Mimi Barbour's Blog: Believe!, page 30

Sweet Christmas To You! Fourteen books to keep you busy till the big day...

 


Sweet romance is growing in popularity. Along with the spicier books that fill the romance shelves, a growing number of authors are choosing to shut the bedroom door and write books that are PG-rated. These stories particularly suit the holiday season and are appropriate for all ages to read. So on Christmas day, feel free to share Sweet Christmas Kisses with your grandma, your daughter and even your granddaughter. The boxed set is available for all types of ereader and you can even read it on your smart phone!
 
 
*** 14 Full-length Novels & Novellas ***
Available as a boxed set for a limited time – On Sale Now for only Regular Price 6.99
A saving of more than 75% than if books purchased separately
 
This holiday season, warm your heart with 14 Sweet Christmas Kisses, a bundle of PG-rated romance novels and novellas from USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.
 
Sweet Christmas Kisses takes you from small-town USA to England, Scotland, and even Ecuador; from the beach to snow-capped mountains, and to the wild—sometimes magical—west. The Sweet Christmas Kisses bundle will bring you laughter, tears, and always joy, for more than 1600 pages. Foreword by New York Times bestselling author, Brenda Novak.
 
Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano, USA Today bestselling author. Aaron wants to give his daughter a perfect Christmas and elicits Christy’s help to do it. When they’re talked into a make-believe wedding, can a real one be far behind?
 Mistletoe in Maine (Holiday Brides Book #3) by Ginny Baird, Award-winning andNational bestselling author. A single mom takes her kids on vacation in Maine and meets a handsome innkeeper, a young widower with a teenage son. A winter wonderland love story about faith and new beginnings.
 The Army Doctor’s Christmas Baby (Army Doctor’s Baby Series) by Helen Scott Taylor, Award-winning and National bestselling author. An army surgeon with twins falls for the nanny, but will her secret destroy their happiness?
 Stormy Times by Beate Boeker. International author. A rock star, vet, and puppy meet in a blizzard and sparks fly…

 The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis, USA Today Recommended Read, Award-winning and National bestselling author. When a chocolate heiress bumps into a wounded warrior during Christmas, chaos ensues thanks in part to three fairy godmothers…er, a trio of meddlesome nuns.
 Merry Christmas, Darling by Denise Devine, Award-winning author. A desperate bachelor enlists his neighbor to pose as his wife to appease his dying mother and unexpectedly finds love under the mistletoe.
 Some Christmas Magic by Raine English, Award-winning and National bestselling author. She’s been dumped… He wants to win her back… A last-ditch effort to save her Christmas might result in her most romantic holiday ever.
 Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish, National bestselling author. Forced to face his past, a young widower tries to grant the Christmas wish of his first love.


 Lucky Break Christmas: Homecoming by Patricia Forsythe, Award-winning author. Their marriage is in trouble…until a judge, two kids, a quirky hometown of old friends, and the Christmas spirit of forgiveness step in.

 Beach Christmas by Grace Greene, Award-winning and National bestselling author. Jessie Dawson hopes to arrange the perfect beach Christmas for her family, but when it all falls apart a special delivery from the past may inspire a new Christmas wish.

 Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk, Award-winning and National bestselling author. The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the Christmas wedding is off, but the would-be honeymoon cruise may offer Julia a dream companion.

 A Scottish Christmas by Roxanne Rustand, Award-winning author of over thirty novels. When Lucy Davis receives a mysterious letter inviting her to the Scottish Highlands to receive an inheritance, she expects to deal with it quickly—until she discovers it's a historic B&B with a handsome, mysterious resident who might just be the man of her dreams.

 Small Town Christmas by Magdalena Scott, National bestselling author. Past loves, a family in mourning, a little boy with a big heart. Christmas in Serendipity, Indiana is full of surprises!

 By Christmas (Covington Falls Chronicles, Book 4) by Kristin Wallace, Award-winning and National bestselling author. She was a jilted bride. He’s her ex-fiancé’s brother. She’s trying to save Christmas. He’s disrupting her peace on earth. Together they find a holiday happy ending.

  Amazon  Barnes & Noble  iBooks  Kobo  Google Play Leave a comment and you might be the lucky winner of a gift copy from author, Helen Scott Taylor!! Make sure and add your e-mail address...

 

Live links for top promo places - supplied by Carmen DeSousa!! @GreatBookDeal

Carmen has a huge heart and is always helping other authors  have their time to shine. Today, it's hers...

  One of the number one questions other authors ask me is how do I promote my new book on social networks?
Well, my answer might surprise you. You can’t. It does little good to promote your book on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and umpteen other social networks if no one knows you. Sadly, even when many people know you, it still doesn’t work as we all wish it would. Trust me…I just published my eleventh book, and I’m still clawing for answers.
What I do know is that you need an online presence. The more places you set yourself up, the more likely readers will recognize you and your book when it’s available or when you offer it up for a promotion. The more sites you and your book land on, the better chance that Google search engines will pick up your post too.
No time to be sociable; no problem. Most of the places I recommend you join require very little time after your initial sign up.
Here are just a few sites to start you off, along with why I think you should join. Need help? I’m always an email away.
Set up a blog, preferably with a custom domain name. Blogger is easy and has tons of free widgets so you can customize. If you have a book published, readers and aspiring authors (who are readers too) want to hear from you. They want to know how you wrote your book, what you went through, and how you got published. You may not feel like an authority, but you are. Post at least once a week and change up your posts. You can promote your book, but make sure you offer writing and publishing posts in between self-marketing posts. And don’t be afraid to promote other authors. If you set up your site properly with links to your books, every time someone clicks on your blog to read about other authors and writing posts, they see your book. You’re marketing without marketing, and that’s the best way to market. https://www.blogger.com/features
Triberr is one of my favorite social network sites. Once you sign up, simply find Tribes that you have something in common with. Set your sharing at the interval you prefer (I like once an hour), and then you simply go in once a day or every few days and approve all the blogs you want to share. Why is this good for you? Well, it keeps your Twitter feed active, and when you post a blog, all those tribemates you shared will share yours. There simply isn’t a better way to get your blog noticed, again without you promoting it ten times a day on just your feed. Marketing without marketing. http://triberr.com/
Twitter… The necessary evil… I love Twitter, but it doesn’t have to be as scary as it seems. With sharing devices like Hootsuite, Triberr, and Roundteam, you don’t have to feel trapped by it. Nor do you have to be a bot. Do what you can. Pick a time that you want to chat and meet friends. My best advice. USE THE LISTS. Make a private list of your readers. And then, any lists you want of your favorite author friends and book bloggers. It will make it so much easier to stay in touch without you spending time looking for your mates.
Google Plus: Don’t miss this! I’m pretty sure Google will rule the world one day. The nice thing about Google follows is that like a Facebook fan page, you don’t have to approve friendships. And once readers sign up, every time you post, it’ll go right to their inbox. https://plus.google.com/
Don’t forget to sign up for your Amazon Author Page: Readers can sign up to receive notifications of your new releases, see your Twitter account, and even your blog. https://authorcentral.amazon.com/
Facebook fan page: Yep, you have a friend page, but make sure you set up your fan page. Readers want to connect with you. The nice thing is you don’t have to decide whom to friend. Anyone can like your page. https://www.facebook.com/
Email signature. Seems easy, but it amazes me how many authors don’t use this. Again, you’re not asking anyone to buy your book, read your website, or follow you on Twitter. It’s just there. So if they like chatting with you, more than likely, they’ll click a link.
Whether you ever use these next sites or not, you should sign up for them. They’ll be there when you’re ready. Don’t forget…we’re looking for platform building and online presence.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/
About Me: https://about.me/
Okay…now I know you’re asking…but where do I market my book? The best place to market your books in online book clubs. Some charge, some don’t, some only promote free or 99-cent books, some promote all books.
There are hundreds and hundreds…but here are a few I recommend that your book doesn’t have to be on sale to post your book.
http://www.ebooklister.net
http://www.mommasaysread.com
http://www.theromancereviews.com/
http://www.booktastik.com/
http://addictedtoebooks.com/
http://www.ereaderutopia.com/
http://romanticpicks.wordpress.com/author-resoures/
http://digitalbooktoday.com/
http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/
http://manicreaders.com/
http://www.wattpad.com/home

http://storyfinds.com/

http://kindlemojo.com/

If/when you ever offer your book at a discounted price, there are thousands of places; however, I only like a few for the money.
The best, but very expensive: http://www.bookbub.com/home/contact.php
The best, for the price:
http://ereadernewstoday.com/
http://www.booksends.com/advertise/advertise.php
http://www.theereadercafe.com/p/autho...
http://www.pixelofink.com/authors-corner/

http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/for-authors/regular-book-posting/

http://bargainebookhunter.com/guaranteed-bargain-placement-form/

http://www.kornerkonnection.com/

Oh, and my free place… I’m picky, but I’m FREE! And once I promote you, I promote you forever! http://www.greatbooksgreatdeals.com/ (The only charge is if you want me to boost your post, and I highly recommend boosting. Boosted posts receive 30% more hits. BUT…as I said, it’s optional. I don’t charge a penny. J
I hope some of the information above is helpful. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Just take a day here and there and go down the lists. Once you set up the sites, they’ll be working for you. And as I said above, I’m always available for questions. You can email me Carmen@CarmenDeSousa.com
You can also connect with me at one of my cyber homes.
Twitter
Facebook

#FREE!! This book is free today only. Make sure and grab your copy now!!! @Author_Carmen

****I want to welcome my friend Carmen to my blog so she can share the news with you about her book Entangled Dreams is free today. Make sure and get your copy...


  Buy on Amazon  Excerpt:
She jerked back from him. “I don’t expect you to take care of me,” she retorted, obviously not thrilled with his remark.
He reached for her. “I’m sorry; that was rude.”
She shoved away his hands. “You can’t keep saying whatever is on your mind and then just say you’re sorry. That was rude. If you think I’m such a tramp, why are you even interested?”
 “I don’t think that. I’m just accustomed to saying what I’m thinking at the second I’m thinking it. But I really didn’t mean it. I don’t think you’re a tramp. If I thought that, would I ask you to move in with me?”
 “I don’t know. I’m so confused.” She dropped her head into her hands again. “I just don’t want to make any more mistakes.”
He put his hand under her chin and lifted her head. “Am I a mistake?”
 “You are probably the only thing in my life that hasn’t been a mistake.”
 
A note from the author:
We live in a world where few people find their happily ever after, even though most of our childhood stories preached that to us. Wait a minute. Did they? I keep hearing…and I’ve been known to write this statement, “I’ve obviously read too many fairytales...” But when I looked back, the fairytales weren’t all sunshine and roses. In fact, many of the characters in what we tag as ‘fairytales’ were beaten, banished, orphaned, poisoned, lost, and on and on…
 
So where does the fairytale aspect actually play out? Is it when the dashing prince on the white stallion sweeps in and they live happily ever after? Chuh! But hey, the protagonist had to go through many trials to get there. So what’s so bad about that? Personally, I don’t think there’s a problem, except for putting all your dreams in one knight in shining armor who turns out to be a frog. But you can still work at your happily ever after, with or without the prince, right? Though, in my opinion, I think we’re all looking for someone who completes us.
 
The fact of the matter is a troubled past helps us appreciate a wonderful present. When we experience trials, we often seek out God and loved ones for support and are that much more thankful when the trial ends. So, I don’t have trouble with fairytales; that’s why I write them, modern-day fairytales, that is. I put my characters through trials and tribulations because I know that somewhere, someone can relate. Yes, there’s normally a knight in hidden-armor, who usually requires some polishing before he’s fit to be a prince. But again, isn’t that what great relationships do? They feed off each other to become better partners.
 
This is what I write about in all my stories. People who have flaws, but learn to overcome, trust when all else fails so they can love again, and forgive so they can know peace.
 
In Entangled Dreams, I tackle these and many other issues head on. So, for my version of a modern-day fairytale, read on for how to get your FREE copy!
 
Happy reading,
 
Carmen
 
For more information, reviews, or to download Entangled Dreams FREE, visit Amazon:
Amazon US
Amazon Worldwide Link
 

Do you write honest despair and tragedy - or is it fake? How can you tell?

 
When you’re working on your manuscripts, do you dread scraping your insides raw to produce the reality of honest-to-goodness tragedies? I’m talking about those sad times that people suffer through in real life. The very ones, as authors, we must create in our stories.
Let’s face it, the times when you feel as if your heart won’t make it through the next few minutes, and you just want to give up, is hard enough to live through never mind write about. But to be a good novelist and reproduce a story about real people, it’s essential. Otherwise, our characters will end up like paper dolls, flat and boring. Sure we can dress them up pretty and move them around the pages, but if they don’t have real emotions, then the conflicts we subject them to won’t come alive for our readers.
I’ve read books like that myself and never finished them. On the other hand, I’ve read stories where the author tries to effect emotions that don’t ring true. They’re just words without any substance or genuineness and it’s noticeable – at least to me.
Every time I write a touching passage full of disturbing words that I hope will bring out some feeling in the reader, I worry about whether I’ve taken it too far… or not far enough. I figure if tears appear while I’m writing the words, then chances are they will affect the reader in the same way.
For instance, one passage I wrote in Together Always makes me bawl like a baby every time I review it. But I wonder - is it too much…? At the time, it seemed perfect for the characters.
 Example:My heroine, Grace Joye, wakes up in another woman’s body terrified of the man who she now has to accept as her husband.  Afraid he won’t let her play the role of his wife; she lies in the hospital bed and worries about what will happen. This day, he comes to visit and brings their son. The boy he caught his wife beating just before her accident.
Finally she couldn't stand the tension another minute. “Is something wrong, Lucas?”
He stopped and sat in the nearby visitor’s chair, surveying her from head to toe, his eyes like a laser as they travelled her length. Then he zeroed in on her face. She could have sworn the man's expressive smoky-blues were pleading and for some unknown reason a sickening rush of shame curdled her insides. 
“Yes. I have to ask you a favor, and I honestly don't know what will work best, a bribe or a threat.”
“My goodness. It sounds serious. Why use either? I'd be more than happy to grant you whatever you ask, be that it won't harm anyone.”
He shook his head and sighed. “I don't get it. You're different. And I don't trust you. But your son needs you, and as much as I wish I could deal with this, you're the only person who can. Now I know you've never wanted anything to do with Samuel.  But for once in your selfish life, I'm asking you to behave like a mother.” The scorn he showered her with felt like shots of acid burning her soul.
His words slapped her soft heart and she felt battered enough to pass out. What did he mean? She didn’t want anything to do with her own son? What kind of woman could possibly feel that way? Despite his glaring, she picked up on his desperation and her spirit snapped into place. The backbone vital to dealing with her particular life's challenges had kicked in with a vengeance.  She clenched her teeth, swallowed, then spoke gently.
“Of course I’ll help. What is it he needs?”
“You must understand, Sam's very fragile right now and I won't have him upset. But he's also blaming himself for your accident and is making himself ill over it all. Between the lad's nightmares and loss of appetite, I feel scared and well…rather frantic. Last evening, he finally broke down and told me what's been making him so unhappy.”
“Oh, the poor baby. What did he say?”
“Seems he feels responsible for your being in the hospital.”
“Why in the world would he think that?”
“You don’t remember?” His searching gaze probed her innocence and seemed satisfied when she shook her head. “Before you ran from the house, you'd been angry with him. In fact, you were furious.” Again, his penetrating stare drilled into her as he leaned closer and watched her expressions. She knew he'd see confusion and empathy because those were the emotions that roiled inside.
“You really don't remember, do you, Vanessa?”
“No. Nothing. It's all blank.”
Her answer seemed to satisfy Lucas who stood tall and resumed his wandering.  “He made me promise to bring him here to see you. Now, I want your promise that you'll be kind and tell him he's not to blame. Trust me. If there were any other way to settle this, to clear his little mind from the torture he's undergoing, I would do so in a flash. But it seems you're the only person who can help him.”
“Of course I ca—”
Lucas, caught up in his speech, swiveled and leaned over her. “I've never begged you for anything Vanessa. I've given you everything I thought would make you happy, but I'm begging you now. Please don't let our son grow up bearing this horrible burden. He's been so unhappy. I'll give you anything—”
“Stop! Lucas, stop. You're breaking my heart. I want to see the boy and of course I'll tell him it wasn't his fault. Of course I will.” Grace had reached out without knowing and had grasped Lucas’s hand. With each assurance, she'd tightened her grip. Sincerity rang from her shaken voice to where even she could hear it. “Is he here?”
Seeming to be confused but hopeful, Lucas nodded, swallowed and turned away quickly. “Yes, outside.” Did his voice wobble? She could have sworn it did and, if nothing else, that chink in his armor told her just how much the next few minutes would mean to him. She'd never let him down. Not only was he a thoughtful man, but obviously a wonderful father. Sadly, it seemed, he'd just chosen the wrong wife.
He left, and a few moments later the door opened again and Grace pulled herself higher in the bed and tucked her loose hair behind her ears. One stroke of her now-smooth cheek settled her nerves and she smiled.
A small boy, dressed in short pants and a sweater, the spitting image of his mother, crept into the room as if afraid he'd wake her up. He stopped as soon as he passed the threshold, hesitating, waiting, fear imprinted on his little boy features. His hands were clasped in front and Grace could see how his fingers were pinching each other, twisting and rubbing. His father, looming behind him, placed a supporting hand on his thin shoulder.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Samuel, I'm so glad you've come to see me. Please come closer.” Grace motioned him over to her side. She smiled as gently as she could, and a coaxing wiggle from her fingers and encouraging nods drew him nearer.
“Daddy said you were better now. I wanted to see for myself.”
“Can you see from all the way over there? If you'd like sit up here with me, then I’ll get to see you also.”
First fear and then a blossoming pleasure filled his little face. Green eyes, the twins of hers, lit up and a tiny smile emerged. “Daddy? Can I?”
“Sure, sport. If it's okay with your mother, it's fine with me. Can you climb up alone or do you need a lift?”
“A lift, please. I don't want to hurt Mother accidentally.”
Grace spoke softly. “Oh, Sammy-son, you could never hurt me.”
Lucas’s head reared up at her words and his eyes narrowed. Sam lifted his arms. Both man and boy hesitated at her bedside, not sure what to do next.
“Come and sit right here.” She patted the comforter next to her. “Then I can hug you like I've wanted to do since you arrived.”
“You want to hug me?”
“Ever so much. Do you mind?”
The youngster carefully leaned toward her and that was all the encouragement she needed. She gathered him to her, and as she soon as she felt his arms go around her neck, she heard the sobs that wracked his little body.
“Shh, baby, it's okay. Don't cry, my lad. Mummy's here.” All the while she soothed him, she rocked his little body back and forth and placed kisses everywhere, his hair, his cheeks, on every surface covered with tears.
“Oh, Mother! I'm sorry I was such a bad boy. You were so an…angry with me that you got into an ac…accident. It was my fault, wasn't it? You weren't looking where you were going ‘cause I made you lose your temper.”
The sobs grew louder and Grace became fearful that the little guy would never stop. Hiccups wrenched his body and the wails broke her heart into smithereens. Suddenly, she experienced a tremendous welling of emotion from within and it overpowered her to where she felt she'd lose consciousness. Afraid, staggering under the double onslaught, she reached her hand toward the man whose eyes were brimming over.  
He came closer, gingerly sitting on the bed next to them and rubbed his large hand gently over the boy's back. It seemed to soothe Sam and his cries quieted while he lay with his head nestled on her chest.
Lucas spoke softly. “Take it easy, Samuel. Don't cry so. Everything is okay now.”
The boy refused to look up and burrowed even harder into Grace's embrace. “Sammy, please, you must stop or you'll be sick. Listen, baby, the road was slippery, and I wasn't being careful. It was my fault the car went off the road, not yours. I didn't want to have to admit this but here's the truth: your mum's a rotten driver.”
“You are?” Hope lit up globby eyes of green glass, and sniffles replaced the bawling from seconds earlier. His body relaxed and he leaned away from her so he could stare into her face.
Grace had always had a soft spot for children, but since they tended to shy away from her birthmark, she’d never had the pleasure of any up-close relationships with them until they were sick and needed a nurse. Then she'd been in her element.
Having this precious little guy stare at her with such adoration brimming out of his gorgeous eyes filled her heart. Love, such as she’d never before experienced, overflowed and oozed into every pore and cell until she belonged to him. From that moment on, she knew he’d be her first consideration in the same way that a dog knows its own pup.
She swallowed and prayed her voice wouldn’t break. “I'm afraid so, Sammy-son. Actually, I'm really quite awful.”
“Is that why you'd never take me anywhere with you?”
Sickened by the actions of the woman's body she now controlled, she shook off her anger and stared into his questioning, glistening eyes, then nodded. “Uh huh! I'd never want anything to happen to you, baby…ever!” She dropped a kiss on his soft blond hair. “But I promise you one thing. From now on I'll not go anywhere in a car until I've gotten lessons so I can learn how to drive better.”
“Then you could take me with you.”
She looked up at Lucas, a question blazing. His nod was hesitant but finally forthcoming.
She smiled at the boy. “I would like that very much.”
The indecision the boy fought before he kissed her cheek was telling and, oh so sad. She leaned forward ever so slightly, encouragingly, and felt his warm lips caress the one area on her body that needed the tender touch. She knew before falling asleep, and every night afterward, she would relive that moment over and over again.
She hugged Sam once more, and like little boys do, he settled down beside her and curled up in her arms. With a loud sigh, his eyelids began to droop. Sifting her fingers through his blond curls worked the magic as he released one last quivering sound and then went limp.
Lucas shifted and drew her attention. Still pale from watching his son suffer, he rubbed at his cheek one side and then the other, his hand finally covering his mouth as he leaned his chin onto it and stared at her with his head angled to the left.
Mesmerized, his grey eyes compelling, she couldn't look away, not even a little. His held her prisoner, and having no talent or skills in concealing her feelings, she knew her emotions were open to him like a picture on a television screen.  God, don't hurt me, she worried, her skin flushing hot and cold—terrified.
Before she knew what he would do next, he leaned over and kissed the same cheek his son had moments earlier. When the little boy lips had touched her skin, love had resulted. When the man's lips touched the same place, she thought she'd swoon. Never in her life had a moment been so beautiful.
His hand reached up and caressed the opposite side of her face and he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “We both know you’re a terrific driver, Vanessa. Get better soon. I want you to come home.”

 

 **** 

Have you ever recognised someone you’ve never met before?

This happened to me a few weeks ago. And because it’s been on my mind, I decided to share my experience with you.
I was visiting my folks in the small town where they reside in the interior of B.C. It’s a lovely, sleepy kinda place where many people like to retire because of the mild winters and hot summers.
This day I had chosen to walk across from the lodge where they live to the Safeway store nearby.  My mother has this fondness for marshmallows and in one of the end-of-the-isle tubs; they had large, striped pink and white ones. I grabbed a bag for her and got a few other things. Then I went to the checkout and put my stuff down and searched in my purse for my wallet.
A young native man stepped up behind me. He reminded me of a fellow I knew and cared about as a teenager, only this young man’s hair was quite long, decorated with a feather attached on one side. His black leather vest had some beautiful Indian artwork and matched the black of his sleeveless t-shirt and jeans. His tattoos were indicative of his culture and I thought him handsome. Maybe the pot-marks on his face spoke of earlier hard times but this day he looked clear-eyed, healthy and strong.
His smile caught my eye and I smiled back. “It’s nice and warm,” I said, wanting to be polite.
“Yes it is”, he answered as he put a briefcase down and got some money from his pocket. He probably thought I had noticed he had nothing to pay for (I hadn’t – I live in my own little world most times and that didn’t dawn on me until afterwards). “I’m just here to buy cigarettes for my dad.”
Without thinking, I grinned and responded. “Aha! You’re an enabler are you?”
He laughed and nodded. “Guess so. He can’t afford to buy his own anymore so I treat him when I’m here. I can afford it.”
Hearing the pride in the way he said the words, I accepted that he told the truth and maybe he sensed that I did. He looked at my groceries and teased. “You must like marshmallows?”
Automatically, I shook my head. “No, they’re for my mom. She has a sweet tooth.”
“Ahhh… so you’re an enabler too.”
I had to laugh and he chuckled with me, a moment when strangers meet. Then he looked rather pensive and after a few seconds, he reached into his briefcase and pulled out the picture you see at the top of the page. He said something I’ll never forget. It was as if he knew there was insurmountable grief awaiting me in the future. “You must live life “fearless”. He emphasized the last word and motioned toward the painting at where it was printed.
Touched, I looked at the wonderful artwork. “Not easy to do sometimes.”
“But it’s the only way to survive.” He motioned for me to take his present. “This is for you.”
I looked at him, in his eyes and saw a spirit that I recognized. “For me!” It wasn’t a question. I knew he meant for me to have it. The only way I knew to thank him was to show him. I hugged that young man, and when he hugged me back, he sighed. I felt his body trembling and without any hesitation, I kissed his cheek and felt him kiss mine.
A moment out of time I’ll never forget - two souls who found each other in this lifetime.
 
~~~~~~    

Do I have a great cover artist or don’t I? You won’t believe what I asked for…

My new cover!!!
I still say I have the best cover artist in the business. I bet you’re asking yourself – did he pay me with a free cover to say this? Aha! I’m not admitting to anything…  lol
Seriously, it’s the best feeling in the world to know that when you get a crazy idea, it never gets scoffed at. Every time, I’ve asked for something special or extra, he’s tried to crawl into my imagination and produce what I’ve envisioned.
Thankfully, most times, he’s come up with something even better and I’ve grabbed it quick before he changes his mind. I guess it’s the difference between an artistic brain and one filled chockablock full of words.
This time though, I have to say I asked for exactly what he produced.
My request: Steven, can you make me a new cover for “She’s Not You”. One with a little blonde baby girl, about three years-old, a bride and make it with a Christmas theme.
I think he did a fabulous job.
If you’re looking for a person with lots of patience, a businesslike persona and a good sense of humor, try my guy…
Steven Novak – novakillustration@gmail.com
 
 
 

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I’ve just had a trailer released by the International Book Promotion group and had to share my experience with you all.
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So how could anyone ignore the finger itching to click the link? I couldn’t!! I got in touch with Jas Praba and was pleased with the businesslike treatment I received. I decided my Special Agent Francesca needed a trailer and for $20 – I would get it. I think I made a fantastic deal….Unfortunately, that sale is now finished but the regular price is only $60 and that's still a good buy.Here's what my $20 got me:   


Do you think I got a good deal???? I do!!
Sometime later, Jas wrote to tell me of another promotional opportunity and I decided once again to go for it. Their normal cinematic book trailers were $200 and they were having a 25% discount. I thought of the Vegas Series, 6 books in the set and I decided what the heck – why not? I could do the six altogether. So I went ahead and worked with Jas once again. All she needed was a tag line for each story and the covers.
I waited impatiently to see the outcome and again, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did they create a lovely trailer, they threw me a release party on Facebook and invited their two thousand plus friends. How nice! https://www.facebook.com/events/1534535803442206/
I offered to give away a free copy of the Vegas Series and Kelli Sue Landon has offered a free e-copy of The Summer Shack so if you leave a comment their you might be a lucky winner.
So...here’s the result:




What do you think???

Please welcome my friend @MaryAnnKempher, author of Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder.

 **I'm happy to welcome MaryAnn back to Believe so she can share her delight about her newest book called Sweet Mystery.     Humor and Mystery combine to make these books must-read, who-done-its.
  Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder
Instead of feeding her late-night appetite, a midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman, and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t talk.
 
Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer. Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.
 
Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.
 
Forever Doomed:
It's not wise to wander the cruise ship Forever alone at night. You might not live to see daylight.
 
Detective Jack Harney agrees to do an old Army buddy a favor. Curt Noble had some personal business to attend to, he didn’t say what. What he did say was he needed someone to temporarily take over his duties as head of security on the struggling cruise ship Forever. Jack hesitates, but he owes Curt his life so agrees. He’s told the worst mischief he can expect to encounter will be the occasional shoplifter, or drunk. Instead, one week into the cruise, a beautiful red head and a member of the crew are ruthlessly murdered. Are the two murders connected? It’s up to Jack to find out. He must find the killer before the ship returns to Tampa’s port, or worse, before another dead body is found.
 
Jack can handle a murder or two, but that's not all on his plate: Cookies, cakes, and custard are being sabotaged, an ex-girlfriend is on board for a large wedding and she wants to "talk", and a murder suspect is trying really hard to get into his tan Dockers. Can Jack remain focused and catch a killer, or will someone get away with murder, not to mention serious brownie abuse.
 
Forever Doomed will keep you guessing until the very end.
 
Sweet Mystery
Who Killed Candy Dashwood?
 
Candy Dashwood was young, beautiful, and accustomed to getting exactly what she wanted, by any means necessary, including sex and blackmail. Does that make her murder less important? Or her killer less guilty? Her mother doesn’t think so. She asks private detective Jack Harney to help find Candy’s killer.
 
When all signs point to her police officer lover, the case seems cut and dry. So why does the evidence seem so flimsy? And why are the police so unwilling to dig any deeper. Jack uncovers a web of sex and deception in which nothing is as it seems, and the list of potential killers grows every day. Can he put the pieces together and discover who really killed Candy, or will her killer get away with murder.
 
Sweet Mystery is a suspenseful murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end



Author bio:


MaryAnn Kempher's books will test your crime solving skills; with quirky characters and witty dialogue, her books will keep you guessing, and smiling until the very end. 
Her books can be read out of order, but she recommends you start with her first, Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder which is a romantic mystery set in Reno NV, then Forever Doomed, which is a murder mystery set on a cruise ship.
Sweet Mystery is her most recent release and another "I did not see that coming." murder mystery.
 

Results of my latest #Rafflecopter - the pluses and cons to using these types of #giveaways.

 

 

I’ve just run a rafflecopter! My first. And I must say, it was quite simple.


I had decided ahead of time that my purse could stretch to providing a $25 Amazon gift certificate and at least one free book - I chose my most expensive - The Vegas Series. (If you decide to try this, your prize should be whatever you feel you can afford. Don't go too crazy - unless you get a group together.)

Not too sure how effective it was since all I added was 19 followers for my newsletter but I blame that totally on myself. And here’s why… I really had no idea what I was doing. I knew when I’d been in a book tour a while back, the rafflecopter had been hugely successful. We had over a thousand entries. I believe to enter that one, all a person had to do was send a tweet. Since it was for the Bride’s collection, (see on right) it was helpful at the time. But personally, I really want to grow my newsletter list. Therefore, this time, I asked everyone who entered to do two tasks - sign up for my newsletter and - tweet about one of my books.



Mimi's Ongoing Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Again, it I believe I made a number of mistakes: 1. I should have asked the people entering for one thing only - to sign up on my newsletter. As you can see, out of 122 entries only 19 chose that as opposed to tweeting. Either that or give a significant number of entries for signing up versus tweeting. Maybe 10 to 1. 2. Plus, I was very remiss in adding the rafflecopter to every one of my blogs. Just got too busy and wasn’t focussing……sigh!! 3. And this would have been the perfect time for me to be a guest on as many blogs as I could, of course using the rafflecopter in my guests posts. 4. And finally, I hardly pushed the rafflecopter at all on social media. After all the years of working at it, I have quite a reach now. It was a huge waste of opportunities to get more activity – not only for the contest but new readers to my blog…..arggrrr!!! For any of you who want to set something like this up when you’re having a book being released, need tweets for a promotion or just want new signatures like myself, here’s where you go to: https://www.rafflecopter.com/ Please read the instructions through carefully so you understand your options!! 
 
 
 

Please welcome my friend, futuristic Sci-Fi author, Colin Setterfield!

Amazon 
Colin Setterfield was born and educated in South Africa. He worked as a Work Study Officer for a large Appliance Exporting company before being promoted to Industrial Projects Engineer for the company’s Natal mid-land works at Newcastle, RSA. In 1982 he left Industry to follow a full-time calling as an ordained church minister and served in several churches until 1994. In October of that year he immigrated with his family to Canada and started a church in Nanaimo, BC. In 2007 Colin retired from church ministry to take up a position as Warranty Manager for an RV Sales group and after two years he resigned and spent the next four years in Alberta, doing construction work for Horton CB&I. Now, fully retired, he has recently written and self-published a book called The Helium-3 Conspiracy, which can be found on Amazon.com. The book will also shortly be released on the Smashwords.com site. A second book, called “Subduction Zone”, will also be available soon.
 
A short word from the author:
 
Many times I am asked, “Why did you write this sort-of-a-book?” The answer is usually shot straight from the hip—“I love writing and I love science!” Writing, for me, is one of the greatest forms of expression.  Anyone who has even a slight creative streak, will seek to express that creativity in some form of art—writing novels is my chosen form of art. In the early days of my working career as an Industrial Engineer, I sought to channel my creative streak into improving the production and economics of companies. Later on I took up a calling as an ordained minister and that same creative streak was channeled into preaching sermons and teaching the “truths” of scripture.
After twenty years of ministry I rediscovered my passion for the sciences and began combining that passion with my faith—this changed my outlook on Life forever! I was set free from fundamentalist ideals and was delivered into a much greater understanding of my faith, the Cosmos and its evolutionary principles. At times this will appear in my writings, but generally not.  I can only hope, that with time, I will be able to emulate the successes achieved by the many great writers who have published their manuscripts with same hopes I presently entertain. The whole process of writing professionally and self-publishing is an enormous learning curve; not for the faint-hearted! But don’t give up when literary adversity comes—keep that streak operating in your life and never allow discouragement to take over because your passion will win out in the end.
 
Description: The Helium-3 Conspiracy
The Year is 2026 and FBI Special Agent Jeremy Gibson finds himself in a difficult situation. He has covertly been searching the residence of a powerful and well-connected Senator, looking for clues that would point to the murder of Jeremy’s superior, Tony Underwood.
Vital evidence in the form of Underwood’s badge, kept in a drawer in the Senator’s home office, is discovered but unfortunately Jeremy is caught red-handed and pursued by two men who appear to be CIA agents.  There is only one person whom he can trust to take over the investigation if he is caught – Jake Dobrowski. Jeremy breaks into Jake’s office and leaves the badge, with a note, urging Jake to continue the investigation of the Senator if anything should befall him. The following morning Jeremy Gibson is found dead.
The Earth has recently undergone some drastic climatic changes and the G8 countries have pooled their resources to introduce a new, clean energy source from fusion reaction, fueled by Helium-3, an isotope of lighter than air gas. The new Global Energy Participation Agreement is an accord to move away from fossil fuels and, within ten years, be completely reliant on the new energy source. The signing of the agreement was not popular with the World Oil Industry and the Oil Liberation Front, a powerful lobbying group, contrives a plan to gain control of the process in favor of their own agenda.
The Moon’s regolith, the only real source of the new energy, is being mined by an international group of twelve astronaut miners, hoping to store up enough Helium-3 to start the transition from fossil fuels. The OLF intend to disrupt it. Jake Dobrowski, a struggling private investigator since his fall from grace as an internationally known journalist, has an opportunity to set the record straight if he can reel in Agent Gibson’s infamous senator. This very same senator had been the cause of Jake’s initial downfall, loss of career and failing marriage. Armed only with Underwood’s badge Jake sets things in motion and soon discovers that Underwood’s death is only the tip of the iceberg.
 Richard Baker, the 46th president of the United States, has his hands full with the hijacking of a lethal nuclear weapon and the knowledge of a possible conspiracy within his own ranks. The outcome might be too ghastly to contemplate but a twist in the final chapters will reveal all.