are selecting. Since the wrappers are barcoded, patrons can check out the books and open them at home. This allows them the surprise of a book they may not have ever heard about let alone selected to read on their own.

By adding a touch of mystery to a patron’s book selection, “Blind Date with A book” can introduce a reader to a new author, series, or genre for them to consider reading in the future. A patron can also rate their date if the library provides a card or form in with the book. This can be used by the library for user feedback statistics.

The “Blind Date with a Book” concept is another perfect example of combining romance with mystery. People who love to read and are willing to take a chance, will appreciate the opportunity to “date” an unknown book during the romantic month of February.

 

 

 

My own romantic mystery will be 99 cents on Sunday, Februray 14th. Order it here: http://amzn.to/1Ta6zfe

This blog post was reprinted from the guest post that appeared on Sophia Valentine’s Lifestyle and Literature blog on February 12, 2016.

Tagged: Blind Date with a Book, Lifestyle and Literature, Mary Higgins Clark, mystery, Nora Roberts, romance, Sale, Sophia Valentine, Valentine's Day

Feature Friday February 12 – Erin Lee – Wave to Papa

★★ Wave to Papa ★★

By Erin Lee

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

✻ SYNOPSIS ✻

Dawn Winchester is sure Dan didn’t mean to hurt their toddler son Noah…again.

 

With the media swarming her on the courthouse steps, her husband in jail, her teenage daughter already in foster care, and a determined case worker and vigilant court appointed guardian fighting to “protect Noah,” Dawn doesn’t know where to turn. Nobody cared last time Noah had an accident while in his father’s care…so why is everyone now set on destroying her family?

Dawn believes in loyalty. What kind of wife would she be if she didn’t stand by her husband?

But through the endless cycle of hearings, counseling sessions, and visitations, Dawn begins to fear she’s been fooling herself. What if she’d been wrong and put Noah in danger? What if this was all her fault? During his mandatory anger management therapy, even Dan starts to wonder if he might not be the man he thought he was.

Dawn has already lost one child—possibly for good—and can’t bear the thought of losing Noah too. But with the pieces of her life shattered all around her, can she put it all back together? Or should she salvage what she can and build a different life, broken heart and all?

The bonds of marriage and parenthood are strong.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t be broken…

✻  Add to Goodreads  ✻

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25924446-wave-to-papa

✧ ‪#‎Oneclick your copy- http://amzn.to/1LACL6U

✧Book Trailer – http://bit.ly/1Lgawrm

 

 

★★  Meet the Author  ★★

Erin Lee

Lee is freelance writer and therapist from Southern, NH. Lee’s work has appeared in journals and magazines since 1995. She’s received numerous awards from the New England Press Association for her work as a journalist. “Wave to Papa” is her second novel. Currently, Lee is publishing “Crazy Like Me” with Savant Books and Publications, LLC, to be released in summer 2015. She has a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and works with children and families in crisis.

More of her work can be seen at www.authorerinlee.com.

LIMITLESS PUBLISHING:  http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/erin-lee/

GOODREADS:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13994843.Erin_Lee

WEBSITE:  http://www.authorerinlee.com/

FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/gonecrazytalksoon

 

 

Tagged: Erin Lee, Limitless Publishing, Wave to Papa

Author Spotlight Jane Hunt

Welcome to the Limitless Library Lounge where I interview fellow authors from Limitless Publishing. Today, I am chatting with  Jane Hunt from the  village of Pleasley, UK.

Thanks for joining me, Jane.  Please take a seat and make yourself comfortable.

I understand you have a novel that is just being released by Limitless today. Can you give me some details about it?

The Dangerous Gift is my first book with Limitless Publishing and is my first Romantic Suspense/ Mystery/ Thriller novel.

I have also written two fantasy/paranormal romances in The Dragon Legacy series:

‘The Dragon Legacy #1’ and ‘The Revenge Masquerade #2’.

These are currently published by Crimson Frost Books.

 The Dangerous Gift is a romantic suspense set in Texas:

‘After a tragic plane crash kills Jennie Taylor’s guardians, she returns to her childhood home—and her first love, Jared Stewart.

At just eighteen years old, Jennie had left the Unicorn Ranch in Texas to seek a life in the outside world. But she wasn’t just running toward independence. Heartbroken and confused, Jennie fled her home after Jared harshly rejected her on the eve of her birthday.

Now she must choose between making a new life on the ranch she has grown to love, or returning to her simple but empty life in England. The choice seems obvious at first, but nothing in life is simple…

Jared is forced to share control of his beloved ranch with the woman he wants but can’t have.

When Jennie receives an anonymous note, she goes to Jared for support. But what she finds is more than she was prepared for, driving the two further apart than ever. When an old friend is murdered and suspicious accidents escalate, endangering Jennie’s safety, Jared becomes her reluctant protector.

Jennie knows Jared is hiding something, but does he really want her gone from the ranch? And if so, could he be the one behind the ominous threats?

Determined to prove Jared isn’t involved, Jennie turns detective. Can she succeed in her courageous but reckless investigation…or is the truth a dangerous gift she won’t survive?’

I am currently writing a historical story set in England. This is part of a series of three books. I am also planning to write another romantic suspense novel as I enjoy this genre both to read and write.

Awesome. Your books sound great. Would you describe your goals as a writer to us. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

I achieved a lifelong ambition to become a full time writer when I turned fifty, four years ago. It has been a steep learning curve. The biggest lesson being that writing a book someone wants to publish is no longer enough. Social marketing and making your story visible to potential readers is vital. So my current goals are writing as much as I can and striving to create myself a viable author platform to showcase my work.

Those are wonderful goals, Jane. I hope to write full-time one day myself, and I couldn’t agree more that there’s much more to publishing than writing a good book. I find it overwhelming at times but am motivated by other authors such as yourself who work so hard to write and promote their books to their readership.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract?  Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

All my books are written for the reader who likes to step away from their current everyday life and live in someone else’s shoes for a little while.  I like to take everyday circumstances and overlay them with an extraordinary event and see how my characters react.

I think my writing will appeal to those readers that read to escape and enjoy strong heroines, sensual heroes, vivid descriptive imagery and a fast paced twisty plot.

I think you will have a wide audience in that regard.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

If becoming a published author is truly what you want to do, then never give up. It has taken me years to become published, mostly, because there have been long periods in my life when I haven’t written creatively. I always knew, I would get there one day and I have.

I still would like to become a successful author, which is much harder and depends on factors not directly related to the quality of your writing. As an optimist and loving writing as I do, I will never give up and all aspiring authors should be similarly motivated.

I hear that same advice from most authors, and I agree. Like you, I have been writing for many years but was not seeking publication right away. I also stopped writing after my first self-published novel, Cloudy Rainbow. Now that I’ve published A STONE’S THROW with Limitless, I have already written a sequel that I hope to submit to them soon and then start on either another book for the series or something else. As you said, you need to keep at it. A writer has to be persistent if they want to publish and gain fans.

Can you tell us specifically any challenges you faced before you first became published?

I have been writing on and off since I was in my late teens. I always wanted to be a creative writer and hopefully get published. However life got in the way of my teenage aspirations and as I mentioned above; it took many decades for me to find the courage to become a writer full time. I have written throughout my life but only with any consistency since I turned fifty, which was four years ago. I had to leave my job as a Service Improvement Facilitator through ill health, a couple of years earlier and I decided, rather than being a setback, this was an opportunity to write full time and try to get published.

My first book was published two years later in 2013, ‘The Dragon Legacy’. ‘The Revenge Masquerade’ book two in the series was published a year later and my first romantic suspense novel ‘The Dangerous Gift; is released today, February 9, 2016. Even when you’re published the struggles don’t end there. You need to find the right publisher who will help you build an author platform and promote your book.

Thanks for sharing. Did you also take any writing or publishing courses along the way?

I took a correspondence writing course when I decided I wanted to write professionally in my late teens and I referred to the course booklets over the decades, when I had the opportunity to write creatively. I have also read extensively on writing and publishing and follow numerous blogs that discuss writing and publishing tips. The importance of social media has escalated since I first started writing when there was no internet (yes I am that old). I am indebted to my daughter, a journalist graduate, who advised me on the importance of social media, which is invaluable to any author today.

lol. I also am pre-Internet or actually Internet was just getting started when I was in college. I think we are around the same age. It’s great to get an early start, but many writers write later in life. I have one man at my library who is writing his first book at 90. As far as classes, I wrote a post on this blog about the great online Gale Courses that I took and am still taking on writing and publishing. Gale Courses is a database that many libraries offer free to their patrons throughout the U.S. In addition to writing and publishing, the database offers many other classes. I am currently taking marketing and public speaking, two topics also of importance to authors. 

What hobbies and interests do you have besides writing?

I love reading, reviewing and blogging. Walking in the countryside with my dogs, cooking and escaping into television drama like ‘Scandal’,’ Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Supernatural’, ‘The Originals’ and any good period drama like ‘Downton Abbey’.

I’m sure you get some plot ideas from those interests.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

I love finding a new idea for a book and that feeling when you have so much to say, you can’t type quickly enough. I dislike not having enough time to write and not having the will power to write at the expense of other things, like a clean house and cooking for my family.

My toughest challenge is self- promotion and asking for help to do this. I promote lots of authors on my blog and social media but I find it hard to promote myself in the same way, or ask those same authors to help me but I am learning to slowly.

You sound a lot like me here, too. I love writing and try to set aside time to do it each morning before work, as I’m an early riser, but then I find  I end up spending more time on marketing and promotion which leaves little time for my family and household work. I also try to feature authors on my blog such as this Author Spotlight and my Cozy Chats. I don’t expect reciprocal promotion from anyone, but I’m thankful for those authors who help me by sharing my book posts on social media, reviewing and/or beta reading my books, and just supporting me in general with answers to questions or assistance with other writing and marketing-related matters.

Can you please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. so readers can connect with you.

Jane Hunt Writer Website

Blog

Jane Hunt Facebook

Jane Hunt Writer Facebook Page

Jane Hunt Writer-My Books Facebook Page

Jane Hunt Writer Book Reviews Facebook Page

Twitter

Goodreads

 Jane Hunt Pinterest

Jane Hunt Google+

My Books Google+ Page

Jane Hunt Writer Book Reviews Google+ Page 

Jane Hunt Linked In

Jane Hunt Tumblr

Jane Hunt on Goodreads

Jane Hunt on Wattpad

You certainly have a lot of social connections, Jane. I will have to check to see if we are connected on some of those. Thanks for visiting the Limitless Library Lounge today, and best of luck with THE DANGEROUS GIFT and your upcoming books.

 

 

 

Tagged: Gale Courses, Jane Hunt, Limitless Publishing, The Dangerous Gift