Lisa Sanchez's Blog, page 16
November 22, 2011
Interview with author Camryn Rhys
Hey, peeps! Please join me in welcoming author Camryn Rhys to my blog today. She's currently on tour promoting her latest release, Off The Record, and has graciously agreed to answer some questions for us. Woot!
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1. Congratulationson the release of your latest work, Offthe Record. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Off the Record isa f/f foodie romance; the story of chef Kit and her food critic lover, Emily.When Emily's unfavorable review of Kit's restaurant surfaces, it may preventtheir fiery romance from consummating. Well… from lasting.
2. Whatprompted you to write this particular story? Was there a special event,occurrence, song etc. that sparked an idea?
I have a friend who recently opened her own restaurant, andseeing the way her review process worked in her small town made me think ofthis story. The town is loosely based on hers, although in a different part ofthe country, and the characters are all completely different.
3. Whichof your characters do you relate to the most, and why?
I think I relate to Kit the most, because she's the mostlike me. But I like Emily the most. Kit is sort of the ballsy one, and Emilyhas the hardest time with their relationship. Although now that I say that outloud, I'm sure my boyfriend would say I'm more like Emily than Kit. Off to ask.
4. Didyou have a character or scene that you struggled with? How were you able topush through?
I had a really hard time with Emily's ex-husband. He wassuch an odd, jerky man, and his motivation was hard for me to nail down. Once Igot that, I think it settled into place for me.
5. Ifyou were able to spend an evening with one of your characters, who would youchoose, and why?
Selfishly, I'd like to spend time with Tyan. Because he issuper hot. JBut he doesn't get the girl in this particular book… I guess we'll have to waitand see on that one.
6. Doyou have any writing quirks?
I almost always need to be drinking something and listeningto something in order to write effectively. Usually, it's Diet Coke andPandora. But sometimes I'll listen to a Requiem or something like that, more ofan arc. I like that.
7. Favoriteauthor?
For erotic romance, I'd have to say either Kristen Painteror Jaci Burton. Love both their voices and the way they create characters.About Kristen specifically, I love that she has so much range, and can make somany different genres sound good. For just straight-up author anywhere, I'd sayT.S. Eliot. He always left people thinking after they read something of his,and he always found a way to get at a mind-job kind of thought through justwords. That is really incredible.
8. Favoritebook?
Rules of the Wildby Francesca Marciano. I am going to write a book like that someday. I'm stillwaiting for the idea to strike, but I have no doubts it will.
9. Whatare three things your readers don't know about you?
I am a musician by trade right now.I have three advanced degrees in various stages ofcompletion.I don't have children, and always said I wouldn't have them,but now I'm thinking I kinda want to have children.
10. What isthe strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Either grasshoppers or yak. While grasshoppers are strange,they're actually just mostly crunchy. But yak has a really unique taste. It'sused a little like beef, but it's got that mountain flavor. Really interesting.
11. What isthe craziest thing you've ever done?
Probably writing these books. It requires me to live asecond life, in essence, and it feels a little schizoid at times.
12. If Off the Record were made into a movie,who would you like to see cast?
I think Alyssa Milano would be Emily. And Drew Barrymorewould be Kit. And Brad the Bachelor would be Tyan. Lenny, from Law & Orderwould be Maurice. But I think the two main characters would be Alyssa Milanoand Drew Barrymore. That would be absolutely perfect.
Thanks so much for having me! I hope everyone enjoys readingthis book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Thank you for stopping by! So glad to have you here!
[image error] When Kit Parker meets the woman of her dreams, the fact that she appears to be dating the local food critic is only a minor setback. The negative review of her restaurant in their paper doesn't even daunt her, as it presents her with an excuse to spend more time with Emily. When she finds out it should be Emily's byline under the title warning people away from Kit's new restaurant, that may be an obstacle she can't overcome.
About the author:
Camryn Rhys grew up on the border of Canada and the US, and still hasn't decided which country to call home. She splits her time between the Alberta and Montana Rocky Mountains, with friends and family in both beautiful locations. After running her own restaurant for several years and aquiring advanced degrees in writing, foodie romance seemed the only logical option. When she's not watching the Food Network, she's reading a romance novel, or if absolutely necessary, working as a consultant. Someone has to put really excellent food on the table.
You can find Camryn at the following places:
Website Blog FacebookTwitter
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1. Congratulationson the release of your latest work, Offthe Record. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Off the Record isa f/f foodie romance; the story of chef Kit and her food critic lover, Emily.When Emily's unfavorable review of Kit's restaurant surfaces, it may preventtheir fiery romance from consummating. Well… from lasting.
2. Whatprompted you to write this particular story? Was there a special event,occurrence, song etc. that sparked an idea?
I have a friend who recently opened her own restaurant, andseeing the way her review process worked in her small town made me think ofthis story. The town is loosely based on hers, although in a different part ofthe country, and the characters are all completely different.
3. Whichof your characters do you relate to the most, and why?
I think I relate to Kit the most, because she's the mostlike me. But I like Emily the most. Kit is sort of the ballsy one, and Emilyhas the hardest time with their relationship. Although now that I say that outloud, I'm sure my boyfriend would say I'm more like Emily than Kit. Off to ask.
4. Didyou have a character or scene that you struggled with? How were you able topush through?
I had a really hard time with Emily's ex-husband. He wassuch an odd, jerky man, and his motivation was hard for me to nail down. Once Igot that, I think it settled into place for me.
5. Ifyou were able to spend an evening with one of your characters, who would youchoose, and why?
Selfishly, I'd like to spend time with Tyan. Because he issuper hot. JBut he doesn't get the girl in this particular book… I guess we'll have to waitand see on that one.
6. Doyou have any writing quirks?
I almost always need to be drinking something and listeningto something in order to write effectively. Usually, it's Diet Coke andPandora. But sometimes I'll listen to a Requiem or something like that, more ofan arc. I like that.
7. Favoriteauthor?
For erotic romance, I'd have to say either Kristen Painteror Jaci Burton. Love both their voices and the way they create characters.About Kristen specifically, I love that she has so much range, and can make somany different genres sound good. For just straight-up author anywhere, I'd sayT.S. Eliot. He always left people thinking after they read something of his,and he always found a way to get at a mind-job kind of thought through justwords. That is really incredible.
8. Favoritebook?
Rules of the Wildby Francesca Marciano. I am going to write a book like that someday. I'm stillwaiting for the idea to strike, but I have no doubts it will.
9. Whatare three things your readers don't know about you?
I am a musician by trade right now.I have three advanced degrees in various stages ofcompletion.I don't have children, and always said I wouldn't have them,but now I'm thinking I kinda want to have children.
10. What isthe strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Either grasshoppers or yak. While grasshoppers are strange,they're actually just mostly crunchy. But yak has a really unique taste. It'sused a little like beef, but it's got that mountain flavor. Really interesting.
11. What isthe craziest thing you've ever done?
Probably writing these books. It requires me to live asecond life, in essence, and it feels a little schizoid at times.
12. If Off the Record were made into a movie,who would you like to see cast?
I think Alyssa Milano would be Emily. And Drew Barrymorewould be Kit. And Brad the Bachelor would be Tyan. Lenny, from Law & Orderwould be Maurice. But I think the two main characters would be Alyssa Milanoand Drew Barrymore. That would be absolutely perfect.
Thanks so much for having me! I hope everyone enjoys readingthis book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Thank you for stopping by! So glad to have you here!
[image error] When Kit Parker meets the woman of her dreams, the fact that she appears to be dating the local food critic is only a minor setback. The negative review of her restaurant in their paper doesn't even daunt her, as it presents her with an excuse to spend more time with Emily. When she finds out it should be Emily's byline under the title warning people away from Kit's new restaurant, that may be an obstacle she can't overcome.
About the author:
Camryn Rhys grew up on the border of Canada and the US, and still hasn't decided which country to call home. She splits her time between the Alberta and Montana Rocky Mountains, with friends and family in both beautiful locations. After running her own restaurant for several years and aquiring advanced degrees in writing, foodie romance seemed the only logical option. When she's not watching the Food Network, she's reading a romance novel, or if absolutely necessary, working as a consultant. Someone has to put really excellent food on the table.
You can find Camryn at the following places:
Website Blog FacebookTwitter
November 16, 2011
Five Card Stud tour with Gem Sivad
Hey, peeps! Please join me in welcoming author Gem Sivad to my blog today!
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Hi, Lisa. Thanks for having me today. I'm talking about Five Card Stud with you, celebratingboth its win in the Passionate Plume contest (historical category) and itsstatus as a Finalist in the 2012 Epic Awards (historical category).
1. Congratulationson being a 2012 EPIC AWARD Finalist for your book, Five Card Stud. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Thanks for the congrats, Lisa. Five Card Stud is a title in my Eclipse Heat series published byEllora's Cave. The hero, Sam McCallister is to date, the roughest, most alphamale I've written. He's a tough talking, devilishly handsome bounty hunterinterested in work, women, and cards.
2. Poker,while widely popular over the years, has become increasingly so as of late. Areyou a poker fan? What prompted you to write this particular story?
I frequently playcards with friends and poker is one of our games. I'm also addicted to thepoker tournaments on television and an avid fan of poker player, Phil Ivey.
3. Edensounds like a strong character. Can you tell us about her?
Eden Pace is the woman who puts a stop to Sam's philanderingways. She's a lady gambler, working her way around Texas as she follows thetrail of her husband's killer. Imagine Sam's chagrin when he finds that he's no more than atool for her to use in and out of bed. Eden isn't interested in love—she'sgrieving for her murdered husband.
4. Whatis it about Sam that will make readers fall in love with him?
He's a bad boy who finally gets his come-uppance when hefalls in love with Eden. He doesn't know if she'll ever love him back, but heplans to spend the rest of his life making sure she's safe in his arms.
5. Whichof your characters do you relate to the most, and why?
Eden because even focused as she is on her goal, Sam managesto slip under her defenses and take charge of her heart. I think that fits myrelationship with my husband very well.
6. Didyou have a character or scene that you struggled with?
Yes, the scene where Eden rejects Sam, telling him that he'sno more to her than a one night stand. I didn't want her to say that. I wantedher to grab hold of him and beg for his help.
7. How were you able to push through?
I had to go back to my story arc, reminding Eden that shehad a ways to go before she and Sam could have their HEA.
8. Ifyou were able to spend an evening with one of your characters, who would youchoose, and why?
Right now, I'd spend time with Dr. Grace Souter, coming soonin my Eclipse Heat title, WhisperingGrace. I'm working in this wipright now and Grace is revealing her secrets slowly.
9. Doyou have any writing quirks?
I hate letting go of that first draft, even tocrit partners. I've been known to revise as many as six times before I submitto other eyes.
10. Favoriteauthor?
My favorite author changes often. Right now it would bePatricia Briggs.
10. Favoritebook?
Cry Wolf byPatricia Briggs.
11. What arethree things your readers don't know about you?
I have a degree in psychology, another in journalism and athird in English.
12. What isthe strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Ramps—wild onions that are delicious when fried, but leaveyou reeking with the smell for days.
13. What isthe craziest thing you've ever done?
Flown to St. Louis to meet a blind date. As it turned out,my date later became my husband.
14. If FiveCard Stud were made into a movie, who would you like to see cast?
Josh Holloway and Jennifer Garner.
For those who might enjoy afurther taste of Five Card Stud, here's the link for the trailer now availableon the Gem Sivad YouTube Channel.
Stop by my FB Fan page and click the"Like" button to go in a drawing for a copy of Five Card Stud.
You can always findme @ Web / Twitter / FB /
Thanks again forhaving me, Lisa.
gem
@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; Five Card Stud is a 2012 Epic Award Finalist in the Historical Romance category
Blurb:
When bounty hunter Sam McCallister sees Eden Pace playing poker for the first time, he loses all interest in the cards; instead, the thought of playing stud with the lady gambler stirs his cock to life. Eden's the prettiest woman and the best card sharp Sam's ever met. Good thing he has a few cards up his sleeve.
Eden's doing her own outlaw hunting. She's on the trail of her husband's killer and Sam's in her way. To get free of this hardheaded, softhearted, gorgeous man, Eden tries strip poker and naked truth-or-dare, but when Sam ups the stakes, carnal submission and desire are unleashed.
When Sam discovers Eden's wanted for murder, he figures his bed is the safest place for her. But taking Eden prisoner isn't as easy as Sam expects. He's in a high-stakes poker game with lust on the table and his heart on the line, because one taste of Eden just isn't enough.
About the author:
@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: SectioGem Sivad is a multi-published, award winning historical romance author currently devoting her writing time to capturing the essence of the Old West.
Expect some sizzle and spice in Gem's books along with a gritty landscape of red dust,sage brush and the lawless flavor of 1880's Texas.
Visit Gem's Place at http://www.gemsivad.com for her current projects and books coming soon.
Buy links:
Amazon All Romance ebooksEllora's CaveB&N
November 15, 2011
Video blogging
Hey, peeps! Happy Tuesday!
In case you missed my posts, I created a new Youtube channel. Woop! I'm going to try my hand at the occasional video blog, and felt the need to create a channel that coincided with my author page. I'll be talking about books, my writing process, answering questions and sharing things from my day to day life as well.
Here's today's installment. Hope you enjoy!
November 8, 2011
Bloodlines series tour with Lyndsay Ann Kendal
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Hey, peeps! Please join me in welcoming author Lyndsay Ann Kendall to my blog. She's currently promoting her latest works in her Bloodlines series, and is here to give us a little insight into why she writes "dark and gothic novels."
Hi everyone,
Thank you for having me here today, it'sgreat.
I wasn't to sure what to talk about, untilmy friend was asked a question about me from her cousin. She said to me "Yourbooks are very dark and rather gothic, are you like that, or is it just aninterest?" So I thought I'd answer that.
I myself am very dark, morbid, but happy.I love all things gothic, weird, supernatural. I have always had an interest inthe darker side of things. For example – For years I've wanted to try and getmy hands on a very old witchcraft books. You know the sort you hear about thatare handwritten and full of secrets. Some people say they don't exist, but Ibelieve differently. I wouldn't want the white magic ones, all full of lovespells and healing rituals and the like. I want the deepest, blackest, mostextreme black magic book I can find, and if anyone is wondering...Would I play with it? Oh yes!Would I be scared? Not really, nothingscares me to be honest, so I'd have to say I would be more intrigued thanfrightened. Would you run if something happened? No!What's the point of running from the things you want to understand? If you'regonna run, why do it in the first place? Would you try and summon someone orsomething? Definitely. I would try and summon the demon I have used in mytrilogy. His name is Eligos and according to King Solomon and Religion, he is aGrand Duke of Hell. There isn't much known about him, and I would love to findout more. He fascinates me. So much so, I actually have his demonic sealtattooed on my left shoulder blade. (Yes I'm obsessed lol).I love everything to do with the 'Occult'and I have heard people have had terrible and terrifying experiences when theyhave played around with it. Most won't go into details as they say itfrightened them so much. I know of some who have turned to religion afterwardsto try and feel safe and protected. I have crazy beliefs so I don't think I could do that, but I understandwhy these people did and I respect them for it. Everyone likes to feel safe attimes. I personally would love to experiencethat, maybe I'm crazy, but I wouldn't like to be any different. Some of my friends get a little freakedout sometimes and wonder what the hell must go on inside my head. The truth is,half the time, I don't know. I have that many things running through my mind, allat the same time, that in the end, I give up trying to explain how passionateand deeply I feel about these types of things to people.
Having these interests helps me write mynovels. The Bloodlines Trilogy touches on demonology and black magic, and I hadgreat fun learning and researching everything about it. I could never change,not even if I wanted to, therefore, this will be the genre I write for the restof my life.
Anyway, I'm going to stop freaking peopleout now lol. I hope this allows people to see another side of me, and I hopewhat I've said makes sense.Thanks again for having me. Happy reading!
Blurb:
@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: SectionKeira Jameson used to lead a normal life, she just had a gift, passed down through the generations of her family.
Now, after hearing voices, having strange dreams of others calling out to her, and her grandfather's last words haunting her, she sets out to find other families like hers. Along with her best friend Lily, the only person outside her family to know about her gift, Keira begins a hunt for her ancestors. A chance meeting with a young man, Lucian Turner, sets them on the right track, but their discoveries change the way Keira will see herself for ever more.
Fear, superstition and heritage are shaping Keira's future and she must face her enemies, even if this could mean losing her life.
Through loss and love her destiny becomes inescapable.
Released November 1st!
Blurb:@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }Keira has been through Hell, literally..... But now she's back, and stronger than ever!
In this second gripping installment of the Bloodlines trilogy Keira and her friends – Lily, Lucian, Tyler, Jake and Danny – continue to try and understand their elemental powers, and protect themselves from their enemies, whose ultimate goal is to destroy them.
This time, the stakes are higher – what seems to be a demon rebellion has broken out in hell and the Earth is plunged into chaos. Their problem is, no one – not even Lucifer himself – knows who the rebel leader is. It seems only Keira, her frightened but determined friends, and a new ally – a demon named Eligos - can find out who this person or thing is, why they are suddenly causing so much bloodshed, pain and upset for everyone, and destroy them.
Bloody awesome battles, amazing feats of magic, and a stronger-than-death passion, make for an intoxicating, unforgettable read in this powerfully imagined fantasy...
About the author:@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; I have lived in Droylsden, Manchester, all my life. I live with my parents and my younger sister, Cheryl. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life until I began writing. This is my dream.
I get most of my inspiration from music, I'll sit there listening to it and suddenly I'm no longer in the room. My stories play like videos in my mind, then I go and write them down.
I'm a very dark person, I love anything spooky, supernatural, or unexplainable, and so that's the genre I want to write in for the rest of my life. I love watching scary films, although I find it very hard to find one these days that actually frighten me.
Website Facebook Goodreads
Hey, peeps! Please join me in welcoming author Lyndsay Ann Kendall to my blog. She's currently promoting her latest works in her Bloodlines series, and is here to give us a little insight into why she writes "dark and gothic novels."
Hi everyone,
Thank you for having me here today, it'sgreat.
I wasn't to sure what to talk about, untilmy friend was asked a question about me from her cousin. She said to me "Yourbooks are very dark and rather gothic, are you like that, or is it just aninterest?" So I thought I'd answer that.
I myself am very dark, morbid, but happy.I love all things gothic, weird, supernatural. I have always had an interest inthe darker side of things. For example – For years I've wanted to try and getmy hands on a very old witchcraft books. You know the sort you hear about thatare handwritten and full of secrets. Some people say they don't exist, but Ibelieve differently. I wouldn't want the white magic ones, all full of lovespells and healing rituals and the like. I want the deepest, blackest, mostextreme black magic book I can find, and if anyone is wondering...Would I play with it? Oh yes!Would I be scared? Not really, nothingscares me to be honest, so I'd have to say I would be more intrigued thanfrightened. Would you run if something happened? No!What's the point of running from the things you want to understand? If you'regonna run, why do it in the first place? Would you try and summon someone orsomething? Definitely. I would try and summon the demon I have used in mytrilogy. His name is Eligos and according to King Solomon and Religion, he is aGrand Duke of Hell. There isn't much known about him, and I would love to findout more. He fascinates me. So much so, I actually have his demonic sealtattooed on my left shoulder blade. (Yes I'm obsessed lol).I love everything to do with the 'Occult'and I have heard people have had terrible and terrifying experiences when theyhave played around with it. Most won't go into details as they say itfrightened them so much. I know of some who have turned to religion afterwardsto try and feel safe and protected. I have crazy beliefs so I don't think I could do that, but I understandwhy these people did and I respect them for it. Everyone likes to feel safe attimes. I personally would love to experiencethat, maybe I'm crazy, but I wouldn't like to be any different. Some of my friends get a little freakedout sometimes and wonder what the hell must go on inside my head. The truth is,half the time, I don't know. I have that many things running through my mind, allat the same time, that in the end, I give up trying to explain how passionateand deeply I feel about these types of things to people.
Having these interests helps me write mynovels. The Bloodlines Trilogy touches on demonology and black magic, and I hadgreat fun learning and researching everything about it. I could never change,not even if I wanted to, therefore, this will be the genre I write for the restof my life.
Anyway, I'm going to stop freaking peopleout now lol. I hope this allows people to see another side of me, and I hopewhat I've said makes sense.Thanks again for having me. Happy reading!
Blurb:
@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: SectionKeira Jameson used to lead a normal life, she just had a gift, passed down through the generations of her family.
Now, after hearing voices, having strange dreams of others calling out to her, and her grandfather's last words haunting her, she sets out to find other families like hers. Along with her best friend Lily, the only person outside her family to know about her gift, Keira begins a hunt for her ancestors. A chance meeting with a young man, Lucian Turner, sets them on the right track, but their discoveries change the way Keira will see herself for ever more.
Fear, superstition and heritage are shaping Keira's future and she must face her enemies, even if this could mean losing her life.
Through loss and love her destiny becomes inescapable.
Released November 1st!Blurb:@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }Keira has been through Hell, literally..... But now she's back, and stronger than ever!
In this second gripping installment of the Bloodlines trilogy Keira and her friends – Lily, Lucian, Tyler, Jake and Danny – continue to try and understand their elemental powers, and protect themselves from their enemies, whose ultimate goal is to destroy them.
This time, the stakes are higher – what seems to be a demon rebellion has broken out in hell and the Earth is plunged into chaos. Their problem is, no one – not even Lucifer himself – knows who the rebel leader is. It seems only Keira, her frightened but determined friends, and a new ally – a demon named Eligos - can find out who this person or thing is, why they are suddenly causing so much bloodshed, pain and upset for everyone, and destroy them.
Bloody awesome battles, amazing feats of magic, and a stronger-than-death passion, make for an intoxicating, unforgettable read in this powerfully imagined fantasy...
About the author:@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; I have lived in Droylsden, Manchester, all my life. I live with my parents and my younger sister, Cheryl. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life until I began writing. This is my dream.
I get most of my inspiration from music, I'll sit there listening to it and suddenly I'm no longer in the room. My stories play like videos in my mind, then I go and write them down.
I'm a very dark person, I love anything spooky, supernatural, or unexplainable, and so that's the genre I want to write in for the rest of my life. I love watching scary films, although I find it very hard to find one these days that actually frighten me.
Website Facebook Goodreads
November 4, 2011
Releasing The Baggage Tour with author Dana Littlejohn
Hey, everyone! Please join me in welcoming Dana Littlejohn as she talks about her latest release, Releasing The Baggage.
Make sure to leave a comment at the end of the post to be entered for a chance to win: a promotional t-shirt, a keychain, an inkpen, and a baseball style hat to one randomly drawn commenter along the tour (US and Canada only.)
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Love in the midst of a murder investigation! Sounds intriguing! Was it difficult to keep the romance believable while juggling a murder investigation plot?
It's no secret that domestic issues bring about heated and often times dangerous situations. Given that Jerri is working on a divorce case, and her boss winds up dead, it makes the reader, well, me, wonder if the situation between the divorcees escalated into a crime of passion. Of course, I could be way off base here, but either way, it's interesting. What made you choose this type of storyline, and was it difficult to write?
I took this story in two parts: the investigation and the romance between the main characters. I did the romance first. I have done many romances so I figured I would work my strong point first. I wanted Jerri and Felix's relationship to be different and their roles for each other to be different as well. The idea itself came about with a simple conversation with my girlfriends. Someone asked, why do men always have to be the aggressor? I want to be the one in control of the relationship. The question launched a whole a night of laughter and drinking and when I went home my brain was on overdrive. Jerri and Felix's relationship had begun.
The investigation part of the story was a little harder. I had to do some serious research to get it to where I was happy with it. I had the idea in mind, but I wanted to make sure I saw accurate and the story flowed well in conjunction with the romance. If the two elements didn't blend smoothly it wouldn't work.
I know a few police officers and a couple of lawyers that go to my church. I asked them if I could interview them to gather some info and they agreed. My biggest fear is for someone to read my story and say, 'man, that's not true. The law says…" Also, I use the internet often, read books, people watch and steal personality traits from family and friends to build different personality types for my characters.
I don't know if Releasing the Baggage was any harder to write than any other romance I have written, but I definitely learned more than I ever knew about the laws in my state and city and that men aren't always the bad guy. LOL
Jerri Ivory was over divorce cases, but when your boss asks you to do him a favor...
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During the important case, her boss is killed and she becomes a suspect all while she is trying to get to know Felix, a man her friend Linda hooked her up with. With all the mayhem going on in her life can Felix slow her down long enough to show her they were meant to be?
Excerpt:
Linda nodded. "Yes, ma'am, Pumpkin. Her mother was a flower child back in the sixties so she ended up with a name no one can say without practice. Pumpkin is just simpler," she explained.
Bob and Helen looked at each other, then nodded a greeting to her.
Pumpkin waved at them. "Hi."
Felix chuckled. "Then Pumpkin it is. Hi," he said, offering his hand.
Frieda barely nodded at the older couple then pushed Pumpkin out the way to shake Felix's hand.
"How are you, Felix?"
"I'm fine, Frieda. How are you?"
"I'm doing much better now," she said, flashing him a smile.
Linda bumped her out of the way, breaking their handshake. She pulled Jerri in front of her. "And this is my friend Jerri."
"Jerri? I don't think I've ever met a woman name Jerri. Is it short for something?" Felix asked.
"No. My mother had a major crush on Jerry Lewis when she was young. When she found out she was pregnant she announced to my father that whatever the baby was she was naming it Jerri." She shook his extended hand and shrugged. "Needless to say my father was not happy about it, but here I am anyway, Jerri Ann Ivory."
Felix laughed. "Does he call you Jerri?"
"Oh, no. He gave me my middle name and always called me Annie."
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Jerri."
About the author:
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Dana Littlejohn was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, but has called Indianapolis, IN her home for over 10 years. Her love for writing started as a young girl in junior high school where she discovered her first romance novel. Falling in love with love she started writing her own ongoing story in weekly installments to entertain her friends as they passed it around the lunch room.
When she became an adult she put her love for writing on hold to do the start a family, but in 2003 with encouragement from her husband she picked up her pen again. This time she has no intention on putting it down. To date she has written 3 full length novels, 11 novellas, 36 short stories and has had her stories in 3 anthologies under her own name and a pseudo for another genre.
http://www.danalittlejohn.com
http://www.authordanalittlejohn.blogs...
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dana...
Twitter- @authordanalittlejohn
Make sure to leave a comment at the end of the post to be entered for a chance to win: a promotional t-shirt, a keychain, an inkpen, and a baseball style hat to one randomly drawn commenter along the tour (US and Canada only.)
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Love in the midst of a murder investigation! Sounds intriguing! Was it difficult to keep the romance believable while juggling a murder investigation plot?
It's no secret that domestic issues bring about heated and often times dangerous situations. Given that Jerri is working on a divorce case, and her boss winds up dead, it makes the reader, well, me, wonder if the situation between the divorcees escalated into a crime of passion. Of course, I could be way off base here, but either way, it's interesting. What made you choose this type of storyline, and was it difficult to write?
I took this story in two parts: the investigation and the romance between the main characters. I did the romance first. I have done many romances so I figured I would work my strong point first. I wanted Jerri and Felix's relationship to be different and their roles for each other to be different as well. The idea itself came about with a simple conversation with my girlfriends. Someone asked, why do men always have to be the aggressor? I want to be the one in control of the relationship. The question launched a whole a night of laughter and drinking and when I went home my brain was on overdrive. Jerri and Felix's relationship had begun.
The investigation part of the story was a little harder. I had to do some serious research to get it to where I was happy with it. I had the idea in mind, but I wanted to make sure I saw accurate and the story flowed well in conjunction with the romance. If the two elements didn't blend smoothly it wouldn't work.
I know a few police officers and a couple of lawyers that go to my church. I asked them if I could interview them to gather some info and they agreed. My biggest fear is for someone to read my story and say, 'man, that's not true. The law says…" Also, I use the internet often, read books, people watch and steal personality traits from family and friends to build different personality types for my characters.
I don't know if Releasing the Baggage was any harder to write than any other romance I have written, but I definitely learned more than I ever knew about the laws in my state and city and that men aren't always the bad guy. LOL
Jerri Ivory was over divorce cases, but when your boss asks you to do him a favor...
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During the important case, her boss is killed and she becomes a suspect all while she is trying to get to know Felix, a man her friend Linda hooked her up with. With all the mayhem going on in her life can Felix slow her down long enough to show her they were meant to be?
Excerpt:
Linda nodded. "Yes, ma'am, Pumpkin. Her mother was a flower child back in the sixties so she ended up with a name no one can say without practice. Pumpkin is just simpler," she explained.
Bob and Helen looked at each other, then nodded a greeting to her.
Pumpkin waved at them. "Hi."
Felix chuckled. "Then Pumpkin it is. Hi," he said, offering his hand.
Frieda barely nodded at the older couple then pushed Pumpkin out the way to shake Felix's hand.
"How are you, Felix?"
"I'm fine, Frieda. How are you?"
"I'm doing much better now," she said, flashing him a smile.
Linda bumped her out of the way, breaking their handshake. She pulled Jerri in front of her. "And this is my friend Jerri."
"Jerri? I don't think I've ever met a woman name Jerri. Is it short for something?" Felix asked.
"No. My mother had a major crush on Jerry Lewis when she was young. When she found out she was pregnant she announced to my father that whatever the baby was she was naming it Jerri." She shook his extended hand and shrugged. "Needless to say my father was not happy about it, but here I am anyway, Jerri Ann Ivory."
Felix laughed. "Does he call you Jerri?"
"Oh, no. He gave me my middle name and always called me Annie."
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Jerri."
About the author:
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Dana Littlejohn was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, but has called Indianapolis, IN her home for over 10 years. Her love for writing started as a young girl in junior high school where she discovered her first romance novel. Falling in love with love she started writing her own ongoing story in weekly installments to entertain her friends as they passed it around the lunch room.
When she became an adult she put her love for writing on hold to do the start a family, but in 2003 with encouragement from her husband she picked up her pen again. This time she has no intention on putting it down. To date she has written 3 full length novels, 11 novellas, 36 short stories and has had her stories in 3 anthologies under her own name and a pseudo for another genre.
http://www.danalittlejohn.com
http://www.authordanalittlejohn.blogs...
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dana...
Twitter- @authordanalittlejohn
November 3, 2011
A Love By Any Measure blog tour-mini review and giveaway
Hey, everyone! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I'm so excited to be a part of Killian McRae's A Love By Any Measure blog tour. This is a wonderful book, and one that I highly recommend.
On to my review!
(Please note, this is the review I wrote for Goodreads)
Book Blurb:
My review:
As Killian is a critique partner of mine, I had the extreme pleasure of reading this novel before its publication date. Once again, I'm blown away by Killian's talent with words and her ability to weave an epic, heart-warming yet at times, angsty tale.
August is a complex character. Bound by centuries of breeding and expectation, yet completely in love with a woman he knows he can't have, his actions throughout were completely realistic and true to that of a torn man. I loved him.
Maeve is equally compelling. Beautiful, but poor, her good name is all she truly owns, which makes August's proposal so very scandalous and her answer even more so. Fabulous!
I don't want to spoil the story by saying too much about the plot. I will say this, however: August and Maeve's story held my attention throughout, so much so that I didn't want to step away from my computer. Set in Killarney, Ireland, the description is beautiful, the language equally so, and above all, the story rich. I highly recommend!
Giveaway deets:
Killian has graciously agreed to give away an ebook copy of A Love By Any Measure. Woot! Giveaway rules are as follows:
You must be a follower of this blogYou must leave a comment an email addyPretty darn easy, yes? I like to keep things simple, so get at it! Giveaway closes on Sunday November 6th at midnight. Winner will be drawn on Monday the 7th via a number generator at Random Org. Good luck!!!
On to my review!
(Please note, this is the review I wrote for Goodreads)
Book Blurb:
An Irish lass. An English lord.
A love that overcomes all boundaries.
August Grayson has secretly dreamt of the girl living on his family's Irish estate since childhoods spent together in Killarney. Now a proper Lord of the British Empire, he knows that Maeve could never be more than just a distant fantasy. Still, if only...
Maeve O'Connor owns nothing in this world but her good name, which proves just enough to win a proposal for a marriage of convenience to a good, Irish lad. Until the wedding, however, she's in dire straits. Rent on the cottage she and her father share is due, but there simply isn't the money to pay. Driven to desperation, Maeve hopes Lord Grayson, her childhood-chum-turned-dashing-English-rogue, will prove lenient when she comes seeking clemency.
The temptation presented proves too much, and August offers Maeve a compromise: should she permit him twice as long on each succeeding visit to do whatever he wishes in pursuit of his pleasure, he will consider her rent paid. Starting with a mere five seconds, pulses soon out race the ticking clock, as August's desires become Maeve's own. Passion blinds them to the challenges closing in on both the Irish and English fronts, threatening to destroy the love they've discovered.
Working to bridge that which divides them, tempting fate with each stolen kiss, and torn between desire and obligation, Maeve and August must strive to overcome all and find a love by any measure.
My review:
As Killian is a critique partner of mine, I had the extreme pleasure of reading this novel before its publication date. Once again, I'm blown away by Killian's talent with words and her ability to weave an epic, heart-warming yet at times, angsty tale.
August is a complex character. Bound by centuries of breeding and expectation, yet completely in love with a woman he knows he can't have, his actions throughout were completely realistic and true to that of a torn man. I loved him.
Maeve is equally compelling. Beautiful, but poor, her good name is all she truly owns, which makes August's proposal so very scandalous and her answer even more so. Fabulous!
I don't want to spoil the story by saying too much about the plot. I will say this, however: August and Maeve's story held my attention throughout, so much so that I didn't want to step away from my computer. Set in Killarney, Ireland, the description is beautiful, the language equally so, and above all, the story rich. I highly recommend!
Giveaway deets:
Killian has graciously agreed to give away an ebook copy of A Love By Any Measure. Woot! Giveaway rules are as follows:
You must be a follower of this blogYou must leave a comment an email addyPretty darn easy, yes? I like to keep things simple, so get at it! Giveaway closes on Sunday November 6th at midnight. Winner will be drawn on Monday the 7th via a number generator at Random Org. Good luck!!!
November 1, 2011
Open Minds book tour with author Susan Kaye Quinn
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Owning the Writerly Path - Deciding to Self-Publish Open Minds (Part Two)
by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)
In my previous post, I talked about lessons learned along my writer's journey, including publishing my first novel, Life, Liberty, and Pursuit with a small press:
Lesson #1: Story matters more than craft and readers matter most of all.
Lesson #2: Creative work is as valuable in the world as "practical" work.
Lesson #3: You can't reach readers if you don't publish.
Fear of Failure
Publishing Life, Liberty, and Pursuit took a lot of time, but eventually I got back to querying my middle grade science fiction novel Clone Runners and continued to work on my new paranormal/SF novel Open Minds . I became very familiar with the walking-on-broken-glass feeling of querying. Rejections came in, but also requests. Lots of them. More than I expected, and I even had editors (at small and large houses) that showed some interest in this middle grade science fiction story that I loved. But as I worked through the list, and the rejections on full MS requests came in, I realized that it was a real possibility that Clone Runners might not get me an agent, or even get published in a small MG press (it took a while before I also realized there were some biases in the industry about what MG SF should look like). I had the fear that maybe—in spite of all my efforts—I might fail to get an agent. I might be a failure as a writer. I began to question why I was putting all this time and energy into something that was a huge risk, and maybe I should go back to Plan A (get an actual paycheck for engineering work). I remember having a very serious conversation with my husband about this.
Me: "What if 5 years from now, I still haven't published (another novel besides Life, Liberty, and Pursuit)? What if I fail to make it through the traditional publishing gauntlet?"
Him: "Well, you could give up now and guarantee that you'll never publish again."
I hate it when he's right. (And I also love it when he tells me what I need to hear.)
Lesson #4: Rejection isn't failure; quitting is failure.
Fear of The Road Less Traveled
Realizing that I wouldn't give up gave me the motivation to keep going as if I would succeed. In a way, it changed my entire definition of "success." I decided not to run for re-election (I was on the school board of the third largest school district in my state), so that I could commit my time and energy completely to writing (and my family). I continued to work on Open Minds, and drafted a new MG fantasy The Faery Swap . I took the leap to try another MG project that's still under wraps. I started querying Open Minds and got a lot of requests. When I started getting "glowing" rejections on my full MS, I realized something very important: I wasn't willing to shelve Open Minds. And just as importantly: I wanted to write the second and third books, because it was really the start of a trilogy. All the "rules" said to never write the second book until you've sold the first, but I had already started to question those kinds of "rules" in an industry turned topsy-turvy by e-books and the rise of self-publishing. I had started this journey determined to pursue traditional publication (and for now that still seems the best path for my MG works), but in general that traditional path was snarled up with construction and had potholes the size of Montana. Self-publishing was looking more and more legitimate as many established authors were trying it out.
Did I want to be one of those writers that took the road less traveled? What if I ended up in a ditch? I took a hard look at Lesson #3 (You can't reach readers if you don't publish) and decided to self-publish Open Minds.There were other reasons that weighed into the decision, but that was the main one: I wanted to share this story with readers, and under the circumstances, self-publishing seemed the BEST way (not the only way) to do that. I could get the story out quickly; I could start work on the next book; I could write/publish the entire Mindjack Trilogy in 18 months.
I was owning my own path.
Then I realized that I was already on the weedy path. In fact, I had forged my own path my entire life, whether it was pursuing an engineering career when few women did, or running for public office because I wanted to effect change. I worked best on the weedy path. And I liked it there. The writerly lessons I had learned up to this point gave me the confidence to know the right path when I saw it. And to seize opportunities when they came along.
Lesson #5: Owning your writerly path is the way you find the success that's right for you.
My Logic Brain thinks self-publishing is a great way to get Open Minds out to readers, and my Creative Brain is jumping for joy over owning my writerly path and making it happen.
For once, they both agree.
*********************
When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.
Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) by Susan Kaye Quinn is available for $2.99 in e-book (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords) and $9.99 in print (Amazon, Createspace).
The Story of Open Minds (linked posts)
The Story of Open Minds (linked posts)
Ch 1: Where Ideas Come From: A Mind Reading World
Ch 2: A Study in Voice, or Silencing Your Inner Critic
Ch 3: I'm finished! Oh wait. Maybe not.
Ch 4: Write First, Then Outline - Wait, That's Backwards?
Ch 5: Why My Critique Partners Are Smarter Than Me
Ch 6: Facing Revisions When It Feels Like Being on the Rack
Ch 7: How to Know When to Query
Ch 8: A Writer's Journey - Deciding to Self-Publish Open Minds (Part One)
Ch 9: Owning the Writerly Path - Deciding to Self-Publish Open Minds (Part Two)
Epilogue: Finding Time to Write the Sequel
*********************
PRIZES!
Susan Kaye Quinn is giving away an Open Books/Open Minds t-shirt, mug, and some fun wristbands to celebrate the Virtual Launch Party of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)! (Check out the prizes here.)
Three ways to enter (you can have multiple entries):
1) Leave a comment here or at the Virtual Launch Party post
2) Tweet (with tag #keepingOPENMINDS)
Example: When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. #keepingOPENMINDS @susankayequinn #SF #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds
Example: Celebrate the launch of OPEN MINDS by @susankayequinn #keepingOPENMINDS #SciFi #paranormal #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds
3) Facebook (tag @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn)
Example: Celebrate the launch of paranormal/SF novel OPEN MINDS by @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn for a chance to win Open Books/Open Minds prizes! http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds
**********************************************************************************************************************
When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.
Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) by Susan Kaye Quinn is available in e-book (Amazon US (also UK, France and Germany), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords) and print (Amazon, Createspace, also autographed copies available from the author).
Owning the Writerly Path - Deciding to Self-Publish Open Minds (Part Two)
by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)
In my previous post, I talked about lessons learned along my writer's journey, including publishing my first novel, Life, Liberty, and Pursuit with a small press:
Lesson #1: Story matters more than craft and readers matter most of all.
Lesson #2: Creative work is as valuable in the world as "practical" work.
Lesson #3: You can't reach readers if you don't publish.
Fear of Failure
Publishing Life, Liberty, and Pursuit took a lot of time, but eventually I got back to querying my middle grade science fiction novel Clone Runners and continued to work on my new paranormal/SF novel Open Minds . I became very familiar with the walking-on-broken-glass feeling of querying. Rejections came in, but also requests. Lots of them. More than I expected, and I even had editors (at small and large houses) that showed some interest in this middle grade science fiction story that I loved. But as I worked through the list, and the rejections on full MS requests came in, I realized that it was a real possibility that Clone Runners might not get me an agent, or even get published in a small MG press (it took a while before I also realized there were some biases in the industry about what MG SF should look like). I had the fear that maybe—in spite of all my efforts—I might fail to get an agent. I might be a failure as a writer. I began to question why I was putting all this time and energy into something that was a huge risk, and maybe I should go back to Plan A (get an actual paycheck for engineering work). I remember having a very serious conversation with my husband about this.
Me: "What if 5 years from now, I still haven't published (another novel besides Life, Liberty, and Pursuit)? What if I fail to make it through the traditional publishing gauntlet?"
Him: "Well, you could give up now and guarantee that you'll never publish again."
I hate it when he's right. (And I also love it when he tells me what I need to hear.)
Lesson #4: Rejection isn't failure; quitting is failure.
Fear of The Road Less Traveled
Realizing that I wouldn't give up gave me the motivation to keep going as if I would succeed. In a way, it changed my entire definition of "success." I decided not to run for re-election (I was on the school board of the third largest school district in my state), so that I could commit my time and energy completely to writing (and my family). I continued to work on Open Minds, and drafted a new MG fantasy The Faery Swap . I took the leap to try another MG project that's still under wraps. I started querying Open Minds and got a lot of requests. When I started getting "glowing" rejections on my full MS, I realized something very important: I wasn't willing to shelve Open Minds. And just as importantly: I wanted to write the second and third books, because it was really the start of a trilogy. All the "rules" said to never write the second book until you've sold the first, but I had already started to question those kinds of "rules" in an industry turned topsy-turvy by e-books and the rise of self-publishing. I had started this journey determined to pursue traditional publication (and for now that still seems the best path for my MG works), but in general that traditional path was snarled up with construction and had potholes the size of Montana. Self-publishing was looking more and more legitimate as many established authors were trying it out.
Did I want to be one of those writers that took the road less traveled? What if I ended up in a ditch? I took a hard look at Lesson #3 (You can't reach readers if you don't publish) and decided to self-publish Open Minds.There were other reasons that weighed into the decision, but that was the main one: I wanted to share this story with readers, and under the circumstances, self-publishing seemed the BEST way (not the only way) to do that. I could get the story out quickly; I could start work on the next book; I could write/publish the entire Mindjack Trilogy in 18 months.
I was owning my own path.
Then I realized that I was already on the weedy path. In fact, I had forged my own path my entire life, whether it was pursuing an engineering career when few women did, or running for public office because I wanted to effect change. I worked best on the weedy path. And I liked it there. The writerly lessons I had learned up to this point gave me the confidence to know the right path when I saw it. And to seize opportunities when they came along.
Lesson #5: Owning your writerly path is the way you find the success that's right for you.
My Logic Brain thinks self-publishing is a great way to get Open Minds out to readers, and my Creative Brain is jumping for joy over owning my writerly path and making it happen.
For once, they both agree.
*********************
When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.
Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) by Susan Kaye Quinn is available for $2.99 in e-book (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords) and $9.99 in print (Amazon, Createspace).
The Story of Open Minds (linked posts)
The Story of Open Minds (linked posts)
Ch 1: Where Ideas Come From: A Mind Reading World
Ch 2: A Study in Voice, or Silencing Your Inner Critic
Ch 3: I'm finished! Oh wait. Maybe not.
Ch 4: Write First, Then Outline - Wait, That's Backwards?
Ch 5: Why My Critique Partners Are Smarter Than Me
Ch 6: Facing Revisions When It Feels Like Being on the Rack
Ch 7: How to Know When to Query
Ch 8: A Writer's Journey - Deciding to Self-Publish Open Minds (Part One)
Ch 9: Owning the Writerly Path - Deciding to Self-Publish Open Minds (Part Two)
Epilogue: Finding Time to Write the Sequel
*********************
PRIZES!
Susan Kaye Quinn is giving away an Open Books/Open Minds t-shirt, mug, and some fun wristbands to celebrate the Virtual Launch Party of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)! (Check out the prizes here.)
Three ways to enter (you can have multiple entries):
1) Leave a comment here or at the Virtual Launch Party post
2) Tweet (with tag #keepingOPENMINDS)
Example: When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. #keepingOPENMINDS @susankayequinn #SF #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds
Example: Celebrate the launch of OPEN MINDS by @susankayequinn #keepingOPENMINDS #SciFi #paranormal #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds
3) Facebook (tag @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn)
Example: Celebrate the launch of paranormal/SF novel OPEN MINDS by @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn for a chance to win Open Books/Open Minds prizes! http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds
**********************************************************************************************************************
When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) by Susan Kaye Quinn is available in e-book (Amazon US (also UK, France and Germany), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords) and print (Amazon, Createspace, also autographed copies available from the author).
Reading by the (Kindle) Fire Holiday giveaway!!
Looking for a great gift for someone, or perhaps something for yourself this holiday season? Then you've come to the right place!
Author Killian McRae is hosting a red hot giveaway for a new Kindle Fire loaded with 20 ebooks books from some of today's hottest new authors, in the romance, paranormal, mystery, sci-fi and YA genres! Yeah, baby!
I'm so excited! My erotic suspense, Obsessed is one of the books that will be included in the loaded Kindle. Woot!
The deets:
Click the nifty little button below to be taken to the official entry form.Make sure to read through all the rules before you enter in your pertinent info :)It's not a requirement that you follow my blog, but I think it would be really sweet if you did!
[image error] Click on the button to be taken to the official entry form!!!
While you are there, make sure to check out the list of participating authors!
Good luck!!!!!
Author Killian McRae is hosting a red hot giveaway for a new Kindle Fire loaded with 20 ebooks books from some of today's hottest new authors, in the romance, paranormal, mystery, sci-fi and YA genres! Yeah, baby!
I'm so excited! My erotic suspense, Obsessed is one of the books that will be included in the loaded Kindle. Woot!
The deets:
Click the nifty little button below to be taken to the official entry form.Make sure to read through all the rules before you enter in your pertinent info :)It's not a requirement that you follow my blog, but I think it would be really sweet if you did!
[image error] Click on the button to be taken to the official entry form!!!
While you are there, make sure to check out the list of participating authors!
Good luck!!!!!
October 27, 2011
Romance Girls Gone Goblin Halloween Hop!
Muahahahahaha!
Happy Halloween, and welcome to the Romance Girls Gone Goblin Halloween Hop!
I was lucky enough to snag some time with one of my favorite couples, Quinn and Ryann (the hero/heroine from Eve Of Samhain) as I helped them set up their home for the huge Halloween party they're throwing. Ryann was sweet, and gracious despite the bevy of last minute details she was rushing to complete, and happily made small talk with me.
Quinn, as you can imagine, was another story altogether. I'll let our afternoon together speak for itself, lol!
"So, you two are celebrating your one year anniversary with a Halloween party, huh? How fun! Who's on the guest list?" Fake spider webbing is a real pain in the you-know-what, and I frown as I fumble with the gauzy threads, finally managing to attach the ends to the lower corner of Quinns flat screen television. I'm pretty sure he'll be less than pleased with the placement of my spooky decorations, but I don't care. The cheeky bastard is fun to mess with.
Ryann, who is perched precariously on an aluminum step ladder hanging orange and black streamers across the ceiling of Quinns family room, glances over toward me with a smile. "Oh, just a bunch of––"
Quinn rounds the corner from the kitchen and cuts Ryann off. "I'll tell you who's coming, lass. A bunch of freeloading shites looking to score some free booze." Chuckling to himself, he sets the large crystal punch bowl he'd been cradling in his arms on top of the wet bar at the back of the room, then shoots a questioning glance toward Ryann, large finger pointed toward the empty glass vessel. "Is this where you want this?"
Ryann shakes her head, unable to hide the smile that appeared the moment Quinn entered the room. She raises a sculpted brow, places a hand on her hip and pegs Quinn with a pointed stare. "Yep. But you forgot the Green Grog."
Quinn makes a face and mouths the word "green grog" before pretending to gag. He then takes stalk of the sea of orange and black crepe paper coating every square inch of his family room. With a groan, he casts me a sidelong glance laced with a whole lot of "Oh fuck, please help me" and trudges back toward the kitchen. His deep Irish accent barrels through the room as he calls out over his shoulder "That fake spider web shite better be gone when I come back, lass. 'Tis pure sacrilege to deface a high def television in such a manner."
I laugh out loud, pleased as punch I was able to needle Quinn with my shoddy decorating attempt. I turn to face Ryann who is hurriedly arranging Solo cups alongside the punch bowl. "So this is a costume party, yes? What are you going as?"
Ryann's blue eyes brighten and she lets out a small squeal. "A sexy Red Devil. Oh, my God, girl. You should see the costume. It's soooo cute. It's––"
"A tiny scrap of fabric no bigger than a Bandaid," Quinn grumbles as he breezes into the room again, arms laden with jugs of Green Grog. "Unless you're okay with me gouging the eyes of every male guest who attends, I suggest ye wear something with a bit more coverage." He rounds the bar after setting the jugs down and gently brushes a stray piece of brown hair from Ryann's face. Eyes filled with love, he grasps her by the waist and presses a kiss to her nose. "Ye'd make a sexy wee Eskimo, in my opinion."
Ryann swats his chest playfully and wiggles free from his arms. "Eskimo my ass. Please!"
Sensing a bit of tension over the matter, I quickly interject "And what are you dressing up as, Quinn?"
He eyes me with a wide, toothy grin, then pulls a set of pliers from his back pocket and wiggles them through the air. "The Tooth Faerie."
I chuckle and roll my eyes, thinking it made no difference whether man, or faerie: once a smartass, always a smartass.
***
In celebration of Halloween I'm giving away a mini "Date Night" package. This package includes the following:
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A copy of Young FrankensteinA box of WhoppersA box of Sour Skittles (These are Ryann's favorites)A copy of Eve Of SamhainSome Hanaford Park swag * Winner will receive two packages. One containing the movie, candy and swag, and the other containing the book which I will be ordering from Amazon.
Giveaway deets:
You must be a follower of this blogYou must leave a comment with your name and email addy so I can get a hold of you if you winUS residents only, please.
Winner will be drawn on November 1st via Random Org. Winner has three days to respond, after which a new name will be drawn.
Make sure to stop by the rest of the participating blogs for more Halloween fun, and chances to win more prizes! Woohoo!
Good luck and Happy Halloween!!
One Knight In Brooklyn Tour with Casea Major
Hey, everyone! Please join me in welcoming Casea Major to my blog today as she talks about her latest release, One Night In Brooklyn.
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ONE KNIGHT IN BROOKLYN
Thanks so much for hosting me on your website today, Lisa. It is an honor and a privilege. I loved your post from Sunday and amexcited to hear your first story is .99 I plan on getting it!
My story One Knight in Brooklyn is the 42ndstory in the ever popular multi-author 1Night Stand series from DecadentPublishing. The 1-Night Standseries is based around Madame Eve's high-end match making service, 1-NightStand. With Madame Eve anything is possible. Especially when the date begins inone of the Castillo Hotels and Resorts located around the world. This serieshas something for everyone and I am proud to be counted with the talentedauthors in this group.
One Knight in Brooklyn stemmed from the idea of a1-night stand with Robin Hood. It is a short erotic comedy romance with timetravel and fantasy elements but with contemporary characters.
Most fairytales seem to be setduring the Middle Ages. That'swhere you find the lion's share of handsome princes or knights in shiningarmor, right? That's whatMarianne, my heroine thinks, too.
But I wondered what would amodern day knight look like and where might we find one? Could we even find one? You'll have to read the story for mytake on the modern day KISA (Knight in shining armor)
My inspiration was to take anidealistic young woman and put her in a situation that, by all appearanceslooked like her fairytale fantasy come true. Then I wanted to completely shatter her unrealistic ideas witha heavy dose of reality and see what would happen. What ensues is a fun, zany adventure in Sherwood Forest thatforces her to reevaluate her expectations. It leads her to the conclusion that heroes come in allshapes and sizes and actions speak louder than words.
Blurb One Knight in Brooklyn After signing up for a one-nightstand through an exclusive matching agency, hopeless romantic Marianne Caldwellis swept away to a medieval land where she hopes to spend the night with aworthy man of honor.
Unsure of how she got from theCastillo Hotel in Las Vegas to a castle in the English countryside, Mare findsRobert, whose stunning physique and winning smile immediately convince her he'sthe Robin Hood she's been seeking. But despite his efforts in saving herfrom a corrupt sheriff, his Jersey Shore accent and coarse ways unravelher romantic visions.
With her fairytale fantasiescoming unhinged, Mare must decide if Robert is just a crass car salesman fromBrooklyn or the chivalrous knight she's looking for.
The following excerpt is rated R. Please keep in mindthat the book does contain adult themes and language, and is not suitable forminors. Thank you.
One Knight in Brooklyn Excerpt:
"Well, Dallas, what did a pretty gal like youexpect from this deal?"There was no way in hell she would answer thatquestion. So she employed her stellar skills of diversion and subterfuge. "Whatdid a guy like you expect from this deal?" Okay, maybe not the cleverest lineshe'd ever come up with, but this guy with his mesmerizing eyes messed up her mojo.He leaned back with his elbow on the mattress andflashed a brilliant smile. She swallowed hard. "To get to know a lovely youngwoman such as yourself and have a little adventure. You think you can handlethat?"Could he be any more cocky? His thinly veiledinnuendo struck her with the delicacy of a baseball bat. No question he washot. From a purely physical standpoint, he was perfection, but did anythingrattle around behind those blue eyes?She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted herchin. "What I want to know is, can youhandle that?"Oops, she hadn't meant for that to sound like achallenge or an invitation, but even to her own ears, it did. He stood, hislong legs closing the distance between them in two strides. She braced her legsto hold her ground, but retreated toward a wall. So much for holding my ground. Pressing her head back against abranch, she looked up into his even stare. God, his eyes were Ceylon blue, hislips full and lush. He stopped in front of her, but continued to lower his headtoward hers. Other than the rustling wind, only her ragged breathing soundedamongst the leaves.Robert braced his hands on either side of hershoulders, effectively trapping her between him and the tree. Every cell in herbody buzzed with electrical current, and her gaze helplessly transfixed on him.The lids of his eyes lowered, and his straight nose brushed against hers."Can I kiss you?" His whispered request tickled herskin.Chills swept over her heated body. Her knees gaveway, and she sighed out some inaudible response he apparently took asaffirmative. He brushed her lips with a kiss.With agonizing leisure, his mouth eased over hers,first feathering her closed lips then caressing each one between his. Hisvelvety flesh wisped like flower petals against hers, and the aroma of freshmint scented his breath. The languid motion of his kiss ignited a desire thatthrobbed all the way down between her legs. The longer he lingered, the hottershe burned. He never sped his pace or reached for her in any other way. It wasonly a kiss, yet so much more.His warm tongue slipped between her lips and slowlyexplored her mouth, sliding across her teeth and stroking her tongue. A softmoan escaped her and excruciating tension built in her core with each lazythrust. She wrapped her arms around his waist and trailedher fingers down his hips as she molded to his body. He gasped and ended thekiss. The staggering length of his arousal pressed into her abs and the burn inher sex flared into a raging inferno. He rested his forehead against the tree, and shelaid her hands on his chest with his body lightly molded to hers. The heatradiating between them smoldered hotter than the Vegas asphalt at high noon.His breaths were steady, but his heart pounded against her open palms.His voice, deep and husky, sounded near her ear."Maybe. Maybe not, Dallas."She opened her eyes. "Huh?"He kept his eyes closed and rubbed his cheekagainst hers. "I was just answering your earlier question."She couldn't remember the question. She'd be luckyto remember her own name.
--- What was that questionagain? Put the answer and youremail in the comments below for a chance to win a copy of One Knight inBrooklyn. Winner will be chosen at random. Contest closes at 7pm Central Time
BUYLINKS
You can find me at my blog: http://caseamajor.wordpress.com/or any of the following places.
FACEBOOK / GOODREADS / THE ROMANCE REVIEWS / MANIC READERS/ AMAZONPROFILE
About the author:
Prior to becoming a writer of romantic fiction, Casea Major worked in the legal field for a non-profit dispute resolution company for ten years. She is now a full-time mom to three preschool children with whom she and her husband live happily...most of the time. When she isn't chained to her laptop, she enjoys Cary Grant movies and crocheting.
Make sure to leave a comment and your email for a chance to win a copy of One Night In Brooklyn!
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