Maria Hammarblad's Blog, page 27

Reclaim My Heart by Donna Fasano

Now with Montlake Romance - Release Day TODAY 12 November, 2013On becoming a Montlake Author:Let me tell you about my wonderful publishing experience! I have to back up a little bit… to this past spring. I self-published a romance titled Reclaim My Heart. The book received great reviews immediately, and it sold well from the beginning. Very well. In fact, during the first week of August I was enjoying a mug of coffee while perusing the USA Today Bestseller's List (my usual Thursday morning routine), and I nearly choked when I saw that Reclaim My Heart was sitting at #123 on the list. A couple of days later I was contacted by an editor from Montlake. She told me she'd read one of my books months before and had been keeping an eye on me. She said she'd read Reclaim My Heart and loved it. Now, what author doesn't love to hear that? She made an offer I couldn't refuse. The Montlake editor and the design team loved the cover that was on the indie version of the book; however, Amazon had trouble licensing the rights to the image. So we searched for weeks before finding the picture that's on the current cover. I love it! And I hope my readers do, too. I'm happy to be writing romance novels for Montlake. I feel wanted and appreciated, and it can't get much better than that in the publishing industry!
~Donna  Title: Reclaim My Heart 
Author: Donna Fasano 
Publisher: Montlake Romance 
Pages: 282 
Formats: Paperback, eBook, AudioCD 
ISBN: 978-1477817988 
Purchase Now: Paperback § eBook § AudioCD

About The Book : Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law, and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined. Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.  

ExcerptFrom Chapter Two"Please, Lucas." He couldn't dismiss the tone of those two small words, nor could he ignore the magnitude of emotion clouding her expression. He had no choice but to relent. "Sit down," he murmured. He closed the door of his office and then returned to perch himself on the corner of his desk. He steeled himself before asking, "What's on your mind?" She seemed to shrink a little as a thousand thoughts ran though her head. Seconds passed, and still she didn't speak. Lucas witnessed the phenomenon almost on a daily basis. The people who wound up in his office often felt as if they were carrying the world on their shoulders. He knew her anxiety would eventually discharge, and from the looks of it, he wouldn't have to wait long. Finally, she pressed her hand to her chest. "I can't breathe." "Relax. Do you want some water?" She shook her head, a lock of her long, platinum hair falling over her forearm. "No. I need to get this out. I promised you I'd hurry." He couldn't keep his brows from arching a fraction. She hadn't kept her promises in the past. Why would he expect her to now? Tyne ran her tongue along her full bottom lip, hesitated another moment, then blurted, "I need a lawyer." Lucas closed his eyes and stifled a sigh. He could have guessed as much, of course. He'd worked hard to get himself into the privileged position of being able to pick and choose his clients. The last person he wanted to represent was Tyne Whitlock. "A good lawyer, Lucas." Common sense told him Tyne wasn't attempting to flatter him. She was speaking purely out of desperation. "Look, Tyne—" Something made him stop. He sighed, and then he stood, taking his time rounding his desk and sitting down. The leather-upholstered arms of the chair were cool and smooth under his fingertips. "I know some of the best attorneys in the city." He plucked a pen from the cup on his desktop. "And many of them owe me a favor or two." He reached into his inside jacket pocket, pulled out one of the business cards he always kept handy, and turned it over, poised to write. "Let me give you some names and numbers—" "I don't want just any attorney." Her chin lifted. "I want you. Why else would I have come here?" His gaze lowered to the small white card in his hand. With much deliberation, he set down the pen and the card, and then he looked her directly in the eyes. Every muscle in her body appeared board-stiff. "Listen to me—" he kept his tone calm "—when people find themselves in trouble with the law, or victimized, or wrongfully sued, or unjustly accused, they tend to get lost in a strange, I don't know, franticness. A recklessness that they almost always regret. Believe me when I tell you that no situation is hopeless, and circumstances are rarely as desperate as they might be perceived. Whatever trouble you're in, don't let panic and fear haze your thinking." "You don't understand." "I think I do," he rushed to assure her. "I see it every day. Honest, hardworking people finding themselves in dire straits. And this unfamiliar territory throws them. They grasp at help from the first source that comes to mind." "But—" "Just like that old adage warning that only a fool acts as his own lawyer, it's also foolish to choose an attorney in haste. You and I have a past, Tyne, and even though all of that took place years and years ago, the fact remains that we have a history. I don't believe I would be the best person to represent you in a court of law. You need someone who'll be totally unbiased. Let me give you some names. I'll make some calls for you myself—" "Stop!" She lifted her hands and scooted to the edge of the seat. "You don't understand. And I can't make you understand if you won't shut up for a minute." His eyebrows arched and the frustration in her statement had him leaning back a bit. She frowned. "I'm sorry. Really, I am. I had to stew all day yesterday." She fisted her hands in her lap. "I didn't expect to reach anyone on a Sunday, but do you know that your firm doesn't offer an emergency number on the answering machine?" She exhaled with force. "I'm a nervous wreck just being here. Seeing you. But all that aside, I shouldn't have snapped at you. Please accept my apology." He didn't react, didn't move. He just waited for her to continue. "The thing is… what you need to know…" Once again, she grew terribly cautious, and Lucas found that extremely curious. What the hell was it she found so hard to tell him? What kind of trouble was she in? She blanched, but then her spine straightened. "I'm not the one who needs a lawyer. I want to hire you, yes. But I'm not the one needing representation. It's my son who's in trouble." A nerve at the corner of her eye ticked, but her gaze never veered from his as she added, "Our son, Lucas."About Donna FasanoDonna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17. What others are saying about Donna’s books: “…complex, funny, and realistic…” ~Wilmington News Journal “Excellent!” ~Bookreview.com “Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author.” ~Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon “…a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!” ~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com
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Are readers playing the system of e-book refunds?

I’m usually pretty bad at keeping track of my book sales, but these last few weeks I’ve made a conscious effort to take a look. When it comes to the books published through Desert Breeze Publishing I don’t really know, but when it comes to my self-pubbed stuff I have access to good reports.

Actively monitoring this is making me annoyed. That's an awful thing to say, I know, but hear me out.

Amazon has a refund policy for e-books. "Books you purchase from the Kindle Store are eligible for return and refund if we receive your request within seven days of the date of purchase. Once a refund is issued, you'll no longer have access to the book."

This is generally a good thing. If you buy something that you don’t like, you should have the opportunity to return it and get your money back.

There is, however, no limit to how much of the book you can read before requesting your refund.

I currently have two self published series: Embarkment 2577 and The Goddess’s Saga. The books in each series are being bought and refunded in order.

If people really returned Brand New World because they hated it, I doubt they’d go on to buy High Gravity, hate it, get Adam and Eve, and hate that one too. Same thing with The Goddess's Saga.

The first time I saw this I thought it was a coincidence. Different people might have stumbled in and bought the books in a short period of time, discovered they were in the middle of a series, and returned them. But, it happens over and over again.

I appreciate that people want to read my books, I really do.

I understand that many people have very little money.

I give a lot of books away happily and willingly.

Seriously, though, writers have to live too. If you read three or even six books I wrote you probably liked them. It would be nice if you’d let me keep the payment for one of them. The novellas are only $1.99. Of that, I get to keep 30%. That is almost 60 cents per book. If you read all three without refunding I'd almost get enough money for a cup of coffee.

If you think I don't need coffee and insist on stealing all of them, please compensate me through leaving a positive review, or posting about how you loved the books on social media.

Book spotlight: Sacrifice for a Kingdom by Patricia D'Arcy Laughlin

I met Patricia D'Arcy Laughlin at an author event in Sarasota a while back. She is a lovely person who creates fantastic art. I haven't read her book, but if it's anything like her, it's great.

Patricia has developed a secret method and formula for making stains and painting wood. Her art gives the effect of inlaid wood, but with more detail. Creating one piece involves many sandings, stainings, scrapings, paining, hand rubbing, and finishing, and one painting can take weeks, months, or years to create.

She has received a number of awards in the art world, including the Best of Show prize of excellence from the Ville Tonneins Museum in France.

Okay, I should focus and tell you about the book. =)

Blurb: 

A sensual, timely, contemporary romance about a philanthropic beauty from exotic Trinidad, a modern-day socially-conscious European Prince, and the other loves, lives, and lies that complicate their potentially idyllic life. The story begins with the warm sweetness of falling in love before becoming inflamed with passion, intrigue, and danger.

No Cinderella, Elizabeth is sophisticated, wealthy, and hides life-changing secrets. Not merely a figurehead, ambitious, courageous, and fun-loving Prince Michael also has secrets. Some are life-threatening, all are hazardous. Both harbor fears for the survival of humanity, and do their parts to alleviate them with speeches. Elizabeth’s speech is titled ‘God Has No Gender,’ Michael’s, ‘Climate Change, Man’s Fate Or Folly?’

More afraid for her safety than his own, Michael is determined, at any sacrifice, to stop her from doing more of her controversial speeches, but Elizabeth uses them to fund an important charity she co-founded. He struggles with fears of losing the monarchy and waiting to unravel the mysteries of Elizabeth’s haunting past. Learning about her history takes him to a place he never dreamed possible.

Their vividly titillating and sometimes humorous lovemaking contrasts with their involvements in serious social issues. As shocking secrets are progressively revealed, loyalties become divided, but will love conquer all?

Set in the USA, Europe, and the Caribbean, the love saga takes readers on an enthralling, enigmatic, erogenous, but earnest journey through their exciting lives, crossing continents and cultures, places and races, until an assassin’s bullet hits its mark. Faced with an unexpected sacrifice, Elizabeth’s formidable dilemma is how to save both the opposing Kingdoms.

SFR Brigade Presents - a new snippet from Operation Earth!

The SFR Brigade Presents is a blog hop where sci-fi romance authors present snippets of their work. This week, I would like to share an excerpt from my book Operation Earth.

Check out the other participating authors as well! =)

~~~~~~

June stood in the middle of Information Central with her arms crossed, drumming her fingers. Showing impatience might be unbecoming of a commanding officer, but this operation moved like a snail.
How humiliating to be so delayed before we even begin.
Glancing around the oval hall soothed her. The walls were so red they appeared organic, and biopods lined the room. There were alcoves with chairs made from the same fleshy material as the walls, part of the living soul of the ship. Each alcove held a woman, connected to the whole through a tentacle slithering down from the ceiling, embracing their shaved heads.
Many junior officers fled the first time they entered and saw nothing of the crew except parts of their faces.
The first time June stepped in, she knew she was home.
If she closed her eyes she could almost hear the ship's heartbeat. One alcove opened up, and the woman inhabiting it struggled to her feet. At first, her eyes couldn't focus, but then she fixed them on June.
I wonder what it's like to be connected, to be a part of the ship and really know the world.
Only those with special talents could connect. June wanted nothing more as a child, but she wasn't suitable for the hive mind. Her talents lay elsewhere.
"Commander, I think we have what we need. These people have a useful source of information. It's called Wikipedia."
"Common names? Languages?"
"Yes, Ma'am. They have a number of languages and cultures. It's all transferring to the brain-tips now."
"No sign of discovery?"
"No, Ma'am."
The large ship lurked at the very edge of the solar system, outside the magnetic fields that presented a last layer between planets and interstellar space. Risks of discovery were infinitesimal, but they had to plan even for the impossible.
"Good. Assemble the troops for upgrade, and ask the pilot to take us in. Prepare global EMP."

The woman nodded and sank back into her alcove. All mouths around the room spoke as one, "Entering solar system. All personnel prepare for memory upgrade."
~~~~~~


Operation Earth
Seven billion people on Earth go about their daily lives, and no one is prepared when a global EMP slows the world to a crawl. With all our technology incapacitated, everything changes. Within days alien soldiers line the streets, and life will never be the same. In the midst of chaos, Rachael Hill struggles to adapt to the new order, doing her best to keep herself and her cat alive.
On a ship far above the planet surface, Peter just got his new Earth name, and can't even remember his identity from the last world he visited. It's another day on the job, one more planet on a never ending list. That is, until Rachael bumps into him, dropping exotic objects all around his feet. His culture taught him females should be obeyed and protected, but he never had an urge to leave himself at a woman's mercy until now.

Counting down to the Matlacha Author Days

November 30 and December 1 will be two exciting and intense days: these are the Matlacha author days. The event takes place at Matlacha park between 9 AM and 5:30 PM, and visiting is basically free. The arrangers only ask for a donation to the food bank. Last I heard, there will be around 100 participating authors!

Right now I'm unsure of where Matlacha is, but my computer has informed me it's within two hours' drive-time from here, so it's all good.

I will bring books and swag, and during these two days participating authors will have an opportunity to give public presentations about their books and writing. I don't know what to talk about just yet, but I like public speaking, so that should be fine.

Just a couple of weeks to go! If you're in the area, come say hi to me! =D

Book Review: Worst Week Ever by Liza O'Connor

My review for Worst Week Ever is short. I loved the book so much I can't think of anything to say about it. It's an impressive feat; few people have the power to shut me up! ;-)

I have read many books that were suspenseful, exciting, romantic, touching... place suitable adjective here. Most books do not make me laugh. I can count the ones that even make me chuckle on the fingers of one hand.

Liza O'Connor nails it. If you need a book to lift your spirits and put a well-needed smile on your face, this is it!

 Blurb:

What do you get when you put a hardworking, can-do middle-class young woman together with a egoistical, outrageous, billionaire boss, then throw in the worst week of disasters imaginable?

Book 1 of the 3 book series A Long Road to Love: Worst Week Ever.

Trent Lancaster spends one month without his Executive Assistant, or as his drivers refers to Carrie: 'Trent's brain, left hand, and right hand'.

He's had a miserable month without her at his side and to ensure it never happens again, he intends to marry his brilliant beauty. Only given all the times he's threatened to fire her, he's not sure she even likes him.

The future of his company and his happiness depend upon him succeeding, so Trent begins a slow one week seduction that happens to coincide with Carrie's Worst Week Ever when everything that can go wrong does so in hilarious form. (Hilarious to the reader--Carrie is not having much fun this week.)

See the book on Amazon!

Cover reveal: Wasteland Blues by Scott Christian Carr and Andrew Conry-Murray

 
Of Mice and Men Meets The Odyssey in a Post-Apocalyptic Future

Having only ever known the uncivilized wake of nuclear and biological apocalypse, three friends and their wheelchair-bound hostage set out on a perilous fool’s mission--to cross from one side of the devastated United States to the other, in the desperate, half-believed hope of finding a rumored haven. 

Spurred by a dark vision and the murder of their father, rageaholic Derek Cane and his over-sized, simple-minded brother, Teddy, flee the only home they've ever known, a struggling shantytown on the edge of the vast Wasteland. Heading ever eastward, they are accompanied by their friend, John, an orphan brought up by a fanatical religious order, and Leggy, a crippled old drunk who brags that, in his youth, he once traversed the Wasteland as a scavenger.

Wasteland Blues by Scott Christian Carr and Andrew Conry-Murray Cover Art by Bradley Sharp Post-Apocalyptic novel  coming from Dog Star Books in March 2014

Four decades worth of technology...

~ 1973 ~ 
I was one and not particularly interested in technology. 
~ 1983 ~
I was fascinated with computers, learning BASIC from a book I borrowed at the library. 
Computers were big and slow. Phones had buttons to press instead of the spinning-wheel thing, but they were still connected to the wall.
Osborne, the portable computer of 1983. It weighed nearly 24 lbs.
The operating system was CP/M. It had 124 K of RAM,
and the monitor was a stunning 7 inches.
~ 1993 ~ 
I had acquired Microsoft certifications and worked with... you got it. Computers. The machines were still fairly big, but faster than they used to be.Most of the world used Windows 3.11
I had a phone almost
exactly like this.
Purchased in the
early 1990s.
~ 2003 ~ 
I was fed up with technology and worked with logistics at SSAB Swedish Steel. 
Computers had shrunk in size, but the future I dreamed of as a little girl still seemed far away. 
The palm pilot had existed for a few years, but the idea of a hand-held computer was still cool. I had a Nokia 8210. The phone was small enough to be lost in a tight jean pocket.
I loved this phone.
Wonder what
happened to it.
~ 2013 ~
I just found myself arguing with my cell phone. It said, "Fine, forget it" in a snarky voice.When did phones develop attitudes? 
What do you think will happen in the next ten years?

Book spotlight: Chasing Love, a Mother's Journey by Elinor Rogosin

Some people's lives are more interesting than anything I could make up. Elinor Rogosin is one of those people. She has lived everywhere, met everyone, and her son disappeared in India never to be heard from again. I have met her at a couple of occasions in Sarasota, and her story fascinates me to the point where I look forward to authors' events for another chance to meet her. I haven't read her book yet, but it's on my list. 

Blurb:

When a goodbye unexpectedly becomes forever, there is an emptiness that can never be filled. In Chasing Love, author Elinor Rogosin tells her personal story of saying goodbye to her nineteen-year-old son Jonathan as he left New York to travel to India in the summer 1982. She has not seen him since.

In this memoir, Rogosin shares her journey of acceptance as she sifts through her family history in the hope of shedding light on her youngest son’s dramatic choice of a lifestyle. She recounts her marriage to an independent documentary filmmaker, their travels to foreign countries; the birth of their three sons, the repercussions of her husband’s abuse, their divorce, and her attempt to remain close to her boys.

Chasing Love probes her relationship with Jonathan, the youngest, and attempts to analyze their clash of ideals as he joins a religious cult and disappears into an unknown world in India. Rogosin narrates a story that’s filled with heartache where she takes a painful voyage through loss to acceptance.

See the book on Amazon!

Book Fair at the Farmer's Market

On Saturday it’s time again - I need to get out of the house and face real people. Exciting! Sarasota Author’s Connection are arranging a book fair at the Farmer’s Market in Sarasota. 
If you’re in the area, come see me! I will have books to sign, and some swag. 
There will be more writers than me, of course, and the Farmer's Market is known for attracting tourists, so I'm sure it will offer many interesting products.
I look forward to it, because I love getting out and meeting both readers and other writers. I also dread it, because it opens at seven. In the morning. 
Who knew they made a 7 AM for Saturdays!
We’re supposed to be there to set up at 6:30. That means I need to leave my house at six. Saturday will require a lot of coffee.
The event is between 7AM and 1 PM, November 2nd on Lemon and State St in Sarasota.
Image from uniquesarasota.com