Susan Hanniford Crowley's Blog: From Nights of Passion Blog, page 146

Say What We Mean

One of the most common things I hear people say is that something or someone is interesting. What does that mean? Anyone who has a decent degree of experience with the English language knows this can mean a lot of things, either good or bad. When I say English I’m also referring to United States English. English spoken in other countries may make the same types of references but I can’t claim to know that for sure.

Additionally, I do speak Spanish and while I’ve heard words like “interesante” used in a similar context, I have not experienced the same amount of situations which can change the word’s meaning depending on how it is used.

Words like these always make me wonder why it is we struggle to say what we mean or what we want at times. The conclusion I’ve come to is that we are afraid for some reason or other, but then I must ask whether that fear is valid?

At work I was working with a prospective client who I felt was really trying to avoid paying for financial assistance. And yet, the truth is he needed it. The questions he was asking, the struggles he face– the service I offered would really help him. I brought up the service as something he should consider but never flat out asked him about it. And why? Because I felt he didn’t want it. And maybe I was right but now I will never know if I was or his hesitation on the service. I never said what I meant to said and I have no good reason why.

So I bring up my question again, is this fear of ours really valid that we tend to “dance” in our conversations than talk? I don’t think so. Perhaps there is a time and place but in most cases we should just say what we mean–we may just find it makes the world a little less complex.

Filed under: A writer's life, romance, Toni Kelly

Handed It In Late @_@ by Mandy Rosko

So I finally got done formatting and uploading and handing in the third volume for The Wild Wolf’s Wife, and even though it’s 3 days late from its intended due date, I’m fairly happy with the way it turned out

A Dancing Heart Paranormal-Scope

Romance and pollen are in the air.  Spring is always a mixed bag of emotions and sneezes.

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal-scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

Gnomes are avid gardeners. You don’t have to be. The Farmer’s Markets are opening! Get some fresh greens and enjoy.

Taurus:

Dragons love to roll in the sunlit ocean. Take time to go to the beach or a lake. Open yourself up to relaxing more.

Gemini:

Mermaids are good at finding treasure. An opportunity is coming your way. Don’t jump at it without check it out first thoroughly.

Cancer:

Werewolves don’t mean to have fleas. Have all pets checked out for fleas and ticks. Be watchful of bugs entering your home.

Leo:

Aslan roars a new life change coming your way. A door opens. Embrace the wonder of how life reinvents itself.

Virgo:

Griffon take flight into the spring air. Plan a vacation even a day or two to get away from it all.

Libra:

Goblins love graphic novels. Try something new in your life. A new hobby. A class. A new way of looking at things. Maybe a comic or graphic novel.

Scorpio:

Faeries think you are adorable. Smile and show that cheerful side of you. Reward yourself with a new item for the wardrobe.

Sagittarius:

Pixie dust is everywhere. It’s spring. Take care of your health.

Capricorn:

A bear shifter wants to cuddle you. You make a lot of people feel safe and warm. Accept a hug because you need them too.

Aquarius:

Elves have a passion for parties with friends and/or family. Plan one a low stress get-together where everyone brings something to eat. Or call out for pizza.

Pisces:

Pegasus takes you flying. You’re going to see a situation from a new perspective. It’s going to be enlightening and personally helpful.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle!  Coming soon in Print on July 4th!

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Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

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Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love , Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Filed under: A Vampire for Christmas, Max Vander Meer, Norse, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, vampires, Viking, Weekly Paranormal-Scope, Yule

It’s the End of the World As We Know It. By Ripley Proserpina

When many of us start writing, we don’t write well. I wrote books that were hundreds of thousands of words long. Some of them started in one tense and switched, mid-scene. Along with things like point of view.

Maybe one day I’ll post some of my craptastic early works, but I’m trying to entice readers, not scare them away, so let’s put that on hold for now.

The very first thing I wrote was fan-fiction. Buried in a box, somewhere in Northern Vermont, is a series of stories which feature a character who looks an awful lot like me, and all the Newsies (though I admit that Christian Bale did have a starring role in this book).

There’s another series with a different female character (again, she sort of (read, exactly) looks like me) and Brendan Fraser’s character from The Mummy.

I wrote fan-fiction as an adult, as well. I hated the way Camille ended, and rewrote it with a happy ending. (Nervy, right? Thinking I knew better than Alexander Dumas fils? I know. Here’s a match for your torches).

Slow Burn, my recent Kindle Worlds release, is Amazon Publishings’ take on fan-fiction. One author creates a world, writes a story, and then invites other authors to dance around in it. Fan-fiction is everywhere, my friends, just ask Bridget Jones while you watch Clueless and House of Cards.

As an aside, can I go ga-ga over House of Cards for a moment? A show based on MacBeth, which somehow managed to be turned into an episode of The Amazing World of Gumball? Blow. My. Mind.

Which leads me to an exciting new author who I met in the fan-fiction world. AJ Anders has released her first book, Precursor in her series, The Souja Guild.  I was lucky to read this book in all its forms, and let me just say, “Wow!”

When I asked AJ about being interviewed for this week’s blog, she agreed! My interview with her is below, and she even gave me an excerpt from her soon-to-be-released story Foreseen, the second book in The Souja Guild, which releases May 23rd.

****

You write RH- what drew you to that genre? 

I read the first book in the Ghost Bird series and discovered a whole new world waiting to be explored. The idea of a non-erotica reverse harem that was more plot based instead of all sex excited me as a reader. I was intrigued from the start. As more and more writers became aware of this undiscovered market, a wide variety of RH stories quickly became available. I was like a kid in the candy store jumping for joy at all the new selections available.

Your main character, Evie lives in a complicated world. Tell me about the world you built for her.

Evie’s world is unique and carefully crafted. As an author, I didn’t want to write the standard paranormal book. I wanted to create something new and exciting and that is how the Surmata were born. In the first book, Evie’s world is rather narrow. You really only get a small glimpse into the supernatural worlds that exist around her. With the second book, more and more details start to emerge, allowing the reader to start forming a complete picture of the architecture of each plane of existence. As each book becomes available, Evie’s world view will be expanded to included never before imagined places and people as well as introduce her to a darker underside of the one place she finally calls home.

So, your book is RH. Without giving away too much, who are Evie’s guys and what draws them to her? 

Evie is a very lucky young lady. Because of her best friend Max, Evie meets the Shadewolf Kaveri, a bonded group of Surmata warriors who quickly bring Evie under their protection. Dashiel is the leader. Evie is drawn to his strength of character and alpha tendencies. With him at her side, Evie feels like she can take on the world. Cyne is the comic relief and wears his heart on his sleeve. He is Evie’s confidant and when he smiles at her, all the worries that weigh her down are blow away to nothingness. Jaxon is her shield. With him, she feels cherished and protected from all those who mean her harm. Aaron is the quiet intellect. His openness and unreserved manner allows Evie to drop her guard and be herself. Xander is overprotective but doesn’t try to stifle Evie. He allows her to stand on her own two feet, encouraging her to be her own white knight, never needing some male to come along to rescue her. And finally we have Jaoel, the grumpy, complicated mess. Evie’s not sure what to make of him, but she sees the gentleness that resides in his heart and is drawn to the person hiding deep within him.

What’s next for Evie and her guys? 

That is a complicated answer. There are so many things happening in Evie’s world. She has a hateful father who will continue to play havoc with her new life. An over infatuated suitor whose black heart makes one’s skin crawl. Demons trying to break through the planes of existence to run amok in the earthern realm and a heartbroken best friend. Throw in her developing feelings for six supernatural beings that are forbidden to her, and Evie feels like she’s on a non-stop roller coaster ride. Evie’s journey will be a long one but she will grow into an extraordinary woman with six men at her side who think she hung the moon.

What inspired you to start writing and what plans do you have for the future? 

After reading my first reverse harem story, I was hooked. I searched and searched for more stories and this led me to a group of readers that changed my world. Each of us shared a love of the genre and encouraged others to write fan fictions just to keep us in stories while we waited impatiently for the next original story to be published. After much persuasion, I finally tried my hand at writing a fan fiction. The encouragement I received from this group gave me the confidence I needed to pen my own original and share my imagination with the world. The Suoja Guild is only the first series I plan to write. I already have a new series outlined and I can’t wait for my readers to meet Harley.

Excerpt from Foreseen (Suoja Guild Book 2):

“You can’t cuss?” Evie remembered his angry words from earlier, how he replaced the cuss words one would normally say with other words or phrases. “Is it a religious thing?” 

Laughter rang out, all the guys throwing their heads back with loud, barking laughter. All except Cyne, who glared at everyone. “It’s not fudging funny, you duckheads.”

Grabbing Evie’s hand, he pulled her out of the seat and sat down in her place. 

“Hey!” Evie exclaimed, hands going on her hips. 

“Shush it, Short Stack.” Cyne grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap.

“Cyne!” Evie exclaimed, shocked and unwillingly happy with his actions. His casual touches made her feel less hesitant about her own irrational desire to touch him. 

“What, Tiny Tot?”

“Let me up.” His informality put her at ease, but there were others around, at least one of which she fantasized about kissing. She peeked at Dashiel to find him engrossed in conversation with Jaxon. No one paid Cyne and her any attention. Gaze returning to the man who held her, she halfheartedly protested, “I can’t sit on your lap.”

“Course you can. There are no seats left. This is me being practical.” He slung an arm around her hips. “Besides, if you sit on our laps all the time, all those human boys trying to get your attention will take a hint. It’s for your protection.”

Evie blinked at him in confusion. “What human boys, Cyne? No one’s paying me any mind.”

“Beautiful, but blind. It’s a deadly combination in a young woman this day and age.” He gave his head a sad shake. “No worries, Little Bit. We’ve got your back. You go on being oblivious to the guys following you around like puppy dogs, waiting for a treat. Or better yet, praying for a rub.”

“I’m the only human here, Cyne. Somehow your argument doesn’t hold water.”

“Oh, I know they aren’t here. Like I said, this is a practice run. Wouldn’t want you to freak out when we do it in public. Max asked us to look after you, and we gave him our solemn vow.” Laughter spilled out of Cyne, dancing merrily in the air. He bumped her up and down on his legs, hard, to stall further comments from her. 

She harrumphed, crossing her arms in defeat. She hoped her bony butt poked his thighs. 

“You never answered Evie’s question, Cyne,” Xander prompted. Still chuckling, he and Jaxon exchanged a fist bump, causing the muscles on their biceps to contract. 

Cyne removed the arm wrapped around Evie’s waist and flipped off the two laughing team members. “It’s nothing, really. I had a bad habit of cursing when I shouldn’t. Selja Nimandy took umbrage with it and hexed me. I can’t curse, no matter how hard I try. Other words pop out of my mouth instead.”

Evie stared at him in horror. “She cursed you?” Evie turned to the others, her words harsh with indignation. “How could you all sit around laughing at him like this?” Angry on Cyne’s behalf, she couldn’t believe his chosen brothers-in-arms would be so callous. “Why aren’t you doing something about it?”

“Relax, Small Fry. It’s a harmless curse.” Cyne rubbed his head awkwardly. “For the hex to release, all I need to do is go one full day without cursing.”

“Really?” Her shoulders relaxed as the anger seeped away. “If you don’t curse until this time tomorrow, the hex will be broken?”

“Yep.” 

“Well, then, that’s alright.” Evie resisted the urge to pat him in reassurance. “Tomorrow you’ll be able to curse all you want.”

More laughter broke out, Xander and Jaxon practically rolling on the ground as they roared with laughter. 

“T-tell her…” Jaxon tried to regain control of himself, long enough to finish his sentence. “Tell her how long you’ve been trying to break the hex.”

Cyne looked put out. Sighing, he murmured, “Three hundred and fifty-two days.”

Evie stared at him blankly, not saying anything. She wasn’t a prude, but she didn’t have an incessant need to curse either. “So…”

“Oh, God, the look on her face!” Jaxon fell over onto the ground, his feet, resting on his seat. A snort next to her pulled Evie’s attention to Dashiel. He laughed silently, his shoulders bouncing up and down with movement as tears ran down his face. 

Author Bio:

AJ Anders is a new and upcoming author with a lot of different hats. She is an active mom, keeper of a full-time job, and a passel of friends whose antics always keep her hopping. It’s amazing she finds any time to craft her stories for her readers to enjoy. Fiercely loyal and protective of those she cares for, AJ enjoys creating stories where there may be strife and tears, but in the end, it will be a well-earned happily ever after. Outside of writing AJ enjoys terrifying her friends with her driving skills and relaxing at home with a good book.

 

Universal Book Links:

Precursor:  https://books2read.com/precursor

Foreseen:  https://books2read.com/foreseen

Filed under: romance

To Sleep Perchance to Dream

[image error](Flaming June by Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896). Courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Due to the proximity of my surgery date and the need for me to write faster on my novel, this author is sleeping. As many of you know, my books come in my dreams. I’m missing chapters and pages and details. So I’m catching up.

Next Saturday a wonderful author has agreed to step in for me. Fear not I will return before you know it.

Good dreams. And no, I’m not “shuffling off the mortal coil.”  Too many books to write. Have a great weekend.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle!  Coming soon in Print on July 4th!

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Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

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Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love , Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Filed under: A Vampire for Christmas, Max Vander Meer, Norse, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, vampires, Viking, Weekly Paranormal-Scope, Yule

RONE nominee! by Stacy Hoff

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I’ve been awaiting this week for quite some time, and here it is—da da da dum—it’s InD’Tale Magazine’s 2017 RONE (Reward Of Novel Excellence) Awards! My October, 2016 release, JOCKEYING FOR YOU, is a nominee for InD’Tale Magazine’s “Cops, Jocks, and Cowboys” category. This week readers get to vote on which “Cops, Jocks, and Cowboys” nominees move on to the next round. I’m excited! I’m nervous! Most of all, I’m counting on you!!!

You, yes you, can vote. It’s free! It’s easy! It’ll take less than a minute of your time! All you need to do is sign up with In’DTale Magazine (if you aren’t a subscriber yet, you should be!) and vote by clicking this link:

http://www.indtale.com/2017-rone-awards-week-five

While you’re there, take a look at the other contenders. I’m up against stiff competition. That’s great for you, the reader. InD’Tale does a wonderful job at showcasing books everyone can enjoy. In fact, every month InD’Tale offers up concise book reviews, interesting author interviews, and other fun features.

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Whether or not JOCKEYING FOR YOU wins, I highly recommend InD’Tale magazine. And please, vote!!!

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WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR STACY HOFF:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorStacyHoff

Web: http://www.stacyhoff.com

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JOCKEYING FOR YOU print version http://amzn.to/2eanq2o

JOCKEYING FOR YOU Kindle version http://amzn.to/2c8Hi5t

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BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (BUILDING LOVE series, #1) http://amzn.to/2kAgBvK

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DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC print version http://amzn.to/2cubwCf

DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC kindle version http://amzn.to/1KjfP9V

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DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES print version http://amzn.to/2dXO1zV

DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES Kindle version http://amzn.to/1YEseie

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LAWFULLY YOURS print version http://amzn.to/2e6Ug8k

LAWFULLY YOURS Kindle version http://amzn.to/1Ky5CZm

Filed under: A writer's life, contest, Stacy Hoff

All Genre Writing Conference by Heather Novak

Every single RWA conference I’ve been to, without fail, has been supportive, encouraging, and enlightening. I always leave energized, ready to work, and with a backlog of friend requests on social media. But what about the genres, who, unlike romance writers, don’t have a national group? Who may not have a place to go to learn and make connections?

This is why I am SO EXCITED for my RWA chapter’s all genre writing conference!!

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Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America presents: The Word Nerds Writers’ Conference!

Why is this *SO* exciting? Well, first and foremost, because I designed the ad. I mean LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS!!! *pets computer screen*

Oh, sorry, FOCUS HEATHER.

Here’s the low down:

We have the phenomenal Debra Dixon, who literally wrote the book on Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. Ms. Dixon will be teaching workshops throughout the day to strengthen your writing and really make your story jump off the page.

[image error]Debra Dixon has published with major publishers, written ten books, contributed to twelve anthologies, and served as Vice President of RWA, and her popular GMC:Goal, Motivation, and Conflictworkshop spawned a book that has become a how-to bible for writers.

These days, she’s better known as Publisher for BelleBooks and its imprint Bell Bridge Books, which tackles a broad spectrum of genres in both print and ebook formats.  A 2011 company highlight was holding the # 1 spot on the full Paid Kindle list for more than two weeks.  Their titles have been picked up in translation and by major New York publishers in subrights deals for mass market paperback, book club, audio and large print.  The company has published work from NYT’s bestselling authors: Anne Bishop, Susan Addison Allen, Deborah Smith, Sharon Sala, Sabrina Jeffries, Sandra Hill, Jill Marie Landis, and Jill Barnett.  As well as USA Today bestseller Kalayna Price.

Debra lives in the South with her husband and son. When she’s not working in publishing or Corporate America, she moonlights as an award-winning quilter. The current home-remodeling-project-that-will-not-end began because Debra thought it would be nice to have a quilt studio for her art.

Our breakfast keynote speaker will be the incomparable Beverly Jenkins. 

Beverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance. She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Su[image error]nday Morning.Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for multicultural romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR.

 

For those looking for an agent or editor, we will have live pitch sessions! We will have an agent/editor panel so you can get the answers to all those questions you were too afraid to ask. So far, our agents and editors include:

[image error]Janna Bonikowski – The Knight Agency

Janna Bonikowski came to the Knight Agency with several years of experience as both an independent editor and a freelance editor for Lyrical Press/Kensington. Though her Bachelor’s degree focused on business and economics, her passion for books made a career in publishing inevitable.

Raised on a steady supply of books, Janna has a wide range of literary loves. Her current wish list includes romance of all types, women’s fiction, cozy mystery, suspense, and historical fiction. She’ll also consider exceptional projects in contemporary young adult or middle grade. She’s not the right fit for horror or SF/F projects. Bold, take-charge women are her favorite characters, and she loves stories that evoke strong emotion, whether laughter or tears.

Stephanie Doig – Carina Press

[image error]Assistant Editor for Carina Press, Stephanie began her career at Harlequin eight years ago and has been working with the Carina Press team since 2011. In her time at Harlequin she has worked as a proofreader, copy editor, and author liaison before moving to the editor’s desk. Stephanie reads across genres, but is especially interested in contemporary romances with smart, sharp dialogue; fast-paced romantic suspense; and paranormal/urban fantasy series with continuing characters and solid world building.

Theresa Cole – Entangled Publishing

[image error]A self-proclaimed book and coffee addict, Theresa has been devouring words most of her life. She’s worked with numerous publishers and authors, some of whom went on to become NYT and USA Today bestsellers. Paranormal romance will always be her first true love, but any story that makes her laugh, cry, or both is a sure win, especially if sexy cowboys are involved. She likes her contemporaries with a dash of humor, her paranormal romances with tortured heroes, and she’s a sucker for the older brother’s best friend. Theresa resides in the beautiful state of Michigan with her husband, sons, and one cat who thinks he owns them all. When she’s not editing, writing, or reading, she can usually be found at her son’s sporting events or daydreaming about living somewhere warmer. Contact her at Theresa AT entangled publishing DOT com and check out her Twitter for her current #mswl.

Ms. Dixon will also be taking pitches for BelleBooks!

Need some critique or pitch polishing help? Come on by on Friday night for a casual, low-key session with successful writers leading feedback groups.

Hate your author photo? We will also have a photographer available for headshots/author shots for a very affordable price!

Best part? The hotel has a fabulous bar. Not gonna lie.

YES YES YES! You want to come. I’m so glad! Here are all the nitty-gritty details:

The Word Nerds Writers’ Conference Schedule

October 20th – 21st

Friday, October 20, 2017

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Registration



7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Preglow: This includes write-in, group critiques, and pitch practice.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

7:30 am – 8:30 am: Registration

7:30 am – 9:00 am: Continental Breakfast Served

8:30 am – 9:00 am: Keynote Address and Conference Kick Off –

Ms. Beverly Jenkins

Acclaimed Author

Recipient of the 2017 RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime achievement award

9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Presentation: GMC – Goal Motivation Conflict

Ms. Deb Dixon

BelleBooks

10:30 am – 10:45 am: Morning Break

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch Served

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm:

Session A: Deb Dixon: Integrating GMC with the Hero’s Journey

Session B: Agent/Editor panel

3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Author Network & Mixer

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

10 Minute Pitch Sessions

**REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN**

Visit www.GDRWA.org for complete information and registration.

Pricing (Early Bird Registration, before July 31st)

GDRWA Member : $85/Early Bird $75

RWA Member (Non-GDRWA): $110/Early Bird $100

Non-RWA Member: $120/Early Bird ($110)

Hotel Information:

Detroit Troy Marriott in Troy, Michigan

200 W Big Beaver Rd., Troy MI 48084

(248) 680-9797

Don’t forget to reserve your hotel room for the weekend! A block of rooms will be held for a limited time under “GDRWA writers conference.”

You can call 1.877.757.7131 or go online to https://tinyurl.com/GDRWA-Rooms

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On this day in 1953 – Jackie Cochran becomes the first female pilot to break the sound barrier.

Wishing You Laughter & Good Books,[image error]

Heather Novak

Find me at:

Twitter: authorheathern

Instagram: authorheathern

Facebook: authorheathernovak

Hunting Witch Hazel: Now available

I was happy with my West Coast life – 24-hour pizza delivery and bikini-clad bodies as far as the eye could see. Now I’m in the small-ass town of  Hayvenwood  to extract a ransom to save my little brother’s life. And that ransom is locked inside of the sexiest witch I have ever met, Hazel Evanora.

Filed under: romance

Don’t Give Up Happiness

As kids, we are quirky and daring and brave yet afraid… the list really keeps going as we move from child to child since to some degree we are all different. Somehow along the way we shake off a lot of these traits and I used to think this was meant to happen to define us but as I age, I think a lot of this happens as we try to conform to whatever part of society we want to conform to.

Every day I talk to folks who are jaded from their work and in part (as sad as it sounds) from different aspects of their lives. They want to know how much longer they have to work or when they can retire or how to fix a lot of what has already been done wrong. Some of these questions are easier to answer than the others. In some cases though, it’s not possible to change the past. A pessimist will say what’s done is done and there’s no point in moving forward or trying to make it better, just wallow. I am not a pessimist and I say what is done is done but you can look to change or make better what you are working with now. Stop trying to conform or do what you are supposed to do and do what you enjoy.

And this applies to everything in life. I happen to work in the world of finance so you can’t just make money appear but you can learn to live within your means or consider part time work that makes you happy. Beyond finance, there is a whole world out there. It is never too late to learn a new skill or travel to new places or take up a different hobby.

The moral of the blog today is don’t give up the important parts of you, trying to be what society wants to you to be, in exchange for your happiness. I can guarantee that in most cases you will regret it.

Happy writing this week!

Filed under: A writer's life, romance, Toni Kelly

Cutting It Close by Mandy Rosko

Okay, so the day before yesterday I finished the third volume of The Wild Wolf’s Wife and sent it off for a rush edit. It’s going to be close, but I think I can get it in by the 20th in for my lovely patrons.

I got almost no writing done for Atlanta, which makes sense when you’re having fun and going to writing talks, marketing speeches and writing down everything I could, plus catching a cold, yeah, there was barely any time for actual writing, so now I’m rushing to make up for all that lost time.

 

I have another 70K words to write for Siren, plus another 10K words minimum for my short story for the upcoming box set. The rest of this month will be down to the wire. Like, Nanowrimo down to the wire.

 

This tends to happen in May whenever I go to RT. I’ve always been able to make it work by hunkering down and getting the words out, so I’m hopeful it can be done right now. My big plans are to get to the coffee shop, and never leave it until I have at least 7K words finished for the day.

 

7K words per day for the rest of the month. I think that should be enough to get everything done, and last year I had to do the exact same thing. Which isn’t bad considering what I know some other authors end up doing to make their deadlines.

 

I had to get 7K words a day for 10 days straight last year to make that deadline, it got done, so I know I can do it again.

Go me!

Right, this was mostly just a pep talk for myself, but my next big plans are to grow my Bookbub following, and my Wattpad following. They day you have to write down your goals to keep them on the forefront of your mind, so my new goals are to reach 10K Bookbub followers, and 10K Wattpad followers, within 2 years.

 

Yeah, Reach for the stars, am I right?

 

But I did manage to get to the number of Newsletter subscribers I hoped for in that time, so I’m thinking I could make this work as well with enough effort

A Little Twisted Paranormal-Scope

Sometime life it too intense. I usually sleep when that happens. Or find a place to quietly write. This week may be a twisted experience for some. You’ll get past it. Hang on!

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal-scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

Pixies are not always nice. Let me put it this way. Zombies are afraid of them. Tread carefully at work and smile at everyone.

Taurus:

Have you ever seen a gnome without a hat? What’s under that hat? A new hat is in your future. That could mean a hat or a new job opportunity or a new relationship. Hats are funny things and don’t always mean hats.

Gemini:

Werewolfpups are messy. Yes, it’s clean the home time. What fun! What delight! Afterwards take yourself out for a treat. Always reward yourself. And the werewolfpups.

Cancer:

One vampire is romantic or creepy. Your choice. Two are a threesome. Again your choice. What are you going to do with those that crave your company?

Leo:

Werewolves are howling. Party time with friends. A new friend will be coming into your life.

Virgo:

Shapeshifters love interior decorating. Examine your home. Consider fresh paint in new warm or soothing colors. Add some new pieces. Take out whatever cannot be repaired or shabby.

Libra:

Werespiders are weaving you a banner. You have accomplished a lot in life so far. It’s time to take stock, be grateful for what you have, and count your blessings. More blessings to come.

Scorpio:

Orcs are attracted to you. Don’t be put off by appearances. Your new friend may be fun and brave at heart.

Sagittarius:

Werekittens enjoy hugging you. You will be adored by many. Picking that special one will take some ingenuity on your part.

Capricorn:

A dragon has claimed you and will teach you their ways. Be careful with fire. Make sure you have fire extinguishers placed around your home and the smoke detectors work.

Aquarius:

Sirens think you are delicious. Swim faster. Enjoy nature either with walks or home gardening. Stay out of the water unless there’s a lifeguard.

Pisces:

Elves find you enchanting. A new opportunity will come your way as well as a new friend. Check out both before proceeding. It’s an exciting time.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!

NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle!  Coming soon in Print on July 4th!

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Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and  Barnes and Noble Print

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Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.

Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.

Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.

A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.

The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print

When Love , Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Filed under: A Vampire for Christmas, Max Vander Meer, Norse, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, vampires, Viking, Weekly Paranormal-Scope, Yule