Angela Kay Austin's Blog, page 8

One Lovely Blog Hop: 7 Lovely Facts about @AngelaKayAustin

Dariel Raye invited me to participate in this lovely blog hop. I need to share seven facts about myself and invite fifteen other authors to participate. So, let me think…seven things about me that people don’t know. This is harder than it seems.

I never tell people my younger brother’s age because he’s younger than me and I don’t want them guessing my age nosy people…I’m just saying.
I began my college studies as a theater student.
Often Maya Angelou talks to me in my dreams (yeah, I know).
Sometimes my dreams come true.
If I had super powers…it would be hard to choose between flying and controlling the weather. They would both be super cool.
I have absolutely no problem sitting in a movie theater all day on a Sunday.
I love Brad Pitt! (Okay everyone knows this one, but it was worth mentioning again.)

Now, let me think of who I can invite to jump onto the merry-go-round:

LaVerne Thompson

Sage Young

Author Ancelli

Chelle Cordero

Charmaine Gordon

Laura T. Johnson

Lauren Shiro

Kim Smith

Tamara Phillip

Tha Phoenix

Linda Rettstatt

Kimberly Koz

Scarlet Hunter

Brien Michaels

Alisha Yvonne

Would you like a free eBook by @AngelaKayAustin ?

When I started on my journey to become a published writer, like so many other authors, traditional New York publishers were my target. I submitted manuscript after manuscript to agents and publishers. When my first book was signed with my publisher, I was so excited I actually wanted to copy and frame my first royalty check. (I didn’t, but I still wish that I had.)

When the reviews for my first book came out, they were mixed. They went from great to down-right blah. I wondered how could so many people read the same book and be so far apart on their thoughts about the book. After my publisher closed its doors, I couldn’t wait to have my rights returned to me so that I could have the opportunity to tell the story that I wanted to tell.

Love’s Chance deals with career, love and racism in a modern society. So often we turn away from what’s happening right in front of us. With this book, I don’t turn away. It won’t be for everyone. But, if you enjoy a story filled with heart and truth, I think you might enjoy reading Love’s Chance.

For a limited time (March 7, 2015 – March 21, 2015), I am offering a FREE eBook to readers who would like to read and review Love’s Chance. All reviewers must be able to receive books via Amazon.us., and must be willing to post reviews after completing the book.

If you’re interested in receiving a free copy, click here and complete the contact form. Please place FREE eBook in the subject line.

Read a sample here.

Rebuilding after your publisher closes its doors

I can’t say that it’s been easy. Each time I create a new ebook, order new cover art, go through a new round of edits…I think why am I doing this.

Then this happens…

 

Sinclair Mosley didn’t like working in the family restaurant as a kid. But, without it, without her parents, she would never have graduated from undergrad.

Now, they needed her. Her parents. Their restaurant.

A job offer in central PA could be the lifeline she needs. But to grab it, she may have to let go of a chance at love.

 

 

 

…and I forget about what it took to get there, and smile because I did it.

This is a revised 2nd edition of the first book I released with Red Rose Publishing. I’m happy to say that I think its better It’s a story about a woman living alone in a new city who has to choose between family, career, and love.

As a woman, I know that this can be such a hard choice. Often women have to choose between when they can “afford” to start a family and the next title and pay increase. No matter which choice we make there’s always that little tug in the back of your mind that tells you you’ve made the wrong choice.

As a woman, what do you do with that?

Love’s Chance follows Sinclair Mosley as she tries to decide if love is worth the risk of losing everything.

To read an excerpt from Love’s Chance, click here.

@DarielRaye shares her new release with @AngelaKayAustin

One of my fellow Indie Published author friends, Dariel, has a new release, and I’m excited to be a part of the February fun! If you haven’t already joined the party, you still have plenty of time to find out more about Dariel’s new release, and possibly win a prize!

 

What happens when a sheltered cat-shifter and a dark fey come together?

Three-hundred years is a long time, but left to its own devices, what began as the vendetta of one man can grow to encompass even more formidable hatred.

Daitre Salons is a beautiful but naïve heiress whose true heritage has been kept secret even from her. Now, her abilities are emerging and her father’s enemies want her dead, but what bothers her most is that her new husband “in name only” insists on treating her like a child.

Joban Beaucoup, professional guard to the Salons family, and dark fey (alternate spelling from Vodouin origin), has chosen to leave the quaint yet suffocating French town of his orphan-childhood and venture to the Americas, but he needs one thing he cannot concoct, despite his magical abilities – a wife.

When Joban agrees to marry Daitre and take her to the Americas with him, he carries her three-thousand miles away, then whisks her three-hundred years into the future to assure her safety, but while Daitre struggles to adjust to this strange new world, manage her newfound powers, and make peace with her feelings for Joban, Joban learns that even here, their enemies have followed them, now more deadly than ever.

Join us over at Romancing the Pen to read an excerpt from her latest release, and then Join her FaceBook Party!

Or, click the link below for a Rafflecopter giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you ever wondered what it takes to #self-publish?

I’m published with multiple publishers.  The idea of self-publishing didn’t really interest me for a long time.  Although I have a background in marketing and communications, I had no desire at all to jump into the fray with other indie-pubbed authors.  I work full-time, write part-time, and try to have a normal life somewhere in-between.  Taking on all the backroom details of publishing my own work seemed extremely overwhelming.

But, the more I bought ads, attended conferences, met indie-pubbed authors, the more and more I became convinced that I could…should do it, too.

Why should I do it?  Because it would give me more freedom with the stories I tell, and more avenues for connecting with readers who may be curious enough to pick one of them up

But, what does it actually take to self-publish?  How many times have you asked that question, and no one gives you the step by step detail you really want.  There’s always a step missing.

I’d ask a question about ISBNs, but nobody really explains the how-to of barcodes when they mention ISBNs, do they?  When you ask about page count, nobody mentions how that relates to your cover art and spine width, do they?

I guess if you don’t ask the right questions, you won’t get the answers you need.

But, I didn’t give up.  I texted (is texted really a word?) friends in the middle of the night.  I took classes. I did a lot of things, but still it never quite felt like I had all of the answers and, of course, I didn’t.

But, as a result of trial and error, I have now released two self-pubbed titles: Christmas’ Journey and Beale Street Blues.  Both are available in eBook, but only Beale Street Blues will be available in paperback.

Now that I am a super super pro at this whole thing, ask me anything.  If you have questions, and I have an answer, I’ll give it my best shot.

 

 

Holiday Release from #AngelaKayAustin! — Christmas Journey

So, who doesn’t know by now that I love the holidays!  I’ve always enjoyed the holidays because to me they meant I’d have the opportunity to spend time with my family.  For most of my life, I lived apart from them.  Wrapping up in a blanket on the couch overdosing on egg nog while watching every holiday movie I could find has been a norm for me for years.

To be a writer and to be able to become a part of that holiday joy and excitement is absolutely a dream come true for me.  The books I write center around women who may be strong when the book ends, but when it begins, they’re just as spastic as everyone else in the world.  I mean, come on, do any of us really ever have it all together each moment of every day.

This short short story is a little different for me because the heroine in this story is a bit more pulled together She owns her own business and is living a pretty decent life, of course that’s if you don’t count the absence of love, and her dissatisfaction at what’s happening in the city around her.

Nothing major, right…just a woman looking for love and who wants to change a small piece of the world.  All in a days work!

If you’re searching for a little holiday magic, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Christmas Journey.

 

Christmas Davis only wanted one thing…to help save the community where she was raised. Those hopes were crushed by the power of the Marino family. Life returned to normal. Until she received a phone call she almost didn’t answer from Presley Marino. It changed her life, and showed her there was more than one way to have a dream come true.

IR Romance Cruise 2014

I was given the opportunity to join a great group of authors: Pepper Pace, Sienna Mynx, Erosa Knowles, Tiana Laveen, Bridget Midway, Stephanie Morris, Sage Young, Renee Wynn, Jackie Kelly, and LaVerne Thompson at this year’s IR Romance Cruise 2014 aboard the Caribbean Princess.  We had the chance to visit Cozumel and Grand Cayman while getting to meet readers (lovers) of IR Romance.  Having the opportunity to meet and mingle with readers was fantastic!  We were able to discuss our current works as well as works-in-progress.

It was a great chance for me to meet with authors and discuss writing!  Who doesn’t love talking about writing

If you didn’t get the chance to join us aboard the boat, join me at the upcoming book signing and author event at the Whitehaven Branch of the Memphis Public Library.  Author Laura T. Johnson and myself will discuss our writing and tell you more about what we’re currently working on.

And if you want to see more pictures from the IR Romance Cruise 2014, download my author app for Android or iOS!

Book signing and discussion at Whitehaven Library #Memphis, TN

The Whitehaven branch of the Memphis Public Library System is celebrating!  As a part of their celebration, they’re holding an author fair.  Author Laura T. Johnson, and myself will be a part of the fun

If you’re in the Memphis, TN area on October 4th, (2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) come out and join us.  Bring your questions about writing, or our books.  Come out and support libraries.

The Whitehaven branch:  Address: 4120 Mill Branch Rd Memphis, TN 38116  Telephone: (901)415-2781

Hours: Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday CLOSED

See you there!

Layering character conflict with Guest Author — @AuthorCKarlsen

I love to read series.  But, for the longest of times, I never attempted to write one because of the intricacies of plotting a series.

How do you connect the stories?

How do you connect the characters?

How do you keep it all consistent?

Now that I’m writing a series of my own, these are the types of details I’m meticulously working on every day.  And as I do so, I wonder about how other authors tackle the same situations.

My guest this week — Chris Karlsen, discusses just that with us.

Join us!

 

Guest Author — @AuthorCKarlsen

I love to read series.  But, for the longest of times, I never attempted to write one because of the intricacies of plotting a series.

How do you connect the stories?

How do you connect the characters?

How do you keep it all consistent?

Now that I’m writing a series of my own, these are the types of details I’m meticulously working on every day.  And as I do so, I wonder about how other authors tackle the same situations.

My guest this week — Chris Karlsen, discusses just that with us.

Join us!