Angela Kay Austin's Blog, page 13

@CharJGordon chats with @AngelaKayAustin about love after fifty

When I met Charmaine Gordon, I knew immediately that she had a big heart and a warm personality.  She was a guest on my blog, and right away I liked her.  She shared some of her journey from actress to writer, and some of it reminded me of myself.  Of course, my acting career consisted of a few extra roles on a few shoes, and long waits and bad auditions for more roles that never came :-) But, it was fun.

I love that Charmaine is writing a new series all about love after a certain age.  I've written a few older characters in my books, but I've never delved into the love and romance of those characters aside from how it taught or influenced the behaviors of the hero and heroine in my story.  I'm intrigued by Charmaine's new release and upcoming series.

Instant Grandpa blurb:

Summer at the Jersey Shore just got hotter…  Take one widower grandfather, add two little grandkids, and widowed grandmother with a small granddaughter. Mix well. Stir in sun drenched beach days and moonlit nights. What have you got? A kite flying high with a new tail; an author writing a book to sort out emotions; a talented boy with his mother returned to claim the prize. Family complications and a happy beginning… not the end.

Join us at Romancing the Pen!

So, I know you were wondering...why all the posts about audio books? #audiobooks

A while ago, my publisher told me that Vanilla Heart Publishing would begin to produce audio books.  I loved the idea, but I had to admit, most of what I listen to is music or educational teachings in audio.  So, I wanted to know more about who the audio book listener is. Read more here.
I found one among my own friends.  She's a single mother of one, and honestly, if it's not on audio book, she'll probably never get the chance to ever hear (read) it :-)
I drive a lot myself, and this makes me wonder why I never listened to narrated stories vs educational while driving.  No reason.  I guess I've just always picked up the book (ebook or print.) Now, that I have some of my own work available in this format, it's totally excited me.  Driving around while listening to someone narrate my book...wow!  This has to be how singers feel the first time they hear their songs on the radio.
Love love love it!

Purchase your audio book today!

#BookReview - Archangel's Blade by @NaliniSingh

You guys all know by now that I'm a huge Nalini Singh fan. I love her stories for so many reasons.  One of them being the strength of her story telling.  I love the way she layers in her sub-plots and wraps up everything by the book's end in a way that makes me impatient for the next one.  Each book deepens your knowledge of the entire world the characters live within.

"Archangel's Blade" filled in so many questions for me about Dmitri.  I wanted his story, but honestly, didn't realize it would be so good.  Dmitri is Raphael's second.  He's a man of tremendous dedication and strength. But, you never know why he has such allegiance to Raphael or vice versa.

This book explains to us why Dmitri became a man deserving of the respect and friendship of an Archangel.

Honor, the heroine of the story, is just as broken and damaged as Dmitri.  There are still a few mysteries to Honor.  But, what we do know of her by the end of the book touches your heart.  And I found myself truly hoping that she discovered a way to become stronger and be able to grow closer to Dmitri, instead of running screaming from him.  (I might have run screaming in the other direction!)

As the story unfolds, and you learn more about Honor and who she could possibly be, the only thing you can do is smile.  Dmitri and Honor's tragic stories gives them a unique bond.  A bond that can't be broken by anything, not even time.

I love this series, and I hope it continues for many many more books.

Who reads? How do they read? #e-books #audiobooks

Seventy-five percent of Americans sixteen and older, according to a Pew Internet survey, said they've read a book in 2012.  That's a decrease of three percent from 2011.  Eighty-nine percent of the readers said they read a print book.  Thirty percent of the readers said they read an e-book.  Seventeen percent said they listened to an audio book. (According to the survey, readers read a median of six books.)

What does it all mean?

To me, it means that if you want to reach readers, you have to have your book available in multiple formats.  As technology continues to advance, and readers purchase more smart devices, we -- authors -- risk the possibility of losing, or not even attracting some readers, if they can't get our books the way they want to receive them.

We've all heard about print vs e-books for years.  But, I think what surprised me about this survey was the increase in audio books (increased from thirteen percent to seventeen percent.) As our schedules get tighter, and time becomes more precious, will audio books be the new trend?

I still love curling up with a good book (print or e-book.)

What do you think?

(If you want to read more about this survey check out http://libraries.pewinternet.org.)

E-book borrowing? #libraries

I read something, recently, that said there was an increase in e-book borrowing from libraries of two percent over last year (increase from three percent to five percent.)  There was also an increase in the amount of people who were aware that libraries allowed e-book borrowing.  I have to admit, I was one of those who only recently became aware that the bugs had been worked out, and that it could be done effectively.

Libraries have always been one of my favorite places.  I love being surrounded by the history and adventure.  But, I guess it seems a little odd to me (an e-book reader owner) that libraries allow the borrowing of e-books.  In all fairness, I have to admit that I also find it weird that Amazon allows returns on e-book purchases.

I don't know why I feel there's a difference between e-book borrowing and print book borrowing, but I do.

But, I would never want to see libraries die.  If e-book borrowing helps save libraries, I'd prefer libraries allow borrowing to Amazon e-book return policy.

What do you think?

Coffee, tea, and a book by me

Visit the books section of my website to read an excerpt from one of my books!


When you’re given away by the people who are supposed to love you forever, it makes it hard to believe love and family really exist.

JoAn Fentress thought the military would take care of her in the way her family never did, but that didn’t happen.  Homeless on the streets of Memphis, TN, she walked through the only open door she could find, and it changed her life.

Jeremy Hooks needed only to smile, and the world gave him whatever he asked of it.  Eventually, people stop partying, right…at least when they’re threatened.  He has one more chance to prove himself before he loses everything.

Tamara Blanden blames herself for the loss of her one true love. Hidden away from life, she lives only to see him again.

Jerome Blanden couldn’t let go of his love, even in death. Because of him…his selfishness, she’d lost so much time. Time he couldn’t give back. But, he could change everything.

Michael Armstrong didn’t believe in a lot of things anymore.  What was happening to him now couldn’t be real.  How was any of it possible?




He’d sat on top of the world… the perfect woman, a daughter, and a job that made his father proud. Now, Kendis was divorced, and his daughter wasn’t really his. At least, he has a good job…at Brady and Associates, the firm that sends him to Maryland for their client, Eastover. Eastover, one of Maryland’s largest commercial real estate developers, is on a mission to take over older, outdated malls.

She’d been through the wringer in her personal life, and now LaKia thinks the only thing she can control is her career as Marketing Director for a small commercial real estate company. She’d always wanted marriage and children like her best friend has… but she’s given up on ever finding her own Mr. Right.

Until Kendis. He gave her everything, and she gave it right back.


Christmas Davis wanted to give something back to the community she loved.  But, that opportunity was lost to her.  Although won by another, would his ambitions allow him to help those in need?

Presley Marino knew she might say no, but she was the only person he wanted.  Together, they could change things in the hometown they both loved.  That part would be easy, but convincing her and his brother wouldn’t.

Would they allow an uneasy history to silence a need for change, or would they force a new beginning?


When you lose everything you love, how are you supposed to believe it won’t happen again?

The knife at her throat didn’t frighten Scarlet Anderson.  In fact, it was a relief.  Finally, she didn’t have to worry any longer about living another empty day.  She’d be reunited with the ones she loved.

Joshua Davis had faced a lot of challenges in his life, his faith and the love of his family had seen him through his latest battles.  But…no person could help him now.  How had he managed to fall in love with someone who’d stopped loving herself?  And what was he supposed to do?


For her employees, Victoria James quits her job to save theirs.  That decision loses her the man she thought she loved.  And sends her back to Memphis, TN with everything she owns to face a neglected and forgotten relationship with her grandfather.

Everything she has is stolen.  Chad Kirkpatrick, her childhood love, the first man to break her heart, now a police officer, comes to her aide.

Can she move forward, and put her past behind her?  Will Chad forgive her?



To pay back her parents and prevent the loss of their family business, Sinclair Mosley leaves her family and friends behind. Pennsylvania doesn’t welcome her with open arms, but Chance O’Malley does. At the risk of losing everything that brought her to Pennsylvania, including her family’s restaurant, Sinclair must decide if she’s willing to take a chance on love.






Sex, liquor, and men are not always a good thing.  Kelly Ann Mitchell discovers this the hard way.  One night of confusion, and misplaced trust result in a mistake she can’t take back.  Forced to make a choice, she chooses the only thing she can live with which changes her life, and the lives of everyone around her forever.

Charles Mitchell failed his family, his daughter, once.  He’s determined not to do it again.  Jerry Harte must pay for what he’s done, and Charles will be the one to make sure he does.

When you visit Memphis, TN, you have to...

...eat!


Memphis in May is coming to a close, but when you visit Memphis, you have to check out some of my favorite places.
Flight – this restaurant is one of the best date spots in Memphis. There’s an outdoor patio, if you want to sit and watch the sights and sounds of Beale Street.  The bar area is small, which adds to the intimacy of the small restaurant.  There are two levels, but it’s not a huge spacious building.
The menu. Delicious.  Elk.  Quail. Seafood.  There are plenty of choices. And, of course, there’s wine.  To top it all off, you can order tapas style, if you prefer!
Alchemy – I guess I’d call it an upscale bar.  It’s large with plenty of room to mix and mingle.  There’s music piped through, great drinks, and wonderful food.  You can pull up a chair at the bar, or be seated in any of the other areas of the bar.  It’s trendy and fun. 
Bhan Thai – Thai food, live music, and great people.  Whenever I have a friend come to town, I have to take them to Bhan Thai.  Crispy duck and a glass of wine while sitting on the patio listening to live music…it can’t get any better!
Now, when you come to my hometown, you’ll know a few places to visit.  And this doesn’t even begin to touch the barbecue.  That one is easy to find.  You only have to follow your nose.  I swear the air is perfumed with the scents of cinnamon, hickory, honey, and spice all year long J

What does the future look like?

While meeting over coffee with some friends the other day, the subject of a dystopian vs utopian future came up.  It was suggested that maybe one of the reasons people write the dystopian future is because it’s easier.
Then and now, I think I might agree with that.  Because even if on the surface you write a utopian world, by the time you drill down, there would have to be something happening to make it so.  I mean what qualifies as “perfect”? And how can it be perfect for everyone? 
It can’t can it?
With the success of TV shows and movies showing the struggle to survive, it would appear that there are a lot of people that prefer the dystopian tale.  But, I have to admit, I seem to be getting tired of it.  I also am tired of the young adult angle.  Why is it that the adults always seem so clueless?
I don’t write science fiction, so I haven’t attempted to write a futuristic tale, but as I sit and wonder what my story would look like, I can’t say I know.  Would it be based around children saving the world? Or, would there be one “all knowing” character leading the rest? Or, would we simply pick ourselves up brush ourselves off?
Maybe that’s what the dystopian world shows?
What do you think?

#BookReview - The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf by @Louisabacio

I picked this book up at RT 2012.  One of the many things that comes from exhibiting at RT is that you meet great authors.  Louisa Bacio was one of the many authors that sat near me during the exhibit.

The longer she and I sat and talked the more I became intrigued about her writing and her books.  I can't tell you why this book captured my interest because I don't read much Erotica or Erotic Romance.  And books that feature threesomes never really draw my attention.

This book surprised me because of the romance.  Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of sex :-)  But, the sex fits the story, and you saw the closeness of the relationship between all of the characters grow with each encounter.

The story is set in New Orleans and the author uses New Orleans to bring in every supernatural creature: ghosts, demons, Voodoo priestesses, and of course, witches, vampires, and werewolves.  (Sometimes it seemed like creatures made appearances just because it was New Orleans, but hey, it's New Orleans.)

I enjoyed the story.  I think the story builds to a gradual climax, and then she tosses you right on over the cliff as the story winds up pretty quickly.

I would've loved to have seen Lilly learn how to use and control her powers.  I guess it's cliche, but the heroine, Lily, kind of went from not knowing who she was to knowing and quickly accepting it to knowing how to control and use the powers that grew inside of her.

My heart felt for Trevor, the werewolf, he seemed so torn and and lost, and so deserving of true love.  Lawrence, is your typical Alpha.  The three of these characters fit well together.

I'd love to know more about Lily's father, Trevor's sister.   And will there ever be a baby?

@ShewandaP discusses character redemption with @AngelaKayAustin

This week Shewanda Pugh joins me to discuss her second installment in the "Crimson Footprints" series. Book two, "Crimson Footprints II" is the story of a secondary character that many of her readers didn't necessarily like in the first book.

I think this is something that many authors deal with.  You have a character that intrigues you, but you don't think readers will like that character, or you know they won't.  How do you treat that story?  Do you write it?

Join me and Shewanda Pugh at Romancing the Pen, to find out more about how she tackled  this situation.