Susan Hanniford Crowley's Blog: From Nights of Passion Blog, page 183
May 9, 2016
All The Fun at Romancing the Capital by Mandy Rosko
Okay, so I had so much fun I can barely stand it. I met too many authors, a ton of readers at the speed dating event, and I gave away a lot of books.
Lol, it took me a bit before my voice felt right again after the speed dating event and the signing. It was packed in there! Packed and loud
May 8, 2016
A Werewolf’s Paranormal-Scope
Summer is around the corner and will burst on the scene with excitement. It’s the werewolves’ time to play.
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:
Werewolves love their pack. Your relationships will gain new importance. Nurture them and enjoy the company of those that love you.
Taurus:
Being cautious about making a big decision is a good thing. Sniff out all the details until you’re satisfied.
Gemini:
Taking an alpha’s advice on an important matter doesn’t mean you can blame them if it doesn’t come out as expected. Remember you make the final decision!
Cancer:
A werewolf in a new territory shows strength and learns how things are done. Show off your best work and be brave in your pursuits.
Leo:
You hunger to learn new things. Werewolves love cooking classes and it’s a great way to meet people too.
Virgo:
Hiding in a cave can be relaxing at times but so is partying with the pack. You will know when you need solitude and when to howl with your friends. Trust yourself.
Libra:
Sometime the pack gets a bit intense. Take a vacation. Extend your territory. Check out a new place.
Scorpio:
Organizing and getting things done is key for you right now. Werewolves have keen sense of detail. This will help you finish a project on time. Then play.
Sagittarius:
Take stock in what you’ve accomplished in your life. Bounce new ideas of a close pack member.
Capricorn:
You’ve working hard and nearing completion on a project. Put that werewolf nose to the ground and get your results. Then reward yourself with playtime with the pack.
Aquarius:
Spend time being informal and hanging out. Werewolves love structure but right now it’s time to hang loose.
Pisces:
Things have been tough and you’ve felt alone. Reconnect with your pack. Go out for coffee with an old friend and catch-up.
-Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance
www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and Nook and Print
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.
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
May 7, 2016
Happy Mother’s Day!
In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’ve discovered quite a few very interesting facts about the holiday that I thought I’d share with you.
1) The creator of Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, became so disillusioned with the capitalism associated with the holiday that she spent the latter portion of her life trying to have it removed from the calendar.
2) According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, 66% of those celebrating Mother’s Day will buy flowers, spending an estimated $2.4 billion in 2016.
3) The most popular flower to give to mother is carnation.
4) Red or pink carnations or roses are worn by people whose mothers are living; white is worn for those who have passed away.
5) The most uniquely searched gift for Mother’s Day in Hawaii is Cake Pops; in Alaska it’s “Love Poems.”
6) Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year to eat out. 38% of consumers eat out on Mother’s Day spending 2.7 billion dollars.
7) Only about 2% of greeting cards purchased are Mother’s Day Cards. (Christmas and birthday cards are numbers 1 and 2)
8) In the U.S. alone around 122 million phone calls are made to moms on Mother’s Day.
9) In what used to be Yugoslavia, children would tie their mothers up on Mother’s Day. They got free only by paying the children with treats.
10) The oldest mom on record is Satyabhama Mahapatra, who gave birth to her first child, a boy, at age 65 in 2003.
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
Filed under: Holidays, Jenna Jaxon, romance
May 6, 2016
What Ignites Your Imagination? – Susan Hanniford Crowley
Recently I’ve returned from a vacation with my honey to Florida. One of my favorite places in the Florida is the Kennedy Space Center. Space has fascinated me all my life and I’ve followed all the space missions from the very beginning. Being in the place where history was made excites me. Being where it is still being made with a future Mars mission ignites my imagination as a writer. Space to me is the bigger picture of life. We are just small individual beings in the bigger picture of the cosmos. But ah, the journey. It’s worth living.
Here I am in front of the retired Space Shuttle Atlantis. I couldn’t take a great picture that showed the immensity of the ship. Just be being near the nose of this space shuttle shows how small we are.
When I was in college, I toyed with the idea of majoring in astronomy. Just toyed mind you. The astronomy professor was away, and the replacement professor just didn’t have his heart in it. Still I did my own study of the stars. Here I am being the shuttle pilot. Dreams aren’t just for the young but for the young and adventurous at heart.
What ignites your imagination? What do you dream of?
-Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance
www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and Nook and Print.
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.
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
May 5, 2016
This Horse Racing Book Just Crossed the Finish Line! By Stacy Hoff
The 142nd Kentucky Derby means more to me than merely watching a fantastic race–it marks my own, personal milestone. Not only as a spectator, but as a writer. This week I signed the contract with my publisher for my forth contemporary romance, JOCKEYING FOR YOU, a story set in the world of horse racing. Is my writing career finally off and running? Or will my best efforts be overtaken? I’ve decided that either way I am simply happy to have simply crossed the finish line.
I knew absolutely nothing about horse racing when I started writing this novel. Learning this industry was a real challenge for me. I had never been a sports fan. So what made me choose to write about a sport in my newest novel? The idea sprang up during a writing seminar I attended. My local chapter of RWA (CTRWA) hosted a two day workshop with Hollywood script legend Michael Hague (who you can check out on www.storymastery.com, if you’re so inclined). The thrust of that workshop was to establish a plot line where the protagonist’s character arc is internally reached while being externally exemplified. Michael Haugue tasked each attendee to come up with a plot line built around this structure. I initially came up with zilch. But before arriving at the conference center on the second day, an idea struck me. An idea to cast to my characters in some kind of race. But what kind of race? I was initially stumped.
Right around this time, news of an extraordinary horse was spreading across the US. American Pharoah was fast become a living legend. What this colt could do was fascinating. Even I found myself drawn in. Was the horseracing world the exact setting I was searching for? I decided to undertake the herculean task to find out.
I pulled every horseracing book I could find in my local libraries. Unfortunately, very few books existed and a large percentage of those that did were very old. I traveled from library to library, and website to website, but never felt like I got a true sense of the sport. I had hoped to bolt out of the research starting gate. Instead, I was stalled.
It was time for me kick myself forward. And I did it the best way I knew how—I took two research road trips. I signed myself up for tours of both Belmont Park (Queens, New York) and the National Racing Museum (Saratoga, New York). I loved these trips immensely and will blog more in detail about these wonderful locations later. (The photo on top is one I took at Belmont Park.The one below is of Saratoga.)
Inspired by my travels, I hurried home to gallop towards my goal of a completed manuscript. For the first time in my life I had a novel on the fast track. I had become my own writing jockey. And I didn’t even need to crack the whip.
Horses, like their jockeys, need to keep pushing towards the finish line. Reaching the home stretch does not mean “relax and take it easy.” No, it means “full steam ahead.” I put everything I had into this new book. I hope when it’s released people find it to be a winner.
Does the Kentucky Derby inspire you?
Book blurb for JOCKEYING FOR YOU
Ryder Hannon, a thoroughbred horse trainer, has a big problem—fighting her fear of racing again. The emotional scars run deeper than her physical ones. But her romantic feelings towards handsome, uber-rich, stable owner Jake Carter is a bigger problem. Is Jake truly in love with her or is he using her to get back at his smug family?
Jake Carter is on a mission—to prove his family wrong. He may have bought a troubled horse, but he’s hired Ryder Hannon, a “horse whisperer,” to get his horse back on track. She’s more than just a trainer to him, she’s the woman he’s been looking for.
When Jake’s jockey gets injured, he wants Ryder to race. He knows deep down she wants to live up to her family’s legacy. So why does she keep fighting him—and her destiny—so hard?
WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR STACY HOFF:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorStacyHoff
AMAZON LINK FOR DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC by Stacy Hoff:
AMAZON LINK FOR DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES by Stacy Hoff:
AMAZON LINK FOR LAWFULLY YOURS by Stacy Hoff:
AMAZON LINK FOR HOT SEDUCTION (box set with Stacy Hoff):
AMAZON LINK FOR SEASON OF LOVE (Box set with Stacy Hoff):
Filed under: A writer's life, conferences, Craft, inspiration, publishing, romance, RWA, Settings, Stacy Hoff, What inspires you?, writer's inspiration, writer’s block, Writers Conferences, Writing, writing research
May 4, 2016
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a Cover Reveal by Heather Novak
I can’t drink alcohol, so I will celebrate with my book cover reveal instead (while I eat delicious tacos. Seriously, just assume no matter when you’re reading this, I’ll be stuffing my face with a taco.)
I was honored to work with Lindee Robinson Photography, model Jeanette Friedrick, and logo designer Danielle Styles to make this absolutely brilliant cover. To read about the hilarious yet disastrous photoshoot, click here! (Thanks winter in Michigan…)
Another version of this story appeared in an anthology in 2015. The book has been reedited and revamped. I look forward to bringing you books 2 & 3 of the series soon.
Hunting Witch Hazel: Tuesday, May 17, 2016.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00004]](https://nightsofpassion.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/hunting-witch-hazel_cover.jpg)
Blurb:
Hunting Witch Hazel: Book 1 in The Lynch Brothers Series
Be careful what you wish for…
Grayson
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.
I need her powers, and I have less than a week to steal them.
Hazel
I can’t let a human get close to me. I can’t risk having any more blood on my hands, no matter how magical it feels when Grayson is near me. Did I just really use the word magical? Clearly, I’ve been selling off my brain along with my powers. But the suffocating bills from my mother’s addiction rest on my shoulders. And if I’m late again, they’ll come after everyone I care about.
Including Grayson.
I hope you like it! Stayed tuned to Nights of Passion for release day updates.
1862 – The Battle of Puebla took place. It is celebrated as Cinco de Mayo.
Wishing You Laughter & Good Books,
Heather Novak
Find me at:
Twitter: authorheathern
Instagram: authorheathern
Facebook: authorheathernovak
Hunting Witch Hazel: May 17, 2016
Threat of Raine: Spring 2016
Rosemary for Remembrance: Spring 2016
Filed under: romance
May 3, 2016
A Look at Needs
I work in the financial industry, specifically an area that focuses mainly on sales or business development. As such, there is a lot of talk about needs analysis and getting to know clients. In my spare time, I’ve decided to pursue a financial certification that also places a lot of emphasis on establishing a relationship, learning about clients to best understand their goals, etc. It could be what I’m exposing myself to at the moment but it seems to me that there is a focus on understanding needs and intent while being able to communicate to these needs. It seems pretty simplistic, so why does it also seem so hard?
I listen to call after call and read scenario after scenario. I watch those around me and it seems to happen all the time…people don’t understand each other or they simply get it wrong. At times, I think this is unavoidable. My near 2 year old talks to me all the time and I definitely get it wrong. But there are a lot of times we get it wrong simply because we aren’t actively listening and we really don’t know what the other person needs. These days, life moves at an incredibly fast pace. We are always busy and only growing busier. We multi-task, talking to one person while texting another. We half listen because most of the time, we don’t need to apply our full attention. And yet, I also see so much that falls through the cracks, so many folks who walk around lost, looking for someone to talk to, someone who will really listen.
A few questions to leave you with and food for thought… are you getting what you need? Are you actively listening to those around you? We humans can be each other’s greatest asset if only we stop, listen and understand—not to mention understanding the depth behind surface words and emotions will only strength our ability to empathize and create more life-like characters.
Good luck and happy writing this week.
Filed under: A writer's life, romance, Toni Kelly
May 2, 2016
Got The Books in for Romancing The Capitol! by Mandy Rosko
I’m so happy today. Three boxes of books came to my door from Createspace
May 1, 2016
A Dragon’s Paranormal-Scope
Spring is finally getting it together. Time to declutter and make room for the new.
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:
Where there is fire, there is passion. Pursue your passion!
Taurus:
A cave can be a new opening. Opportunities are coming your way. Be open to them.
Gemini:
You’ve gotten into the comfort zone and don’t want to leave. Soar out of there and explore new territories.
Cancer:
Your dream arrives on dragon wings but the roar goes with it. Be brave and go after what you want.
Leo:
Your past may come to bite you, so look over your shoulder. Treat everyone kindly!
Virgo:
Dig deeper to secure your home and lifestyle.It may mean more work, but it will be worth it.
Libra:
Your dragon eyes are shining today. Your work has been noticed and appreciated.
Scorpio:
Test your limits. Soar higher and see what you can accomplish there. Believe in yourself.
Sagittarius:
Dragons breathe stress away. The fire in them gives them strength for the hard time ahead.
Capricorn:
It’s time to come out of the cave and stand out. Meet people. Get to know others.
Aquarius:
Dragons invite you to join their pod. Become a member of a group of friends and start going out and enjoying life.
Pisces:
Old worries and doubts haunt you. Roar and stand up and push the past aside. Soar in the sun where you belong.
-Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance
www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and Nook and Print
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.
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
April 30, 2016
Perception: The Best or The Worst?
I’ve been struggling for a while with perception of my work. Not only everyone else’s perception of it but my own as well. And maybe particularly my own.
Can writers view their work objectively?
I’ll admit I’ve always struggled to keep a distance between me and what I think of my writing. Some days I’ll finish a chapter and go back and think, “Man, did I write this? I don’t remember writing this. This is great stuff.” Other days I’ll look at it and go, “No one is ever going to want to read this dreck.” And it’s almost impossible to know which one is correct.
I’m a great fan of Johnny Depp, think he’s a brilliant actor. So I was amazed to hear him say in an interview that he’d never seen any of his films. This made no sense to me until I published a book. Once it’s out there and there’s nothing I can do to change any mistakes, I don’t want to look at it, to see those things I could have done different or better.
This is especially true with my older works. I have continued to grow as a writer, to understand deep POV better, to focus more on details of setting, to make my characters more complex and interesting. Looking back at my earlier works—which I have to do from time to time while I’m writing a series—I cringe to see some things I know to do differently now. I’d go back and rewrite some of them if I could, but I suspect I’ll have this problem throughout my writing career. Since I have to let go and write The End at some point, I’ll have to just take a page from Johnny Depp’s mantra and let it go.
I am heartened by one of the things I’ve noticed in theatre having to do with actors’ perception of their performances. Many times an actor will come off the stage saying, “I nailed that sucker,” and my evaluation is that the performance still needed work. However numerous times they will come off stage, head down, saying “God that sucked” and all I can think is “That was brilliant!”
We are all our own worst critics. Let’s give ourselves a vote of confidence and our beta readers a big round of applause for being that buffer and letting us know if our perception has hit the mark this time.
Filed under: Craft, Jenna Jaxon, Writer's life
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