Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 57

Top 10: “Dancing Naked in Dixie” Southern Drinks (Guest Blog from Lauren Clark)

Dancing Naked in Dixie TOP TEN:  Southern Drinks

There’s so much to love about the Deep South, fabulous food and drink among them. So, if after reading Dancing Naked in Dixie, you’re wondering what Shug Jordan and friends like to mix up on a sultry summer afternoon, take a look at this list of favorite Southern drinks. Most include alcohol, but many can be made without liquor!!

1. Mint Julep – Often served in pewter cups to allow frost to form, these drinks include mint leaves, bourbon, sugar, and water. Our neighbors served these this year during their annual Kentucky Derby Party!!

2. Southern Comfort Slush – Great on a hot afternoon! Mix 6 ounces of CranApple Drink, 1 cup of Southern Comfort, 3/4 cup water, and one 6 ounce can of frozen daiquiri mix. Combine all of the ingredients, pour into freezer safe containers, and take out ten minutes before serving the drinks.

3. Hurricane – Perfect for parties. Add Passion Fruit Cocktail mix, lemon juice, dark rum to crushed ice. Decorate with orange slices and cherries.

4. Bourbon & Coke – Bourbon. Coke. Ice.

5. Alabama Slammer – Simple and delicious. 1 1/3 ounces of Absolut Vodka in a glass. Fill with cranberry juice.

6. Old Fashioned – Mix 1/2 lump sugar, 2 dashes bitters, and 1 teaspoon water. Swirl to dissolve the sugar. Add ice cubes and 1 jigger of Whiskey. Decorate with slice of orange or lemon and stir.

7. Gin Fizz – This takes some work, but is tasty and fun to drink! Combine 1 tbsp. powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. lime juice, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, 2 drops orange flower water, and 1 egg white. Add: 1 whiskey glass sweet gin, 2 whiskey glasses of cream, and 2 whiskey glasses seltzer water, plus 1/2 a glass of crushed ice. Shake, strain, and drink.

8. Swamp Water – Stir up 1 can of concentrated orange juice, 1 can of water, and 1 quart of white grape juice. Add 5 drops of green food coloring. When you get ready to serve drinks, put everything in a large punch bowl, then add 1 large bottle of lemon-lime soda. For fun, add washed, assorted plastic spiders and plastic bugs in ice cubes.

9. Sangria – A traditional favorite that almost everyone will love. You’ll need 1 bottle of white wine or blush chablis, 1 two-liter bottle of club soda, 2 cups sugar, 3 oranges, thinly sliced, and 3 lemons, thinly sliced. Wash and slice the oranges and lemons. Discard seeds. Combine all ingredients (including lemon and orange juices) in a large container. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Serve over ice.

10. Mississippi Mud – 1 1/2 oz. Southern Comfort or Bourbon, 1 1/2 oz. coffee liqueur (Kalva or Tia Maria), 2 lg. scoops vanilla ice cream, and shaved chocolate for garnish. Place ice cream, Southern Comfort and liqueur in blender. Blend just until thick. Spoon into cocktail or parfait glasses and garnish with shaved chocolate.Thanks so very much for having me on your site! I LOVE hearing from readers and welcome questions and comments about Dancing Naked in Dixie, writing, and publishing.    xx, Lauren

About Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark is the author of Stay Tuned and Dancing Naked in Dixie. She writes contemporary novels set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets.

A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com.

Dancing Naked in Dixie for Kindle | Dancing Naked in Paperback

Dancing Naked for Nook | Dancing Naked for iTunes, iPad, iPhone

Find more about Lauren here:

GoodReads Lauren Clark | Twitter Lauren Clark | Facebook Lauren Clark

Dancing Naked in Dixie

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired. With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she’s offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage. Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia’s story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?

Buy Links:  Kindle |  Paperback | Nook | Apple

L.J. Garland and Debbie Gould on “Sins of the Mind”

Welcome, readers! You all are in for a treat today. Debbie Gould and L.J. Garland have so much energy I’m seriously trying to think of a way to pilfer a little of it before they head for the back exit. (Why the back exit? The papparazzi are out front, a’course.)

Sarah: Welcome, and congratulations on the publication of SINS OF THE MIND.

DEBBIE GOULD: Thanks for inviting us, I’m excited.

LJ GARLAND: Yes, thanks so much for having us today!

Sarah: ‘Tis a pleasure! Before we dig into the book, can you tell readers about your working relationship? How do you co-write?

DEBBIE GOULD: We probably work differently than other writing teams. It’s hard to explain how we do it, but it works for us.

LJ GARLAND: Yeah, I would have to say that we’re talking about everything as we go along. We don’t divide anything up really. We do it all together. And for stuff like research, we take turns…well, more like whoever gets to it first.

DEBBIE GOULD: LOL, whatever it is, it works well for us. The chapters end up being a blend of our voices. When my mother read Sins of the Mind, she said there were definite spots she could pick out my voice, and spots she could tell were Laura’s but the majority was a blend of both.

LJ GARLAND: Love it! )

Sarah: Okay, I’m uber impressed. I can’t even write by myself without arguing with the voices in my head. While I pout, can you tell us about Sins of the Mind?

LJ GARLAND: This is our first co-authored release…and it’s also the first book from the Red River series. It’s a romantic suspense from Decadent Publishing. Basically, it’s a story of Love, Obsession, and Murder.

DEBBIE GOULD: And secrets.

LJ GARLAND: Oh yes!! Lots of secrets…deep and dark. It seem that almost every character has one. LOL

DEBBIE GOULD: Don’t we all? Mwahahahaha.

Sarah: *Looks around, whistling.* Did you ever disagree about significant plot points? If so, how did you come to a meeting of the minds?

DEBBIE GOULD: No, I don’t think so, and even the small stuff, I wouldn’t call it disagreeing. If one of us saw the story going one way or a character doing something different, we would talk back and forth to make sure we were eventually both seeing the same thing and agreeing on it.

LJ GARLAND: Yep. We talk all the time while we’re writing a story. Back and forth, IMing and emailing. As far as significant plot points, we’d planned those all out ahead of time, so we were already on the same page. And even then we saw the story unfolding the same way.

Sarah: I can totally see you selling books just so people can see you two in action. *grin* Let’s have some fun with Sins of the Mind. What’s the first sentence?

Detective Ethan Parker stepped from his Chevy Tahoe, ice-cold air biting every inch of unprotected skin.

Sarah: That one gave me a chill. ;c) What’s your favorite line in the book?

LJ GARLAND: Wow, that’s a tough question. Deb?

DEBBIE GOULD: That is really hard to answer. I think we have a lot of great lines in there. Most of my favorite, though, are the ones between Ethan and Abby.

LJ GARLAND: Yeah, I guess I’d have to go with the scene where Ethan is grilling Elliot at the station…

The lawyer’s eyes widened, intrigue dancing in their depths. “Are and you. Like a question. Are you the killer? Or are you guilty?”

Sarah: LOL! That’s a great line (and an equally great discussion getting there). I love what I’m seeing of this story, so gimme some more. How about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that’s it. Three!

Trailing his hand up her arm, he twisted his fingers through her hair. Lust arrowed through him, hot and intense. More than anything, he wanted to lay her down on the rug in front of the fire and make love to her.

Sarah: Oh, dear. That’s amazing. Which scene of Sins of the Mind was most difficult for you to write? Why? (And clearly that last one wasn’t it!)

DEBBIE GOULD: I’d have to say the climax at the end. I wanted to make sure it read fast and would have the reader flipping pages to find out what happens.

LJ GARLAND: Yeah…while the opening is tough because you have to hook the reader, the end of the story has to satisfy as well. Debbie and I both like to have the reader gripping the book…or ebook reader…as they read the end. lol

Sarah: So which of you do I approach after I crack my Kindle? *cough* Okay, the real question is this: Which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

DEBBIE GOULD: HAHAHA! I wouldn’t turn down a date with Ethan.

LJ GARLAND: I think it’d be cool to drive Ethan’s police cruiser through town. lol

Sarah: Ethan, things might get interesting for you, buddy. Just a heads up. ;c) What inspired the title Sins of the Mind?

LJ GARLAND: I think you already had the title, didn’t you, Debbie?

DEBBIE GOULD: Yup. We had been brainstorming a plot in one of the books I was writing (still unfinished, lol) and I showed her the first chapter of another story—Sins of the Mind—that had been screaming in my brain at me. She liked it, and I asked her if she wanted to co-write it.

LJ GARLAND: That’s right! And I was excited because the story was really interesting. Romance and murder, what’s not to like? So, we spent several days brainstorming ideas and things got pretty intense and…what’s the word I’m looking for?

DEBBIE GOULD: Twisted.

LJ GARLAND: That’s it! Twisted is exactly how this story went. Lol

DEBBIE GOULD: From there, came the town of Red River.

LJ GARLAND: Yes. We both loved the town and the characters that survived the first book. And voilà, Sins of the Mind and the Red River series!

DEBBIE GOULD: It was a big joint effort.

LJ GARLAND: Yep. Debbie and I work great together. We get to talking and the ideas just flow. It amazes me how “on-track” we are with each other. We’re both very open…listen to each other’s thoughts and ideas…whining, complaining… *cough*, um, laughing and giggling.

DEBBIE: Definitely. We have great brainstorming sessions on all our stories, and it’s amazing the things we come up with. I also think we share a brain, lol.

LAURA: Yeah! A lot of times, I’m IMing something to Deb, and by the time I hit SEND, BAM – she’s IMd me the same thing! LOL

Sarah: You are totally making me smile. It’s almost like young love, although it’s authors who are . . . twisted. In a like-minded sort of way. (I’m guessing there are now offers to act as your publicist in my future, LOL.) Now, before we exit this love-in (*giggle*), can you tell us what you’re currently working on?

DEBBIE GOULD: We’re actually working on three stories right now.

LJ GARLAND: Oh gosh, yes…we are! We keep tossing these chapters back and forth and sometimes I forget which character goes with which story. LOL

DEBBIE GOULD: I try to keep her straight, but it’s difficult at times. Especially if Laura hasn’t had her coffee.

LJ GARLAND: (glances down at coffee cup) Oh wait. I need a refill. Back in a sec.

DEBBIE GOULD: (sigh) We are working on the next book in the Red River Series, yup more murder, mayhem, and romance, lol.

LJ GARLAND: Back. Now, Red River series? Yep, we’ll be torturing the next characters even more than the first. Though, I think Sins of the Mind had several unexpected twists…and the characters got banged up pretty good.

DEBBIE GOULD: Think we should tease?

LJ GARLAND: Why not? LOL

Sarah: I think it’s too late to ask, LOL.

DEBBIE GOULD: Okay. So, the next story in the Red River series is Will Donovan’s story. Here’s a little bit of our latest WIP….

FBI Agent Will Donovan jogged down the platform toward the train. Each step jolted the flashlight in his hand, sending the beam of light dashing over the concrete in front of him. Would he be too late?

Rows of light illuminated the abandoned trains, left in an old offshoot line of Boston’s Boylston Street Station. He rushed past a wall decorated with graffiti and cobwebs, his footsteps ringing hollow in the old concrete-lined tunnel. Behind him his partner, Kate Yarbrough followed.

“Will,” she called, her voice a harsh whisper filled with warning.

He slowed up. Kate was right. Rushing in could get them both killed. Just because the psycho bastard hadn’t set traps before didn’t mean there weren’t any this time. With both hands, he swept his flashlight beam and Glock 23 across the area, searching out the monster who’d murdered so many women. But only dirt, gravel, and rusted tracks were revealed.

He twisted back to his partner, who tilted her head toward the train car. Get on the train, Will. Find the girl. He nodded.

Sarah: I so love that. You guys have a new fan — I’m hooked!

DEBBIE GOULD: We’re just contracted a suspense short story for Decadent’s 1Night Stand series.

LJ GARLAND: Oh, yeah…In My Sights, with those hottie pararescue guys.

DEBBIE GOULD: Oh, my they are sooo hot and a great bunch of guys.

LJ GARLAND: In My Sights is a romantic suspense. And we’re hoping to build a string of stories about these amazing guys.

DEBBIE GOULD: Did I mention they are hot!

LJ GARLAND: LOL Yes, Debbie. The guys are hot. But they’re more than that, too. Right? They have their own set of issues/baggage. The third story we’re working on is a short paranormal romantic suspense.

DEBBIE GOULD: Oh, yeah. The tat story.

LJ GARLAND: Another twisty tale…or it should be by the time we’re finished.

DEBBIE GOULD: No doubt, lol. If one of our minds doesn’t think of it, the other does.

LJ GARLAND: So, hopefully, we’ll have more releases soon. Some shorts and a longer story or two.

Sarah: Sounds AMAZING, you two! I’m looking forward to hearing more. ;c) In the mean time, let’s take a closer look at Sins of the Mind.

Sins of the Mind

Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal attack. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered.

The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.

Find it @ Decadent | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Author Linkage

Website

L.J. Garland – www.lj-garland.com

Debbie Gould – http://www.authordebbiegould.com/

Blog

Garland & Gould blog – http://www.garland-and-gould.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page

L.J. Garland – http://www.amazon.com/L.J.-Garland/e/B007R4U57K/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Twitter

L.J. Garland – @LJ_Garland1

Debbie Gould – @DebbieGould

Email

L.J. Garland – mail@lj-garland.com

Debbie Gould – mountecho2006@yahoo.com

LJ GARLAND: Thank you so much for having us here today!

DEBBIE GOULD: Yes, thanks! We had a wonderful time!

Sarah: Thank you! You guys have totally inspired me, and that’s hard to do with my kids running pell mell around my house. (I don’t know what that means, exactly, but my grandma said it when my cousins and I were getting on her nerves, so I’m assuming it’s appropriate. Ha.) Thanks for being here, and happy, happy writing. You guys rock!

Readers, as always it’s a thrill to have you hang out. Thank you for your time!

Summer Giveaway Blog Hop August 1st – 7th ($20 GC)

Click image for more hot summer giveaways!

Welcome to the Summer Giveaway Hop, which is co-hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Mary from BookHounds & Forever Young (adult). Please be sure to visit our sponsors!

My prize this time is a $20 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner’s choice. The winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted via email, so when you comment be sure to leave your email address. And to enter, all you have to do is comment. I’d also greatly appreciate it if you’d follow my blog (doing so by email will automatically enter you in my weekly gift card giveaways) but this is not required to win.

So, that’s it! Comment with your email address for a chance to win a $20 gift card, to be delivered electronically, from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Thanks so much for visiting, and good luck!

To see more Summer giveaways, click here.

07.29.12 #SixSunday with Last Call

Coming this summer!

I don’t have a computer at the moment. Please bear with me while I catch up with all of your blogs!

Last week our heroine, Rhys, was shot at point blank range. Today we meet Nick. Newly back in town, he’s sitting in his old haunt doing something he rarely did before: drinking. The bartender just asked if Nick had Rhys on his mind. Following is his response.

“The one and only.” Rhys Clark. Just the woman Nick was there to forget. Bart had the memory of an elephant, but if Nick had kept his mouth shut about the shooting eight months ago, Bart wouldn’t have anything to remember. The whole incident had been swept under the proverbial rug—the media had been none the wiser, and evidentiary points of collateral damage numbered two: Rhys’s career, and the patch of cemetery grass blanketing an innocent witness.

Nick had wasted a whole lot of time failing to get over either one.

*warning: this WIP has not yet met the brutal hand of my editor.*

Enjoy your Sunday six sentences at a time!  To see other participating authors, click here.

Weekly Giveaways, Winners, & Noble Romance

As many of you know, I host a weekly giveaway offering a gift certificate to a randomly drawn **email** subscriber of my blog. Previous winners have had the choice of a $5 GC to Amazon or Barnes & Noble OR a $10 GC to Noble Romance. Effective immediately, winners may choose from a $10 GC to Amazon or a $10 GC to Barnes & Noble. I am not offering gift certificates to Noble Romance at this time. I have updated the prizes at Weekly Giveaways, but this is the only change — all other details remain the same.

Now, on to the winners! I didn’t post last week so we have two to announce. Congratulations to thepryfamily (7/20 winner) and orianofla (7/27)! Please check your email for my note, and thanks so much for being subscribers.

Finally, I’d like to address, albeit briefly, the rumors about Noble Romance. Fact is, authors (and at least some employees) have been given little else to go on. Senior editor Jill Noble resigned. Royalties due earlier this month have not been paid. The statement promised from CEO Jim Noble was not delivered, nor were details promised regarding the “new management.” I know of no other facts regarding the situation, but wanted to provide this much as a courtesy to my readers. If you’d like to read other takes on this, start here with Aleksandr Voinov’s blog and follow the links at the bottom of his post.

Lazy Days of Summer Blog Hop July 27th – August 1 ($10 GC)

Click image for more Lazy Days of Summer giveaways!

Other than the fact I’m severely traumatized this blog hop carries us into AUGUST (ahem-where-did-this-year-go-cough), I am pleased to welcome you to the Lazy Days of Summer Blog Hop right here in my neck of the woods. Please be sure to visit our sponsors I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Colorimetry.

My prize this time is a $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner’s choice. The winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted via email, so when you comment be sure to leave your email address. And to enter, all you have to do is comment. I’d also greatly appreciate it if you’d follow my blog (doing so by email will automatically enter you in my weekly gift card giveaways) but this is not required to win.

So, that’s it! Comment with your email address for a chance to win a $10 gift card, to be delivered electronically, from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Thanks so much for visiting, and good luck!

To see more Lazy Days of Summer giveaways, click here.

Best Selling Author Nana Malone is “Sexy in Stilettos”

Today please welcome Nana Malone! She’s a best selling author with another hot one on her hands (or is it her feet?) with Sexy in Stilettos. Let’s chat, shall we? (And maybe by the time we get to the end I’ll be able to spell “stilettos” without looking at the cover, lol.)

Congratulations on the release of Sexy in Stilettos. (I love the cover!) Can you introduce readers to the story?

Thank you.  My cover artist Kim Killion did a fantastic job.

Hyper-organized, event planner, Jaya Trudeaux is used to doing things by the book and never making waves. It’s a strategy that’s served her well until she finds herself in failure alley with no fiancé, no job and her thirtieth birthday looming.

The only thing that can tie carefree, playboy, Alec Danthers down is his formidable step mother. When she calls him home to help find his wayward brother, he never imagines an uptight, list making, sass-talking woman would make him think about putting down roots.

Definitely intriguing! The book is part of the Stilettos Series. How do the books tie together?

With friendship and shoes.  Lol.  The books follow three best friends as they navigate through the treacherous waters of love and life…while wearing fabulous shoes.

I LOVE this! The plot is pretty incredible, and it sounds like it’s good for a laugh. How did your character find the humor in the circumstances befalling her, or did she?

Ha, Jaya’s sense of humor can be hard to find at times.  She’s a little uptight and mildly OCD.  But she’s got a soft center and at the root of it just wants to be loved.  But she’s got great friends and isn’t afraid to laugh at herself.

I think that’s one quality we all need. (I could use that, rather than my urge to sneak into the linen closet and hope no one will look there, lol.) What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of Sexy in Stilettos?

The ending.  I had a couple ideas for where I wanted to take the series, but had a hard time deciding.  I knew I was going to get my happy ending, but how Jaya and Alec got there was a surprise to me.

Nice tease – I totally want to know what happens! Okay, let’s have some fun with the book. What’s the first sentence?

He’s going to kill me.

*Pants* What’s your favorite line in the book?

Just one?  Oh man! Fair enough: “Alec + Alec + Alec equaled So. Totally. Screwed.”

LMAO! How about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that’s it. Three!

“Lifting the sheet covering her to the neck, she peeked down.  Yeppers, definitely naked.  Not at all a dream. As the events of the previous night started to unpeel themselves like an onion, she flushed again.”

Oh, my gosh. Someone clearly had a *fantastic* night! Which scene of Sexy in Stilettos was most difficult for you to write? Why?

Oh gosh, Jaya and Alec gave me fits.  They really did.  The hardest scene was probably the first one where she gets fired.  It killed me to write it.

I love it when characters give their author a hard time (especially when they’re not my characters, LOL). I think it really speaks to the strength of your writing. Which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

Hahahahah.  Well, the scene where Jaya seduces Alec the first time.  I’ve never been that ballsy.  I’d love to be Jaya for that scene.

Ah, you tease! LOL. What inspired Sexy in Stilettos?

Well, I’m a project manager in my day job and a little anal myself and my husband is spontaneous.  I pretty much imagined the two most extreme instances of our personalities.

Playing opposites on personality traits can be SUCH fun! Before we take another look at Sexy in Stilettos, can you tell us what you’re currently working on?

I’m working on the next in the in Stilettos series, Sultry in Stilettos.  I’ll also be releasing Game, Set, Match with some changes in the fall.  And Then I’ll be working on the next in the Protectors Series, Forsaken Protector.

Sexy in Stilettos

What’s worse than having to watch your sister marry your ex fiancé? How about when that fiancé fires you from the family business?

Hyper-organized, event planner, Jaya Trudeaux is used to doing things by the book and never making waves. It’s a strategy that’s served her well until she finds herself in failure alley with no fiancé, no job and her thirtieth birthday looming. Maybe it’s time to change her methods. Starting with an unlikely date to the wedding from hell.

The only thing that can tie carefree, playboy, Alec Danthers down is his formidable step mother. When she calls him home to help find his wayward brother, he never imagines an uptight, list making, sass-talking woman would make him think about putting down roots.

Can Jaya put the lists down long enough to enjoy the ride that is Alec? Will Alec stop running long enough to recognize true love?

Find it @ Amazon

Nana Malone

Nana’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is. Though, until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find her acting out scenes for hubby, baby and puppy while catching up on her favorite reality television shows in sunny San Diego.

Learn more @ Website | Blog | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads

Thank you, Nana, for stopping by to tell us about your book! Readers, I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit here today, and I’m happy to report I have indeed learned to spell the book’s title. *grin* Show us some comment love, guys! Thanks, and have a wonderful day.

“Into the Web” with Shonell Bacon

Today Shonell Bacon is here with Into the Web, a genre-busting crime novel about the lure of social networking and murder. You all know how much I love suspense, so I’m on the edge of my seat for this one. Join me? (Well, I’d suggest the edge of *your* seat. Mine could get crowded, LOL.)

Welcome, Shonell, and congratulations on your release! Can you tell our readers about Into the Web?

Hi there, and thanks for having me! Yes, I can tell you all a little about Into the Web. ITW follows twins and mystery novelists Jovan and Cheyenne Parham as they join an investigation into the kidnappings and murders of young girls who are lured off a popular social networking site to their demise. Needless to say, the investigation keeps the girls from getting their writing done. The investigation also taxes the twins’ relationships in ways they didn’t imagine.

I love the plot—in particular the suspense elements. (You all know those are my fave! *grin*) Your book is second in a series. Tell us about the series and how each title is related.

YES, Into the Web is book two in the Double Inkwell mystery series that kicked off with Death at the Double Inkwell. Both are standalone books, so readers won’t be confused with what’s going on in ITW. When we meet the twins in DDIW, Jovan and Cheyenne find themselves working to prove they are not killers after a devastating death mirrors one that occurs in one of their novels. In the midst of trying to prove themselves innocent, both women fall into the arms of men neither would have given a second glance to before. ITW takes place about two years after DDIW ends.

WOW! I’d freak out if something happened in real life as it does in my books. What a great element! Now that I’m all giddy, LOL, what might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of Into the Web?

Hmm. Surprised? Not sure it’s evident in the story; however, I am probably the #1 fan of Murder, She Wrote, and I do consider my twins contemporary versions of Jessica Fletcher!

Now *that* is cool! Let’s have some fun with Into the Web. What’s the first sentence?

Here ya go: Except for the glow that resonated from the laptop’s screen, the room was devoid of light.

Draws me right in. Sounds like my bedroom every night, LOL. What’s your favorite line in the book?

It comes at a time when Jovan is trying to explain evil and how one turn can move someone into evil tendencies. She concludes by talking about how many of us are lucky because we don’t choose that evil path. I love the entire passage there, but the concluding sentence always makes me nod like GOOD: “We’re able to live and live well and love and love well because we see the difference between the two ways of living and we choose right.”

Awesome quote, Shonell! Now how about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that’s it. Three!

I’m mad at three sentences, LOL! OK, let’s see. But it gives me an opportunity to add further to the above sentence! This is Jovan, talking about evil or the evil that might try to fester and grow:

“That something has a voice, and we work so hard to keep that voice well hidden because to let it loose can evoke unimaginable horrors that most of us can’t stomach. But there are those, those who let that voice burn inside them, burn in their throats and in their minds until it consumes and then there’s nothing to do but kill it—through others.

“I’m lucky,” she would point at the reporter, “you’re lucky,” she would look at the camera, into the homes of the millions who watched, “most of you out there watching this are lucky because there are things we love more in this life than we hate this one burning thing.”

Wow. That’s a pretty intense excerpt. I’m impressed! Which scene of Into the Web was most difficult for you to write? Why?

Any scene where I have to do bodily harm to a main character is difficult to write. To someone that’s never read a book and felt the realness of the characters, to a writer that’s never spoken to her characters as if they are real, this might sound silly. My characters are as real as I am. It hurts me, physically, to see them hurt. And to know I inflict that hurt? Not good. But sometimes, a character needs to take a good thrashing to keep the story moving, and often the lead main character, Jovan, is the victim of these thrashings.

It’s a testament to the strength of your writing for your characters to affect you so profoundly, and I bet they do your readers as well. ;c) Which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

Having people come up to me, knowing me as an author without me wearing a T-shirt or a sign (LOL) and telling me how much they love my work and wanting me to autograph something for them.

Ah, yes. That would rock! What inspired Into the Web‘s title?

The basic premise that sparked the story: young girls being lured off the Internet to their demise. They went into the web, but they didn’t make it out alive.

*Shivers* It *is* a great title, Shonell. Before we take a closer look, can you tell us what you’re working on now?

Actually, I’m working on a sensual romance novella, Between the Pages, that needs to be done ASAP, so I got some work to do! Also I’m doing some mental writing on the next Double Inkwell mystery book that I hope to churn out a draft of during NaNoWriMo this year. No title on that project yet.

INTO THE WEB

The minute twins and mystery novelists Jovan and Cheyenne Parham find their lives settling into a nice rhythm, all hell breaks loose – in their personal lives and in the latest crime they find themselves mixed up in. Jo is trying to build a relationship with Mark Brockman, but the deaths of her husband and Mark’s wife, and the sordid nature of their coming together keeps her from jumping into the relationship with both feet. Cheyenne is head over heels in love with former detective-now P.I. Ian Davenport, but unexpected news and Ian’s involvement in a new case causes Chey to second guess the deepness of their love. Trying to figure out their love lives becomes all the more complicated when Jo and Chey are thrust into a series of kidnappings and murders involving young girls who seem to make the wrong friends online. When a mayoral candidate’s daughter is kidnapped, Ian finds himself on the case, much to the chagrin of Chey considering he spends an awful lot of time holding and caring for the candidate’s wife. Bringing the girl home safely and finding the killer pushes the twins to the limits of their personal and professional lives. Going into a web of infidelity, lies, deception, and murder often leaves all involved in disarray. Will Jovan and Cheyenne find themselves, once again, trying to pick up the remaining fragments of their lives once this is all over?

Find it @ Amazon

Shonell Bacon

Shonell Bacon is an author, doctoral candidate, editor, educator–everywoman. She has published both creatively and academically–novels, short stories, essays, and textbooks. In addition to her love of writing and what the future holds in her literary life, she is also an editor who loves helping writers hone their literary craft. Since 2001, she has edited for hundreds of writers who have gone on to pursue self-publishing careers and have been published within the traditional publishing arena. Her love for helping writers also moved her to begin writing articles and commentaries regarding the writing life and craft, and she publishes these articles on various websites. She is an educator, having taught English and mass communication courses in addition to fiction writing and other courses related to creative writing. And while taking part in all of those things, Shonell also finds the time to pursue her Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University. Now a doctoral candidate, she is conducting research and writing her dissertation.

Learn more @ Website | Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter

Shonell, thanks so much for sharing your book with us! (Have I mentioned how much I love the cover? It gives me chills!) Readers, I hope you’ll give her a warm welcome. Have a fabulous day, everyone!

Stephanie J. Grace’s “Felines & Flowers” (Giveaway/)

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome Stephanie J. Grace, who has brought with her an e-copy of her sweet romance FELINES & FLOWERS to give to one lucky reader. (Keep reading to find out how you can win!) I absolutely adore the humor that comes through in Stephanie’s writing, and I bet you guys will, too. Let’s meet her, shall we?

Welcome, Stephanie, and congratulations on the release of FELINES & FLOWERS. Can you introduce our readers to the story?

Felines and Flowers is a sweet, inspirational story about two youth pastors finding each other at very different points in their lives. Wendy, just out of college is back in her hometown looking to make her start as a youth pastor and Warren who has been a youth pastor for years. They have so much in common, but Warren especially, has an issue with their age differences. When everything seems to be lining up, a one sided decision by Warren is enough to completely derail something really good. To get it back on track will take forgiveness, patience and help from friends.

This sounds like a beautifully heartfelt plot. In what way do you as the author most connect to this book?

I am very active in my church family, especially in the youth programs. The energy and faith levels of the people who work in churches are amazing. Personality wise, I think they are some of my favorite people. It felt very natural and sweet to put two people who shared such deep faith and joy together.

I’ve seen just a small part of what my older kids and their friends put the youth leaders through – you have my utmost respect, and I completely agree about the energy and faith required to serve the position well. *grin* What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of FELINES & FLOWERS?

The story is neither about felines nor flowers. Those two things pertain to the characters—Wendy who has a black thumb and Warren who has never met a cat who won’t try to bite or scratch him.

LOL! That’s hilarious, and what a *great* title under the circumstances! Okay, let’s have some fun. What’s the book’s first sentence?

“Is that a homeless person sleeping on the bench?”

An intriguing question, indeed, LOL. What’s your favorite line in the book?

“Okay, so maybe I’ve had a few cases of poison ivy,” she admitted, still not turning toward him. “And maybe while I was at the botanical gardens out East, a Venus flytrap tried to take a hunk out of me. But I refuse to believe that had anything to do with the unfortunate plants here in Minnesota.”

Something tells me this book is just full of LOL moments. I love your voice in these sentences. Let’s go one further—how about an excerpt. Three sentences?

Just the night before they’d enjoyed a picnic by the lake, talking and nibbling on stale crackers and cheese until long after the sun had set. He’d offered somewhere with better food and chairs, but as she’d pointed out, if they abandoned their picnic, they’d lose the ambiance. Stale crackers and dull cheddar had never tasted so good.

Awww. I love that! Which scene of FELINES & FLOWERS was most difficult for you to write? Why?

I had a hard time throwing in the real conflict. These characters may have mild personalities, but they aren’t boring or shallow feeling. They let people touch them and move them, but have immense patience. When it finally came down to someone letting go and someone being hurt and angry…I really didn’t want to do it.

That’s an interesting introspective on your characters, and I bet it’s a powerful scene when they do have that confrontation. Which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

I loved the scene where Warren gets called over along with his boss to help out Wendy when she’s late for a meeting with a group of children at church. It’s playful and sweet and I’d like to be in Warren’s boss’ shoes because I feel like he got a first row seat to these two falling in love.

Wow, what an amazing response. I’m dying to read the scene now, LOL. Just for fun, what inspired the title of FELINES & FLOWERS?

Finding a title for this one was a bear because it was proving too easy to fall into predictable names. I could have gone with any number of springtime and sweetness references, but they didn’t seem right. Finally it came down to alliteration and the character interests.

In light of your earlier response, I have to say this title is absolutely *perfect*! Before we take a closer look at the book, can you tell us what you’re working on now?

Right now I’m working on a more historical story set around the Mormon faith. I’ve learned a lot and really look forward to getting it ready and in readers’ hands.

FELINES & FLOWERS | blurb

During high school, Warren was just Wendy’s youth pastor. All grown up and shepherding over her own flock of church kids, Wendy Miller turns to her old friend for help. Not that Warren is that old. In fact, the two have a lot more in common than Wendy would have ever thought.

After the death of his wife, Warren was sure he was finished with relationships. Wendy changes that forgone conclusion with her bright spirit and zest for life. Lining up their desires when they’re at very different points in their lives proves a challenge that might take a little divine intervention, or at least help from friends.

Buy @ Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Stephanie J. Grace | about the author

Stephanie J Grace is the sweeter and more faith-based side of romance writer Stephanie Beck. With a genuine love for romance and building relationships, Stephanie found the sweeter side of her writing needed its own world to grow and that happens through Stephanie J Grace. With a growing family and growing writing career, Steph stays busy running around in real life and in her imagination, but between the sprints, she enjoys reading, knitting and crafting.

Learn More @ Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway

Stephanie has generously offered to give away one e-copy of FELINES & FLOWERS. To enter, comment with your email address AND tell us about an experience with felines or flowers. Or both. *grin*

I’d like to thank you all for joining me today. Stephanie, it’s been a pleasure–I’m super impressed with your humorous voice. Readers, I’m looking forward to your stories, so let’s have ‘em, and you all have a fantastic day!

HAWTHORNE only 99 cents: *Limited Time Only*

This is a marvelous ghost story. The mystery, the suspense, the eeriness – all collaborate to weave a spell-binding tale. … The story seamlessly flows to a shocking ending that is utterly brilliant. — Coffee Time Romance

I’m closing out my blogging vacay with some fantastic news: for a limited time, HAWTHORNE is only 99 cents for your Kindle or Nook! (No e-reader? No problem. Download Kindle for PC for FREE! Click here for details.) Now is the PERFECT time to find out what readers love about this paranormal romance with a twist.

Buy for Amazon Kindle | Buy for B&N Nook

There was such a huge twist at the end of this book that it left me stunned and speechless, literally staring at my Kindle with my hands clutching my head. Mark my words. RUN, don’t walk to pick this book up. YOU HAVE JUST GOT TO READ IT! — Sandy Wolters

Amazon: average rating 4.8 out of 5 stars (25 reviews)

This ghostly story is packed full of heart, suspense, and an intensity so strong you feel as though you’re balanced on the rails of the Hawthorne manor right along with the heroine. — Renee Vincent

B&N: average rating 5 stars (10 reviews)

Just finished reading Hawthorne, and I am still in awe. I don’t even know how to write a review for this piece. It was hauntingly beautiful with a southern charm from days gone by. Absolutely stunning. … Wow, Sarah Ballance…WOW. — Melissa MacKinnon

Goodreads: 4.4 out of 5 stars (58 ratings)

Words can’t express how amazing this short story is. Ms. Ballance will absolutely blow your mind with this haunting tale. — Nikki

Only 99 cents for a limited time!
Buy for Amazon Kindle | Buy for B&N Nook