K.R. Bailey's Blog, page 13

The Sweetest Romance Awards Contest

There's new contest out for writers of sweet romance.  This contest is for published and unpublished authors and there are great prizes for first, second and third place winners. 

Here's some more information. 

 
Sweetest Romance Awards Contest If you are a true sweet romance writer, we have the contest for you!Find out more details at:http://www.dragonflyromance.com/home/sweetest-romance-awards
Guidelines: For published and unpublished authors. (Published entries must be copyrighted 2010 or later.)Submit your first 10 pages inside the body of your email. (No attachments.)Entries must be received by December 15, 2012.Submit entry to dragonflyromance@hotmail.com.Please put SWEETEST ROMANCE AWARDS in subject line.Cost to enter is $10.00 per entry.Make payment at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com/home/sweetest-romance-awardsPayment must be made through Paypal.Winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day, February, 2013.
Prizes First Place: A $25.00 egift card to Barnes and Noble or Amazon, a critique by the acquisitions editor at Sweet Cravings Publishing (a division of Secret Cravings Publishing), a printed award certificate, your choice of two books by published sweet romance authors, social media promotion, and an award button to display on website or blog.Second Place: A $15.00 egift card to Barnes and Noble or Amazon, a free critique by one of the judges, a printed award certificate, social media promotion, and an award button to display on website or blog.Third Place: A $10.00 egift card to Barnes and Noble or Amazon, a free critique by one of the judges, a printed award certificate, social media promotion, and an award button to display on website or blog

Pass the info around.  Be sure and tell your writer friends.  I've agreed to be one of the judges and I'm really excited about this.

You Complete Me

You Complete Me is on the best seller list for Bookstrand.  How cool is that?  It's still not too late to get your e-book.

Have you ever wondered about the characters in a book before you bought the book to decide whether they're someone you can relate to?  Here's a few facts that might help you decide to buy my book, You Complete Me .

Whitney Wilkinson is 32 years old and already she's been through a abusive marriage but can't convince her mother that she wants her ex-husband out of her life for good.  She's still trying to accept that her 18 month old daughter is dead.  She tried to get her medical help, but it was too late by the time she got her to the hospital.  She's struggled for nearly three years to create a new life with a job she loves as a teacher.

Dante Logan lost his wife to cancer, and their 7 year old son, Jeffry, is having a terrible time accepting that his mother is gone forever.  Dante's in-laws are upset because he sold the family home and moved him and Jeffry to a new home that's not full of old memories.

My characters have suffered some terrible things just as we all have done, but they are moving on, they are creating new lives, and when they run into each other again, they realize that their old feelings of attraction surface.

But it would be too easy to just let them have a happily after after right now -- so I've added a few disasters.  Jeffry goes missing.  A stranger seems to be following Whitney.  On top of everything else, the stranger knows something that will shake Whitney to her very core. 

Okay, before I give the plot away, you'll have to read my book to find out what happens.  It's a great story.  It's a multi-racial romance with some twists and turns I hope you'll enjoy.

You Complete Me  is only available at Bookstrand.com for the next few weeks.  After that, you will be able to find it on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.  The print version will be available later on.

For more information about me and my books, check out my website at http://KRBailey.com

Happy Reading!

The Rancher

 I just finished The Rancher by Kelli Ann Morgan.  She is a fantastic author.  Her characters are fun, spunky, well-developed, and I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.  If you love westerns with a fiesty heroine, handsome cowboys, and beautiful ranches in a Colorado setting, you’ve got to read The Rancher .  It’s book one and I can’t wait for the next one.
Here's a short blurb:

The deal was to share the ranch, not her heart...
ABBY MCCALLISTER can ride and shoot better than any man she’s ever met, but when the threat of losing her ranch forces her to find a husband, she is unprepared for the mysterious stranger who takes her hand and evokes in her a sudden desire to be a lady fit for his arm.
He'd sworn to protect her. He couldn't do that if she married someone else...
COLE REDBOURNE, immersed in guilt over the accident that claimed his best friend, discovers there was nothing accidental about it. When he sets out for Silver Falls, Colorado, to fulfill his friend’s dying wish and to flush out his killer, the last thing he expected was to find hope again disguised as his impromptu bride.

The Rancher is available through Amazon.com. She's getting some wonderful reviews and after reading her book, I can understand why. It's a fun read that will keep you reading until the end. Then you will want more. I'm sure glad she's planning on a Book 2.

Check out her website at www.Kelliannmorgan.com

The Next Big Thing Blog

A good friend and fantastic author, Cindy Christiansen , asked me to participate in this blog hop, and I'm thrilled to join her.My newest story is still a work in progress, but here's a few fun facts about it.
What is the working title of your book?  A Perfect Catch
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Early this spring, I was driving with my hubby and when we drove past Pineview Dam (up Ogden Canyon), there were a bunch of ice fishermen, and I thought it might be fun to have a heroine who loves fishing.  At that time, the story was going to be a light romance, but my characters seem to have a life of their own and the story has become a bit of a mystery.

What genre does your book fall under? Contemporary Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Reece Witherspoon would be great as my heroine, Erin.  She’s sassy, determined, and all woman. 
 I can picture Matthew McConaughey as Justin.  He’s loveable, but when he suddenly disappears, Erin learns he hasn’t been totally honest. 
 K.C is searching for Justin and the last thing he wants is to fall in love.  I think John Lucas would be perfect as K.C.What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?When Erin goes fishing for the love of her life, she’s going to have to sift through the lies, look closely into her heart, and be willing to accept love before she finds her perfect catch.
 
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I’ll probably publish through an e-publisher like Bookstrand Publishing or The Wild Rose Press.  They design my covers, provide knowledgeable editors, and format my stories into both e-books as well as print books. I love working with them.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  It’s still a work in progress.  It’s nearing completion, but it keeps growing, and the characters keep doing things I hadn’t planned for them.  So far it’s taken me about six weeks.  Hopefully, I’ll find the time to get those characters doing what I’d planned so I can get my manuscript finished in the next few weeks.  Cross your fingers for me!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? There’s so many wonderful authors out there that it’s hard to compare myself to them.  I'd love to be included in the same class as authors like RaeAnn Thayne, Nora Roberts, and LaVeryl Spencer.
 
Who or What inspired you to write this book?  I’m married into a fishing family.  I like fishing, but they won't get me out on the ice.  My husband used to ice fish, my son and grandson still love going ice fishing.  It’s not the cold that bothers me, it’s the cracking of the ice that keeps me off.  (I'm a chicken about that!)  I also love books with a bit of intrique and mystery and a small mountain town in the middle of winter seemed to be a perfect place to create a story.  
What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?  If you love quaint, small towns nestled in the mountains and a lovely old bed and breakfast, you’ll want to read my story.  My heroine loves to fish, often catching enough for supper at the inn.  There’s two handsome men that she must choose between, one who has had her heart for over two years and one who shows up and shakes up her life when he convinces her she’s been lied to.  There's a fun-loving Pub where the town loves to meet, laugh, dance and tell fishing tales. There’s some intrique when strange things start happening at the inn, and there’s love.  I’d say, there’s a little bit of everything a romance needs to keep you turning the pages.
 Want to learn more about another great author?  Check out the link below:Cindy A. Christiansen - http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Life Is Like A Book

Life is like a book
Some sad, some happy, some exciting
If you never turn a page,
You will never know what the next chapter holds.

My niece posted this on her facebook page.  I don't know who wrote it, but I love it.  As we travel through life, we have to experience a myriad of emotions, and hopefully, at day's end, it will be worth it.  As an author, all of these things are needed to make my stories interesting and keep the readers involved.  Sometimes we have to struggle to accomplish that, but don't you agree it takes all types of emotions to keep you reading?

In my newest book, You Complete Me, my heroine, Whitney, has had to overcome some really sad things - loss of a child, a terrible divorce, tension with her mother.  Life is hard to juggle all these types of things, and I've tried to put her emotional pull in this story.

My hero, Dante, has lost his wife and is struggling to make a new home for his son.  His son, Jeffry, misses his mother and is trying hard to understand what has happened.  We can all understand these types of things, right?

When Whitney and Dante reunite, there's happiness and excitement, new feelings, and love.  What they have to overcome becomes a struggle.  Okay, I won't tell you more, but I hope you'll check out my newest book on October 4 -- You Complete Me .

You Complete Me  will be available in all e-book formats through Bookstrand.com and I hope as you read, it will make you want to keep turning the pages to find out what the next chapter holds.

For more information about You Complete Me or any of my other books, please visit my website at:
http://KRBailey.com

Happy Reading!

You Complete Me

I just received the cover picture for my newest book, You Complete Me .  What do you think?
My book, You Complete Me , will be released on October 4, 2012 in all e-book formats through Bookstrand.com. 

This was a book I struggled with, rewrote several times, but now I'm thrilled at the way it has turned out.  Here's a brief blurb:

Whitney is trying to forget her abusive marriage and daughter's death.
Jeffry needs a new mommy.
Dante is struggling to make a home for him and his son
Just when things seem to be perfect
Whitney's life is ripped from under her.
What she learns will change her life forever.

Check out my book, You Complete Me .  I'd love to hear your comments.

For more information on my other books, go to my website:  http://KRBailey.com

Don't You Love Classic Cars?

This is a picture of our 1955 Chevy BelAir.  It's considered a classic car, and we love it.  My grandkids call it our "new old car" and I call it our "ice cream car", but no matter what, it's kind of fun to go cruising in it, windows down because there isn't any air conditioning, and watch people wave or give us a high sign.  Oh, we don't drive it everywhere, but we do enjoy it when we do get it out.  Course, the older cars don't have all the bells and whistles of our new cars.  Our '55 doesn't have power steering which sometimes makes my husband say a few unmentionable words, and it doesn't have power brakes so you do have to work a bit when we go for a ride.  But does it matter -- no way.  It's fun to let the wind blow through my hair and just have a good ride.

I love the old cars because they have a distinctive style that we don't see in today's cars.  It's that uniqueness that makes them special, and I started comparing it to writers because it's their uniqueness that makes their books stand out.  It's hard to be different and come up with new ideas, but if you're a reader, I'm sure you've experienced that special story that hooks you and it's because an author found a way to create it a little differently than another author.  Ideally, every story written is unique or special, but often things can be missing that don't draw you in.

What's the reason for writing this?  I have to admit, I'm not exactly sure, but we've been taking alot of time pulling the chrome and getting our car ready for a new paint job.  While we were doing it, I found myself thinking that sometimes an author needs to spend some extra time to dissect their story to make them more appealing.  They need to fix the little flaws the same way we're trying to fix the flaws in our car. 

Perhaps you're not a writer -- whatever you do, whatever your passion, take the time to decide what makes you unique, what things you do that are different, and every once in awhile, find some time to dissect what you do to fix the flaws. 

I have a new book coming out in October titled, You Complete Me .  I had a story idea, and I love writing, but something didn't fit as I tried to put it together.  I had to find something to make it a little unique, and I think I did.  I had to dissect the characters and fix the flaws that I originally had in the story, but the time was worth it.  At least I hope you feel it was.  I'm happy with the way the story turned out.  Watch for it from Bookstrand.com in October.

If you get a minute, check out my website at http://KRBailey.com - It has information on all my stories and where you can find them as well as my bio and other information.  I'd love to hear from you.

And if you get a minute, check out a classic old car!

I Got News!

Just a bit of new I wanted to share.  I just signed a contract for my next story, You Complete Me .  It should be released in e-book formats in October and in print a few weeks later.  Woo Hoo!

It's always fun to know that someone is willing to take your hard work and publish it.  This story definitely made me work to get it completed.  People laugh - and I used to - when authors told me their characters had a mind of their own and took them places they didn't want their story to go.  Well, guess what?  That's exactly what my characters did in this story.  But, I stayed with it (or them) and my story is completed.  I'm excited for it to be released.

Here's a brief blurb:
Whitney is trying to forget her abusive marriage and daughter's death.
Jeffry needs a new mommy
When she runs into an old flame, things seems to be perfect
But Whitney's life is ripped from under her and
What she learns will change her life forever.

The story definitely has a few twists and turns I didn't originally plan for, but I hope you will enjoy the book.

Watch for  You Complete Me  from Bookstrand Publishing in October.  It will be available a few weeks later from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Happy Reading!

If you get a minute, check out my web site for more information on all my books at:
http://KRBailey.com

Thought for the Day

Love at First Sight is easy to understand.
It's when two people
Have been looking at each other for years
That it becomes a miracle.
          ----Unknown

Isn't this the truth?
There's nothing like the excitement of new love, the pounding of your heart when you see that special someone for the first time.  But after being together for years, you get to be comfortable and know what makes a person tick.  Isn't it a miracle to still be able to love and continue loving.

I hope everyone gets to experience that "love at first sight."
Then I wish for everyone that miracle of long-lasting, long-sharing love of being together for years.

My aunt and uncle had been married over seventy-two years.  It's hard to believe people can remain in love after all that time, but they were.  My folks were together for more than fifty years.  They were still in love when we lost my mom.  Isn't that a wonderful miracle?

I wish you all the miracle of falling in love.  May your love become a miracle after years of togetherness.

K. R. Bailey
http://KRBailey.com

I'M HAVING A BOOKSIGNING!

I'm scheduled for a booksigning on July 17.  It's exciting because I'll have copies of my newest book, Secrets of Wolf Creek Pass , along with copies of my older books, Murder and Lies , Never Too Late, My Love and Dangerous Deception .  This booksigning is at a hospital, yes, I said the hospital in Bountiful, Utah.  I raised my eyebrows when I first signed up and found out we're signing books at a hospital, but then I got to thinking, how often are you at a hospital and sitting, waiting, wishing you had something to read?  Perhaps you wish you had a small gift for a patient.  Books are perfect.  I think all of us have been there, so it will be interesting to see how this one turns out.

Let's talk about booksignings.  Here's some things I've been told:

1.  Don't sit at the table waiting for people to come to you.  They probably won't.  It's intimidating to approach a table where an author sits staring surrounded by her books just wanting to scream out, buy one, please.  Okay, I have sat at the table, but I make sure to make eye contact with people, smile, and ask them if they like to read or if they'd like some candy.  I chuckle because I love to have a bowl of candy kisses on my table.  Chocolate seems to draw in people, young and old.  The little kids want candy and drag their parents, grandma, or aunt over to the table.  Perfect chance to smile and make conversation.  If men come in, I usually ask if they'd like a kiss from a romance author.  Sometimes you get a blush from those big strapping men.  Other times they just laugh and accept the candy.  And once in awhile, they admit they're looking to buy a gift for their girlfriend or wife or significant other.  Opens the door to talk to people.

2.  Know where the restrooms, drinking fountain and exits are.  You'll be helpful.  People will appreciate it.  Offer them a card to remember you. 

3.  Find a way to talk to potential buyers.  Work the room.  Make the first move to say hello.  Ask what they like to read.  Find a way to converse with the public, and remember, you want them to remember you.

4.  I took a class from Marcia James on PR amd it was great.  If you ever have the opportunity too take one of her classes, they're definitely worth it.  Anyway, I remember she said the success of a booksigning is not how many books you sell but to get your name out there.  When people see your name and start to recognize you, then they'll go looking for your books.  A booksigning is the perfect way to get your name in front of the public.

At this booksigning, I'm going to have a drawing for a free copy of my book, Murder and Lies .  It's the first time I've done this so I'm hoping it will generate some interest.   Have any of you authors ever done this and did it work for you?

I'd love to hear from my readers.  What things do you like to see an author do at a booksigning?
Authors, what have you found works the best for you?

Help me out please.

Happy Reading!

http://KRBailey.com