Amber Scott's Blog, page 13

Hump Day Updates: Yow!

It was SO nice being up in Reno for fall break and I'm finally getting back into the swing of things.

First up, it's my Sugar Mama day over at Plot Mamas and "She's a Super Freak…Yow!" is up for you to giggle over. It's part of the week long celebration of Stephanie Beck aka Gnome Mama's many new releases.

To keep the fun going, I'm over at the Got Romance blog with "Daytime Terrors and Nighttime Sweets." Three Play Fling eBooks are up for grabs!

Nanowrimo is only eleven days away and once again I'm jumping on the crazy train of fun and participating. Which means November will be a bit dizzy but all the more hilarious. If you're doing Nano, friend me! I'm under AmberScott. Until PPIF Friday…happy hump day!

:}Amber Scott

Filed under: Guest Author, Hump Day Updates, Miscellaneous, P.P.I.F.

Back Soon…

Happy Fall Break, everyone! See you here next Monday with our regular weekly lineup.

Don't forget to grab your FREE eBook of Play Fling in celebration of hitting #14 on Smashwords Top 25 Bestsellers list! Just click here and use coupon code XC63P at checkout. Thank you so much for making it possible!!!!

:}Amber Scott

Filed under: Hump Day Updates, Miscellaneous, Motivational Mondays, P.P.I.F.

P.P.I.F.: 10 Reasons…

Today's 10 reasons are for Erin Kellison and her Shadow series. Shadow Bound blew me away so much that I sent it off into the world in a book off, where the copy is–hopefully–racing through readers to get back to me first. When it does, I'll return it to Erin as a memento of her hard work and readership. If you've seen this book around, or its sequel, Shadow Fall, and aren't quite sure, I'm here today to tell you why I loved it.

10 Reasons to love Shadow Bound…

1. Wraiths: Their soul eating and terrifying. They look like you and me, only a little better. The only thing that stops them is Shadowman, the grim reaper.

2. Shadowman: When death falls in love it is painfully beautiful.

3. Talia: Her metamorphosis from a woman who's always felt different, who has spent her life trying to blend in lest her strangeness be discovered, into a heroine whose strength saves the day is remarkable.

4. Adam: Fierce, determined and single-minded in his heart-wrenching quest to destroy his own brother, a wraith. Talia softens him while he brings out her strength.

5. Custo: Adam's best friends ultimate sacrifice leaves a hollow pit that is filled back up when we discover his is the next story in the series.

6. The Writing: Erin's prose is an excellent balance of action, dialogue and narration that whisks you through the story.

7. Shadowlands: The place between our world and the Hereafter is dense and mysterious and when Talia is able to pull on it, to cloak herself, its tangible feel is almost familiar it seems so real.

8. Glass Windows: I love not only the steamy scene that fogged it up but the vulnerability the glass creates on the scene for the reader.

9. Tension: I love stories with situations that seem simply impossible to get out of. How can Adam possibly destroy Jacob, his brother, when nothing else has?

10. The Corset: When Talia transforms into the strong heroine she is meant to be, the corset she dons becomes her armor. I love the visual and symbolic effect this sort of set prop creates and can't think of a better, more suitable piece for Talia. It's sexy and daring. Love it.

I promise I haven't given too much away. If you've already devoured this one, too, I'd love to hear what would be on your list!

:}Amber Scott

Filed under: Miscellaneous, P.P.I.F.

Hump Day Updates: Treasure!

It's my Sugar Mama day over at Plot Mamas. I hope you'll come by and share what's in your treasure chest, a thing I think we all have.

Also, my interview with agent Verna Dreisbach is up at 1st Turning Point. You'll love her actionable answers on author promotion.

And, if you are one of us brave souls interested in the next big trend in publishing, doing it on your own, yesterday's podcast with Rowena Cherry on Independent publishing How to will get you started or help you streamline your process.

Last but not least, I am clapping like a kid over meeting a creativity coach at the Emerald City Writers' Conference. I've asked her to guest on Motivational Mondays. And she agreed! More on this soon.

Happy Hump Day!

:}Amber Scott

Filed under: Hump Day Updates, Miscellaneous, Writing Conferences

Motivational Mondays: Little by Little

I've returned from Seattle, WA from the amazing Emerald City Writers' Conference. And I am completely overwhelmed. The joy of communing with my fellow authors, the gratitude of being included in the Book Fair with my fellow e-pubbed authors, the sheer awe from all the kismet moments. Those three days went past so fast they felt like three hours.

I have so much to do! Oh no! Ideas and information are going to leak out the seams! Eek!

Okay, okay, Amber. That's enough.

I have to allow myself–not force, not cajole myself–to simply be today. The urgency to rush forth and get everything done (unpacking, sending thank you emails, attacking revisions, setting goals, reading a hundred emails, a podcast for tomorrow on Indie publishing, etc.) is really only fear in disguise.

There is no clock. There is no line forming that I must push through to the front of. Deep down, I know, if I rush, I'll miss something important. In an evacuation emergency, staying calm and orderly is crucial, so why not in instances of extreme excitement, too?

So, I'm letting the suitcase sit, and focusing on my gratitude. I'm wrapping it around my heart like a snuggly soft blanket and allowing my mind and heart to ink the weekends events and people and knowledge into permanency.

Doing nothing is still doing something. Little by little, I'll get it all done. Besides, I'm low on cuddles and have two little monkeys more than willing to fill me up.

What do you find helps most when feeling overwhelmed?

:}Amber Scott

Filed under: Goals, Excuses, Etc., Miscellaneous, Motivational Mondays, Writing Conferences

P.P.I.F.: 10 Reasons…

To love Touched By An Alien by Gini Koch…

I have confirmation that one of the four TBAA books I launched has reached person 3 and another has gotten to person 4, so who knows? In a few weeks, we may have a gift for my favorite author to stalk!

In the meantime, if you haven't picked up your own copy of Touched By An Alien to covet, here are 10 reasons to:

1. Martini: Sigh, gasp and pant. I love a cocky flirt but Martini proves to be so much more. I adore him.

2. Kitty: Should the heroine come first on the list? Probably. But Martini made that big of an impression on me. Kitty is a close second though. She's the practical and funny chick I know I'd be excellent friends with. I love her sense of humor.

3. Kitty's purse: It is SO much like my own. Only instead of iPod mini speakers, I have baby wipes. Not only do I love all that is in the bottomless wonder, I love the reactions to it, too.

4. Christopher: I love all of his glares, especially glare number four. He's the perfect cloudy contrast to Martini's sexy sunshine.

5. The Covers: Alien In The Family won't release until next year and Alien Tango is pre-ordered (go Now!) so all I have to pet and covet is the first in the series, but it gets me by. I can't wait to have them all in hand because the artistry is amazing and the details are so plot relevant that just glancing over one brings back my favorite moments.

6. Fuglies: These alien monsters are gross, imaginative and very scary. I love how each goes down.

7. Brainy v. Looks: The out of this world attractive alien women aren't into gorgeous men since they're used to that in their male counterparts. They want brains! Which means more gorgeous men for me!!

8. The pets: Kitty's parents have a whole herd of pets and they love each one. Gini even manages to create distinct pet personalities. Awesome.

9. Alien Collective: While this isn't in the book, once you read TBAA, I suspect you will join the uber cool fan group Gini dubbed the Alien Collective. It gets us inside scoop on the series and some seriously generous prize swag.

10. Jury duty: Gini's writing is so good. From line one, I know what kind of chick this heroine is and what kind of day she's had. Kitty has just come from jury duty when she meets her first alien. And Gini is cool enough to know she doesn't need to spell out the mood Kitty must be in or how much more impressive the fact that she flies into action is because of it. Gini trusts her reader is as smart as her characters then pulls us in for a wild ride.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get your Touched By An Alien NOW and pre-order Alien Tango, too! Then, come back and let me know, what would be on your own 10 Reasons list?

:}Amber Scott

Filed under: 10 Things...5 Things..., Miscellaneous, P.P.I.F.

Hot Flash by Clare Austin

I am so happy to welcome back Clare Austin and to share her answers to my nosy questions! Let's dive in….

AS:  Welcome back, Clare! Can you believe it's been a year since your novel, Butterfly, debuted? How has your writing life changed in the last year?

CA:  It's great to be back. The year has been wild. I have had two books release since Butterfly…Angel's Share in March and then in July, Hot Flash. The hardest thing of all is keeping the new material coming while trying to promote the three books that are out. I've got the third book in the Fadό Trilogy, Selkie's Song, more than half done, but it is going much more slowly than I ever imagined.  I also have a romantic comedy, Rosy Again, about a third finished. It has been a fun project with a quirky heroine.

I need to remind myself often that I've accomplished much and to give myself         breaks from time to time. That is a challenge for me. I'm most comfortable going Mach 10 with knickers on fire!

AS: Well, you are juggling nicely. Hot Flash is a story about second chances that proves it's never too late for love. What was your biggest 'hot flash' while writing this steamy novel?

CA:  Hot Flash was my third novel, written the first year of my fiction career. I submitted it around while I was writing Butterfly but was told my heroine was "too old."  Like, what? She had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel? Hogwash!  Then Butterfly sold and Angel's Share. My publisher asked if I had any other work to submit and I sold Hot Flash to them as well. I felt a strong need to write a story about an older woman who, due to circumstances, had to re-build her life, take charge of her destiny and get strong, physically and emotionally. She decides to learn to ride a horse and, just like life, she discovers it's not a sport for wimps. The fact that she falls in love is a bonus.

AS: I'm with you. Hogwash! Now, please, fill in some blanks for us:

CA:  Happiness is loving yourself enough to love someone else unconditionally.

To ride horses is to fall… sometimes!

If you can't be perfect, then be persistent.

All sunshine, and no rain, makes Clare know she's not in Ireland.

AS:  If casting for the big screen were up to you, who would play Kate and Brandon?

CA:  That is a great question and one I've avoided in the case of my books. But, now that I'm forced to answer, I'll give it a try. Brandon…well, how about Patrick Dempsey? He would need a dialect coach to pull off the Irish, but I'm pretty sure he would look grand in riding breeches. For Kate, maybe Sandra Bullock…she'd be spot on with the comedic parts and still believable in the serious parts. And she looks like she could be Italian-American.

AS:  Love your choices! Growing up, you were a big Nancy Drew fan. Who do you love to read now?

CA:  I'm a very eclectic reader. I love Maeve Binchy and have read almost every novel of hers. I often take a chance on a new author and find a gem. That was certainly true in the case of Erin Hart (Lake of Sorrows, Haunted Ground) and this summer discovering Pauline McLynn (The Woman on the Bus). I also read quite a bit of narrative non-fiction, history and science. I believe strongly that all writers will benefit by reading outside the genre in which they write.

AS:  Maeve Binchy has such a nice, lyrical voice. So, what is your favorite scene in Hot Flash and why?

CA:  One of my favorites is where Brandon explains to Kate how he can love the memory of his wife and love Kate as well. When I wrote the scene of Bran saying "goodbye" to his wife at her grave and removing the wedding ring, I cried. It was as though someone else was telling me the story and it tore at my heart.

I also love the scene where Brandon meets Kate's family. Two of her brothers are cops, one is a priest and her mother can't utter the word "divorce" without crossing herself. They are a force to be reckoned with and Bran pulls it off without breaking a sweat. It always makes me laugh.

AS:  Thank you Clare for coming by my blog again. I wish you huge success. Please let readers know where they can find more you!

CA:  All my books are available in trade paperback and digital versions. If anyone would like an autographed copy of any of my novels they can go to my website buy link  www.clareaustin.com/books.html and use PayPal or contact me at  Authorclare@gmail.com.

I have started a blog at www.clareaustin.wordpress.com where I post little bits of my journey and upcoming projects.

My books are published by The Wild Rose Press, so are easy to find on the many internet sites for book distribution in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, and as far away as Australia and India.

AS:  How cool is that?! So, reader, what say you? How old is too old for a hot romance?

***

Hot Flash…

Kate Aiello has spent her entire life trying to please others—her three brothers, her Italian mamma and her husband of twenty-five years. It isn't insult enough she is turning fifty, and left at the side of life's road by her philandering husband. Now she has to contend with her body's betrayal…hot flashes!

The plain truth hits her with each thermostatic aberration—she has never been first in anyone's life, including her own.

Brandon Sullivan has been on a downward spiral since the death of his beloved wife. Now he is a man desperate to save himself from impending financial ruin, loss of his farm and his life's dream. He needs to get into the winner's circle by spring or he'll be just another poor, landless Irishmen downing his pints and bragging about the good ol' days.

Sparks fly when Italian attitude meets Irish temper. Add two big crazy families, a barn full of horses and one woman's menopausal hot flashes and the probability for combustion increases exponentially.

What will Kate and Brandon  risk for a second chance at love?

***

Filed under: Guest Author, Miscellaneous, Work In Progress, Writing Craft

Motivational Mondays: Follow That Geek!

I'm hoping that, internal editor and muse aside, I'm not the only one out there walking around with an inner geek. But, hey, maybe I am. Yes, that adds yet another personality for my therapist to integrate. My geek"s the one I blame for my wackier ideas you all occasionally get to read about here. So-ahem- geek alert!

Alright, here's the challenge:

Ever see the movie Something's Gotta Give? In particular, do you recall the scene where Diane Keaton's character is madly typing at her laptop, a...

P.P.I.F.: 10 Reasons to….

The Project Pay It Forward books are launched. Four copies of Touched By An Alien by Gini Koch and a copy each of Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison and Mind Games by Carolyn Crane, in a book off. Perhaps you happen to be one of the few who haven't yet read these gems. Maybe you're still uncertain. Well, since I'm a list maker, tune in for the next three Fridays to view my 10 Reasons… for each book.

We're starting with Mind Games, because the sequel, Double Cross, releases September 28th!

10...

Hump Day Updates: Seeing Red!

First off, I hope you'll come check out today's Plot Mamas post, "Mama Bear Grrr…." Just click here.

And, while the dates are not yet set in stone, I'm thrilled to report my workshop, "Red Carpet Writing: Screenwriting Steals for Novelists," will be offered as a fun, interactive online class through both the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers (May) and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal chapter RWA (Oct)!!!

:}Amber Scott

Filed under: Hump Day Updates, Miscellaneous, Screenwriting, Workshops, Writing...