Kianna Alexander's Blog, page 16

A Fly Girl

Sorry for posting so late. But like they say, better late than never, right? Before I get to the good stuff, I just want to remind you all that if you haven't gotten your tickets yet for the Hot M.A.M.A. Fly Hat Society Luncheon, which will be on Saturday, March 9th in Morrisville, North Carolina, you better get going! The cutoff for the tickets is coming up and there are only a limited number of tickets. Where else are you going to meet and mingle with NINE, count 'em, NINE authors for only $35?

To get tickets, go to this blog at http://hotsouthernwriters.blogspot.com/ and you'll see the buy link on the left-hand side of the blog.

Besides meeting the authors (Denise Jeffries, Yvette Hines/Monique Lamont, Angie Daniels, AlTonya Washington, Cheris Hodges, Iris Bolling, Loretta R. Walls, Kianna Alexander, and myself), wear your flyest hat. That's right. I said come in there wearing your Sunday's best topper. The other host authors and I will be judging on the best hat. The winner will get an awesome prize! And did I mention that attendees will get all types of goodies like free books and free books and did I mention free books? Between books and prizes, that'll pay for your registration.

Have I sold you on the event yet? Oh, and there will be some author readings. I could do my "shit/fuck" scene from my contemporary interracial BDSM erotic romance novel Corporate Needs. For some reason, that scene is a crowd pleaser. *LOL*

So besides readings, free books and a great lunch, we have so much more planned for you readers.

I'm sure you're asking if us host authors will be wearing hats. Of course! After months of trying to decide what to wear, I finally figured it out. I can't tell you what the hat will look like. You'll have to come to the event to see it!

Okay, now that business is done, let me get to some other stuff. I have been writing like crazy lately. The people have spoken and true to my word, I'm back to writing interracial BDSM with my alpha heroes. Yeah, I missed them, too. Now the next hurdle: getting the stories published. Wish me luck!

Speaking of writing, I have to get back to it. Hopefully I'll see a lot of you next month at the luncheon.

Stay sexy,

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

A Fragile Balance

Hey, Y'all,
Even though I'm the one who makes up the blog schedule, I'm totally late today. Why, you ask? A very fragile balance exists between my personal needs and wants, my marriage, my family, and my household. On a day like today, when I've been running all day and am exhausted, the balance is lost as the scales tip to one end of the spectrum. So, this post will be brief.

I'd like to remind you all that tickets are on sale for the Fly Hat Society Luncheon. This is our fist event, and we want it to be fun and to be a success. If you are in the NC/VA/TN/SC/GA area, please consider joining us, and bring a few friends. We will be glad to have you along! Grab your tickets by clicking the Paypal button in the sidebar. I got my hat and am ready to rock it.


On another note, I have good news. I have recently inked a publishing deal with a very well established e-house, so I am on an official deadline- yet another reason this post must be brief. I am very excited to see where this new venture will lead. I also have another potentially big deal in the pipeline, as I have just sent a requested full manuscript to a very well established print house, known for their African American romance imprint. Fingers crossed on that one...it's so close I can taste it! So for the forseeable future, there has to be less socializing and more of this:

Well, that's all I've got for now. Next post I will try to be more entertaining, I promise. For now, it's off to bed so I can get an early start on writing.

Until Next Time,
Kianna

Reading Beyond Your Writing Zone

If you take a look at my GoodReads page: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/980915?shelf=%23ALL%23
You’ll note that my reading list is pretty hefty. It’s also pretty diverse. My reading tastes have always been broad. That fact appears to be showing no signs of slowing with the onset of age J


Last year, thanks in part to my recent discovery of Audible, I added The Hobbit, Mama Ruby, The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo trilogy, The Bluest Eye, The Lords of Deliverance series and The Game of Thrones series to my finished list to name a few.
Personally, I hope my reading desires continue along this path for I attribute so much of my motivation for writing to my love of reading.
Someone once said that an author should never write more than he or she reads. I truly believe that. Reading is more than just an entertaining escape. For me, reading calls on all of the skills I draw upon during the creation of my stories. Reading lets me hone the problem solving skills I lean on when working my way through a plot. The more intricate the story line, the more intensely I rely on those skills.
Reading outside my writing zone also clues me in on new ways of getting my point across. It often gets me to take note of the words I use, pushing me to select words I don’t often use or take a chance with incorporating my own ‘funky’ style of phrasing a character’s speech or thought pattern.
Besides, all that reading across genres and/or sub genres is just plain fun! I have and continue to come across the BEST stories.
But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself! And drop by to talk to me about those new literary gems you’ve discovered at The Hot Mama Land Fly Hat Society Luncheon Saturday March 9, 2013 in Morrisville, NC. We can dish the dirt on books, hats, food, so many more good and delightful things.
Join me, along with dynamic authors like Angie Daniels, Kianna Alexander, Iris Bolling and sooo many more. You'll really hate yourself for missing this one guys!
Find out more here: http://hotsouthernwriters.blogspot.com/

Talk to You Soon & Keep Reading!Love,Al

Being over whelmed with life... priceless

I used to wonder and complain when my life got too hectic, when the plate was over flowing with things to do and everything was out of wack. Now I think I thrive on it and miss it when it's not there because when it's not there, I'm confused. Don't we all miss the mayhem? Life has so many curves and dips and exciting things in it, its a wonder how we get it all done. Between the full time jobs out side of the home, the writing job and keeping that alive and all of the other snippets of life it's a wonder we are not all crazy. Sometimes I know I am. Take for instance, just recently I pushed and pulled until the third book to my St. Agnes series was released and it finally hit the E-book market a week ago with a bang. Everyone who has visited my little town of St. Agnes has loved it. And if you haven't been with me out to the Eastern Shore of Virginia you better hurry up, you are three books behind. But don't worry, it's easy to catch up. This book tells the story of Marcus Reed, St. Agnes' newspaper publisher and free lance editor. You don’t have to hide in the dark if you’re already lost. Always ready to write that breakout article, journalist, Marcus Reed stopped at nothing to ‘get it done’… until now. Now, he’s awake and running for his life. Having awakened in a strange city, covered in dirt, grime and blood, not his own, the only thing he can do is seek help from the most unlikely source. The last thing Natalia Lucas needed was for this strange man to wander into her police precinct. Nonetheless, there’s something about him that has piqued her interest. His eyes tell her there’s more beyond the dirt and confusion… the amnesia, especially since he’s supposed to be dead, having been killed two weeks prior when his car blew up. Having vowed to help, they set out on a trek of constant danger. Natalia has secrets of her own and she does not want them uncovered. That fear alone could destroy the woman she’s worked so hard to become. When it’s discovered Marcus is still alive, whoever killed him will do anything to complete the task even if it means killing them both. Knowing breaking this case could put her on the map, she’s determined to put light where there was darkness. Book four is not far behind and will take us back to the worlds all time favorite couple, Dominique and Jericho. Everyone loves a good stalker... right. I'm also working on the book that surfaced when I was in New Orleans this past August. It's going to be hot, and sultry in the Big Easy heat and suspenseful. Sorry, it doesn't have a name yet. My bad. And then there's the Fly Hat Society Luncheon coming up with the Hot Southern Writers. Man oh man, I haven't worn a 'hat' in like forever, cause I'm sure the safara hat or base ball cap I have definitely don't count. Does anyone have a fly hat. And I'm pretty sure if I need a fly hat I certainly will need a fly outfit to go with it. You see, I'm still adding things to my plate. Life. What's a girl gonna do? Write about it, I guess. Keeping it real and keep it moving. Peace.

Southern Ladies

What could be better than spending a day with a group of remarkable women as we discuss love, relationships and yes, sex? I mean think about it. Angie and Sasha, AlTonya and Oynx, Monique and Yvette, Loretta and Embue, Bridget, Kianna, Denise, Cheris, and yes, me, all in one room. What else would the conversation be about?

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot, we are all southern ladies and we would never, openly talk about sex......Yeah, right. Have you ever read one of our books. Each of us tell you stories of heroes who sweep our heroine of her feet with romance and sexual escapes. 

Ever wonder where we get some of those scenes that make you sweat in places we won't mention here? Here's your chance to get the 411 on our secrets. I plan on asking Yvette and Bridget a few questions myself. 

On Saturday, March 9th, in Morrisville, NC we will all be in one room, willing sharing our secrets in an intimate session with 31 readers. There will be readings, contests and yes, free books in addition to some of the nicest southern belles you ever want to meet. 

If you don't have one, get you a nice hat.....and I do mean nice. You know, something that will set you apart from the others. Come spend the day and have lunch with the HOT M.A.M.A.'s  There is no telling what happens when a bunch of southern belles cut loose......

Hope to see you in the house, at the Fly Hat Society Luncheon,

Iris     

Rules: Meant To Be Followed Or Broken?

Rules are meant put in place to be followed, right? Of course! What happens when things are out of balance and they need to be changed? Who makes that decision? You? Why not!


In the world of Emma award winner Iris Bolling, she's all about changing the rules in the literary industry-- and we love it! Her forthcoming release, "The Pendleton Rule" will provide a riveting read, proving once more why she has been on the radar of many readers.

Also, if you haven't met Iris or any of the HOT M.A.M.A.'s, here's an opportunity to do so. On March 9, 2013, we'll be in North Carolina for the Fly Hat Society Luncheon. (See details on the site, tickets are limited.)

We hope to see you there along with some of the finest hats around!

Remember, in HOT M.A.M.A. Land, we always have the means to break the rules!

Loretta R. Walls aka Embue

Laissez les bons temp rouler

The only thing I love more than writing is football. In a past life, I'm sure that I was a smack talking cornerback for my beloved Dallas Cowboys.

OK, that's a little much. But I have fallen in love with a young quarterback -- named Colin Kaepernick.
And Colin is going to the Super Bowl in my favorite city, New Orleans. I'm so ready to party, even if I'll be in North Carolina watching his every snap. Colin's story is ripe for a romance (novel).
He was adopted, not given much of a chance to be a football player, was named the starter over a veteran QB who was kind of successful and broke up (allegedly) with his girlfriend.

What if he wins the Super Bowl and the golddiggers come out? Will he regret letting his girlfriend go? Will she want him back? I guess this is a story I'm going to have to write. And I have many excuses to ogle Colin --I. Love. My. Job.

There are other good times gearing up this year and one will bring you face to face with the ladies of Hot M.A.M.A Land.

Here's what author Angie Daniels says about the Fly Hat Society Luncheon, going down this March:

Growing up I sometimes attended church with my grandmother. On Sunday mornings all the women strutted into the building styling and profiling. The one thing I admired most were the hats, especially my grandmother's. She had a hat to match just about every outfit she owned, and on Easter, oh my! Her hats were amazing. I had never felt bold enough to sport a hat because back then I thought it was something that only the old folks did.
My grandmother passed away several years ago and one of the few things of hers that I wanted was her hats. I didn’t want to be greedy so I picked out four of my favorites and put them away in a box with the plan to someday wear them.
On March 9th the authors of Hot M.A.M.A are putting on a  Fly Hat Society Luncheon in North Carolina, which will include authors such as me, Altonya Washington, Iris Bolling, Bridget Midway, just to name a few. It’s going to be an afternoon to remember! So grab a ticket and come on and enjoy the festivities.

Be sure to get your tickets now, seating is limited and there's no party like a Hot M.A.M.A party! So, as my inner Creole cries out:  Laissez les bons temp rouler! (And yes, my inner Creole is just as imaginary as my relationship with Colin. :) )

Hats Anyone?

Growing up I sometimes attended church with my grandmother. On Sunday mornings all the women strutted into the building styling and profiling. The one thing I admired most were the hats, especially my grandmother's. She had a hat to match just about every outfit she owned, and on Easter, oh my! Her hats were amazing. I had never felt bold enough to sport a hat because back then I thought it was something that only the old folks did.
My grandmother passed away several years ago and one of the few things of hers that I wanted was her hats. I didn’t want to be greedy so I picked out four of my favorites and put them away in a box with the plan to someday wear them.
On March 9th the authors of Hot M.A.M.A are putting on a  Fly Hat Society Luncheon in North Carolina, which will include authors such as me, Altonya Washington, Iris Bolling, Bridget Midway, just to name a few. It’s going to be an afternoon to remember! So grab a ticket and come on and enjoy the festivities.
I was on my way to the mall when I suddenly remembered my grandmother’s hats. I dug through every box in the closet until I located them. Now all I have to do is find a classy outfit to match. I plan on making my grandmother proud! For more information, please read the sidebar and see the list of amazing authors and buy your ticket today. Seats are limited! I look forward to spending time getting to know everyone who attends.
And don’t forget your hat!

Angie Daniels
http://angiedaniels.com/ 
 

Meeting a Romance Writer

I hope this day finds you all well. As the year gets started with all the conferences coming up. Readers are fiercely looking up lists to see which authors will be where. It takes me back to my first event I went to as a reader/new author. Going to see my favorite author. I was nervous and excited. I had books in my suitcase ready to get their signature on them all.

The moment a reader gets to meet an author they have grown to love is one of the best moments. Readers don't only put a face with a name, but they put a personality to the stories. If an author is cold and standoffish, the reader will either stop buying those books or always think back on the meeting with un-fond memories. However, if the meeting is all the reader hoped it would be and more--the author is engaging, interested in readers thoughts on their stories and pleasant--the author has a reader for life.

Since my first event, I have been to several as both a reader and an author. I've learned that I enjoy the smaller events at times more than the larger ones. Why, because less distractions and both individuals are solely there to get to know each other a little more.

That's what we plan to bring our readers at the HOT M.A.M.A Fly Hat event. We want to set back with those readers new and faithful and share in the experience of romance books. The authors are filled with just as much excitement and expectations as the readers. We are hoping to get feedback about our stories that will carry us through as we write the next book. Find out what you all loved, who you all would like to see next in a story or what you think is missing.

So, don't be shy, bring those questions, your smiles and those fly hats we can't wait to break bread with all of you.

Event: March 9th
Where: Morrisville, NC

Don't delay. Limited seating. Get your ticket!

Monique Lamont
Romancing You
www.moniquelamont.com

Great New Year!

Happy New Year, all!

Hope you all rang in the new year with friends, family, loved ones and booze if that's how you roll! Me? I rang it in with a sweet kiss from my honey, and writing a new book for the new year.

What I'm mostly excited about besides being able to put out new work is all of the face time I'll be able to make with readers! My first event will be Linda Rae's Girls Night Out on Saturday, January 26th. The event will start at 4 p.m. and end around 11 p.m. It'll be at the Wyndham Hotel at 5700 Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. I'll be signing books along with my friend and fellow anthology author Yvette Hines!

Then on March 9th, you all are not going to believe the incredible lineup that's been put together. Angie Daniels, Altonya Washington, Cheris Hodges, Denise Jeffries, Iris Bolling, Loretta Walls, Monique Lamont/Yvette Hines, Kianna Alexander and I will be putting on a Fly Hat Society Luncheon in Morrisville, North Carolina! Yes, folks! All of us authors under one roof. Check this blog for more information. Registration will start on the 15th. Only 31 attendees will be allowed so don't wait!

I'll also be doing the annual Romance Slam Jam, which will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this time from May 2nd to the 5th. I always have a great time at this event so I can't wait to go.

Before I do go anywhere, I need to do some writing. Hope to see you folks at any of these events coming up.

Stay sexy,

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com