M.A. Comley's Blog, page 18

This week my featured Indie Chick is the wonderful Donna Fasano.

Donna Fasano wrote for Harlequin Books for20 years before becoming a proud Independent Author. She's written over 30romance and women's fiction novels that have sold over 3.5 million copiesworldwide. Her books have won awards and made best-seller lists. Below is thestory she contributed to the anthology IndieChicks: 25 Independent Women, 25 Inspiring Stories. 


SteppingInto The Light
I sit in theback row, shoulders rounded, knees jumping, my left thumb rubbing a raw spot inthe center of my right palm. The sad and lonely sufferings being expressed inthe dank, dimly-lit basement are all too real and much too close for comfort. Iglance at the door and contemplate escape, but it's too late. All eyes are uponme. I hesitate only a moment before standing on quaking legs, clearing mythroat softly and confessing, "My name is Donna. I'm a writer. And I needto come out of the closet because it's dark in here." Twenty yearsago, had there been a group called Writers Anonymous, I would have attended faithfully,pouring out my heart at the weekly meetings. You see, for the couple of yearsthat I spent writing my first novel, I told almost no one what I was doing. Myhusband knew; in fact, he's the reason I even attempted what felt like the insurmountabletask of plotting out and finishing that first book. He's also the reason Iended up in this glorious, chaotic, roller-coaster life I've lived as an author;however, that's a story for another day. But when I first started scratchingwords on a yellow legal pad with a no. 2 pencil (there's nothing else thatstirs my creativity more than the feel of graphite gliding against paper), Ididn't tell a single family member or friend. Why would I keepmy dreams and aspirations such a tightly guarded secret?I would hazardto guess the answer is the same reason anyone else hides things that could havelife-altering potential: fear.What if Ifailed? What if I had no talent? What if I didn't possess the perseverance tofinish that first manuscript?The mere thoughtof the snide remarks, tittering laughter and looks of skepticism and ridicule Imight receive were enough to keep me silent. My imagination has always beenstrong, and I easily saw the scenes play out in my head.So you think you're going to write a book, huh?But you didn't go to college.A romance novel? Really? If you're going to try to write, why not write a realbook? You know, like a mystery or a thriller; something someone is going towant to read. My ability toconjure fantasy has always been a blessing and a bane. When reading a book orlistening to someone tell a story or imagining repercussions of actions, visionswill take shape in my head. Situations feel real, characters become corporal,while my stirred emotions brim and often overflow. Needless to say, Hallmarkcommercials make me cry. While powerful creativity is a great and necessarytrait for a writer who is intent on concocting a compelling tale, it can becomecrippling if that writer is too focused on the opinions of others. However, I alsohave to confess that keeping that first novel-writing dream all to myselfcharged me with a vibrant energy. I was excited to get my story down on paper.Seeing my plot unfold was absolutely thrilling! Creating my characters was fun.And the fact that no one knew about my clandestine efforts gave me a hugeamount of freedom. No one told me I was doing it all wrong; no one suggested Icould never reach my goal. In defense ofall the people I kept in the dark all those years ago, I have to admit thatmost of them were delighted and supportive when I finally divulged that myfirst manuscript had been purchased by a bona fide publisher. Oh, there was ascoffer or two, and I continue to meet them; you know the type, people whocan't be happy for others or who feel another's success somehow diminishes hisor her own self-worth, but I've learned to deal with those people (working withNew York Cityeditors forces a writer to grow a thick skin pretty quickly). I merely smileand think about the slew of books I've sold and the fan mail I've received fromall over the world. Those scoffersseem to have come out of the woodwork now that I've reinvented myself as anIndie Author. But venturing into this new arena couldn't have happened at abetter point in my life. I'm confident in my ability to tell a good story. I'mmore than satisfied with the career I've had, and have no trouble imaginingeven more success in the future. I saw tangible proof when two of my books madeit onto Kindle's Top 100 List. I'm happy with who I've become as a writer andas a person. If my work receives less-than-flattering feedback from a reader, Imight not like it, but I also realize it's not the end of the world; I'velearned that I can't please all readers all the time. I love the creativefreedom I have as an independent author. I can allow my muse to take mewherever it will. I'm terrifically grateful that there are readers out therewho are willing to buy my novels. Every time I read a good review of one of mybooks I want to (and do!) kiss my husband for suggesting I take a stab at thisprofession (it's a habit that's been very good for my marriage).So… what's mypoint? Well, don't let the negative opinions of others keep you from dreaming,for one thing. Most of the scary thoughts that run through your head will neverhappen, and the few that do materialize can be dealt with. You're stronger thanyou think. Don't allow fear to paralyze you. Aspire to be and do whatever it isyou want to be and do. Be kind to yourself; you deserve the same compassion andconcern that you offer others. And most importantly, know that your dreams matter.Indulge them. Reach for the stars! I did, and I'm still astounded that Isnagged a few.  ~  ~  ~
Donna loves to hear from readers! Ways toconnect with Donna:Her blog, Author Donna Fasano, In AllDirectionsOn Facebook, Donna FasanoOn Twitter, DonnaFaz
A few of Donna's available titles:The Merry-Go-Round inpaperback or foryour Kindle.His Wife for a While foryour Kindle.An Accidental Family foryour Kindle, foryour Nook, or onSmashwords.Look for other available titles on Amazon,Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.
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This week's wonderful Indie Chick is Lin Welch.

WhenI published the first two Whisperings paranormal mystery novels, I created anicon to use on Facebook and Twitter. The picture is of Whisperings lead character,Tiff Banks. It seemed a good way to advertise my product at the time. But nomatter how often I say she is not me, I am not a tall, slim, blond young woman,many obviously don't believe me. Response to the avatar has amused me over theyears. You wouldn't believe thecomments, compliments, and odd comments I thinkwere meant as compliments. Many of them were a hoot. I knew I'd eventually haveto come out of the identity closet and say, hey, look here, this is me, not thelong-haired cutie.ThenCheryl Shireman asked me to contribute to the Indie Chicks anthology and alsoasked for a photo. This is the perfect opportunity to set the record straight.If you want to know who Linda Welch reallyis, read on. . . .
NEVER TOO LATE
I'mgoing to tell you something I don't think you know.Ihaven't been a "chick" for many a year. I'm a couple of months shy of 61. Ihave been married to the same man for 39 years. We have two sons and fourgrandchildren. And you thought I was a tall, slim young thing, didn't you. I am what is called a late bloomer and I'mwriting this for other old biddies who had a dream and let it pass them by, orthink they are too busy, or it's too late to fulfill their dream. I don't meanjust writing, but any dreamed-of achievement you hide in your heart.Iwas born in a country cottage in England. My father was a restless man, so we oftenmoved and never had much money. I remember days when only Dad had meat on hisplate at dinner, but we never went hungry. We had vegetables and fruit from thegarden, eggs from the chickens. Times were hard, but we children never knewthat. We were loved. When Mum and Dad met during World War II, Mum was aprivately educated "well-bred" lady. I doubt I will ever meet anyone as smartas my mother. At 88 years, she is still as sharp as a tack. Dad was acountryman to the bone. He had many artistic talents he didn't pursue untillater in life. When he did, he excelled at them. I like to think some of theirintelligence and talent rubbed off on me.Somuch has changed, in my life, in the world. I hold memories of my childhood close.I won't let them fade. One day, I will write about them.Ihad a good basic education, first at a village school, then an all-girls school,but I left at 15 (at that time the legal age in England) and worked first as atelephone operator before I went into office occupations. I did not seeauthorship in my future.ButI have always daydreamed. Often, I recreated the same daydream multiple times, constantlyelaborating.  I did not realize I wrotebooks in my head.Ibegan writing words on paper in my mid-forties, but it was a hobby. Somewherealong the way, I thought, Could I publishthis? and then I'd like to publish.But I talked myself out of it. Authors were young men and women who decidedthey wanted to write at a young age and worked to improve their skill theirentire life. They went to college and university, they had degrees in writing,creative writing or journalism. I was inexperienced; I didn't have theirdedication or education. Anyway, I had a husband to support, children to raiseand part-time jobs to supplement the family income. I didn't have time to writeand send queries, synopsis or sample chapters to agents. In2008 I discovered the Lulu publishing platform and took the plunge. I publishedthe space opera Mindbender and science fiction Galen's Gate. I subsequentlyunpublished them, with every intention of revising and republishing. Somecopies are still floating around out there somewhere. However, Tiff Banks, who had been swimming aroundin this murky thing I call a brain for several years, chose to come out and play.She took over my life. She became my second skin.WhenI think back to why I did not publish until in my fifties, I realize it hadnothing to do with inexperience or lack of education. I was not ready. I had tomarry a dashing young American airman, leave my homeland, raise two sons, spoilfour grandchildren, live and work with Americans and become entrenched in theway of life. I was not ready to write Along Came a Demon until I came to themountains of Utah, stood looking over my mountain valley, and knew, "this is it. This is where Tifflives. She knows the bitter cold and snow of winter, the harsh heat of summer.She knows her city and the people inside-out. This is Tiff's world, and now, Iknow who she is." Thenthe hard work began. My education was strictly "King's English." I wrote formalletters, contracts and legal documents at work. I had to take the starch out ofmy writing. Research didn't help. It seemed that each time I read an article orblog about word usage, in particular overuse and what to avoid, the next book Iread was a best-selling novel by a best-selling author who broke those rules. Andhaving decided to barge into my life, Tiff was very positive about how shetalks. She's a born and bred American, a slightly snarky, slang-wielding galwho speaks to the reader on a personal level, individual to individual. I hadto use a style that practically screamed "you can't do that!" in my ear everyother sentence. Ipublished the first Whisperings novelfor another reason: Nobody seemed to believe in my writing. Not friends,relatives, friendly acquaintances. I think they supposed a 58-year-old with noeducation in the literary field, who suddenly came out of the woodwork and decidedto publish, must be a "vanity publisher" who wanted to force poorly-writtenbooks on readers. When I said I wrote fiction, I got blank looks, followed by,"that's nice. Now, as I was saying. . ."  Nobody wanted to read my work, not even my sweethusband. But he enjoyed urban fantasy and I thought he'd like Tiff Banks. So in a way, I alsopublished for him.Ipublished Along Came a Demon inNovember 2008. It was supposed to be a stand-alone novella, but readers wantedmore and Tiff obliged. Along Came a Demonbecame book one of the Whisperings series of paranormal mysteries. I publishedthe sequel, The Demon Hunters, in November2009. In 2010 I added material to AlongCame a Demon to make it a full-length book and at the same time made smallchanges to The Demon Hunters toreflect those in Along Came a Demon.I published book three, Dead DemonWalking, in March 2011. Being a wordsmith, I should be able to express myjoy each time a reader tells me they love my books, but it truly is beyond mypowers of description. Now, when someone asks me what I do for a living, insteadof telling them I am a part-time administrative assistant and adding(hesitantly) "I also write fiction," I say I am an author. When I fill out aform that asks for my occupation, I proudly write "author" in the little box.MaryWesley published Jumping the Queue atage 70 and went on to write ten best sellers until she died twenty years later.HarriettDoerr was 74 when she published TheStones of Ibarra.LauraIngalls Wilder published her Little Houseon the Prairie series when she was in her 50s.MaryLawson was 55 when Crow Lake waspublished.FloraThompson is famous for her semi-autobiography Lark Rise to Candleford, published when she was 63.Ageis irrelevant. You are never too old. For anything.
This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Storiesavailable on Amazonand Barnes& Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today.
Also included are sneak peeks into 25 novels!
My novel, Along Came a Demon, book one of the Whisperings paranormal mysteryseries, is one of the novels featured.
All proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.


Linda on Amazon USA for Kindleand paperback.Lindaon Amazon UKLindaon Barnes and NobleLinda's WebsiteLinda on SmashwordsWhisperings on FacebookWhisperingbooks are also available in e-book formats from Apple, Diesel, Kobo and Sony.





Coming soon!

This is Lizzie Ford's inspirational story that is f...

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 This is Lizzie Ford's inspirational story that is featured in the Indie Chicks Anthology.ThePhoenix and the Darkness
I'vebeen running from The Darkness since I left home at the age of 17.  I escaped a broken family to the military,found it unwelcoming to creative non-conformists but fulfilled mycommitment.  The first man I dated was adrunkard who suffered from post traumatic stress disorder; the second rapedme.  The rest of my time in the militarywas a blur of men, the different places I lived and The Darkness stalking me.  At the end of my tour, I set my world on fireto keep the Darkness away, abandoned everything and everyone, and emerged fromthe flames like the mythical Phoenix.  I ranhome to Ohio.  I didn't stay long andcontinued onward to New York, where I reinvented myself for a very brief periodof contentedness.Itdidn't last.  Darkness, fire, rebirth, anda few years, men and states later, I ended up in the arms of yet another unworthyman.  I followed him to DC, bore themental abuse, and tried to tell myself this was the best life would everget.  Itook a job in a field I didn't care for and ended up running fromjob-to-job-to-job, unable to find a place where I was happy.  I was hit by a drunk driver at 26, leaving mewith a long lifetime of constant pain.  Ihad a miscarriage, gave all my money to the unworthy man and couldn't pay mybills despite the good job.  I moved fromVirginia to Maryland and back to Virginia, unable to shake the pursuingDarkness.  Finally, I put all mybelongings in storage, ready to set my word afire and flee once again.  Iworked up the nerve to ditch the dysfunctional man, but before I could run far,I met the man who would become my first husband.  He wanted normal things:  stability, house, family.  I convinced myself if I had these things, theDarkness would be gone.  He needed amother, not a wife, but I married him anyway and prayed it was enough.Itwasn't.  I set my world afire once more,and I fled him, too.  I put everything Ivalued in my truck, grabbed the dog, and left. Away from DC, the east coast, everything I owned, my first husband.  I ran to Texas to a new job and divorced thefirst husband.  Yet again, I wasreborn.  Soon after, I met my soulmate.  Some part of me knew I couldn'tkeep running if I wanted to keep him.  I turnedaround to see if The Darkness still chased me.  After fifteen years of running, The Darknesswas closer than ever.Itold the man who would become my second husband to stay away from me – I wasdangerous.  He saw The Darkness, and hesaw me.You're brilliant andbeautiful.  I love you, Darkness and all,hesaid.  But if you don't deal with it and accept the fate for which you wereput on this earth, you'll be consumed by it.Icouldn't yet face the Darkness even with his support, but I could see how wrongmy path was.  My path wasn't a career Iloathed, and it wasn't ignoring my true gift: writing.  So I worked full time and wrote fulltime.  I found true joy for the firsttime in my life, but The Darkness got too close.  I ran away from that job - the only job I'dever remotely enjoyed.  This time, I keptmy only ally in life - my guardian angel and partner.  Itook a new job in a new state.  With myhusband and my writing, I saw The Darkness recede, and I grew happy.  Instead of looking over my shoulder, Istarted looking into the future.  I vowedto run towards something instead of away from something.  I wasn't just reborn – I was alive for the first time in my life.Andthen, this past summer, I tripped.  TheDarkness swallowed me.  As in one of myupcoming novels, The Darkness turned me inside out.  I couldn't go to work and could barely leavethe house.  It pinned me beneath it, andthe more I tried to run, the heavier it got. Everything I'd run from in life was there: my near-poverty upbringing;the breaking apart of my family when I was a kid; my struggle with my weightand social anxiety issues; with finding acceptance at any job; with men anddysfunctional relationships; the pending financial disaster I'd been building;fear of failure and ending up as miserable as my parents.  I thought I'd suffocate, until the Darknessspoke to me.You can run again and risklosing the man you love, or you can face me and be happy, it said.I want to be happy, I replied.Then do what you must.It's not that easy.  I'm scared.Sometimes life only givesus difficult choices, but you still must choose.  I am a part of you. You must accept me anddeal with me before you can move on, it said.Ithought hard as I looked at all the things I'd accumulated that werebankrupting me financially and emotionally. I looked at what made me happy in life: my husband and my writing.  I saw how I'd hurt my most precious treasures- and myself - by setting my world on fire whenever The Darkness got too close.This is gonna hurt, I told The Darkness.Not for long, it said.  Youonly have to do this once.Inthat moment, I made my choice.  I wouldface The Darkness within me, no matter how hard it was.  I loved my husband too much to hurt him more,and I was sick of being a coward.  I tooka leave of absence in early September to deal with my past as well as the depressionand anxiety that have haunted me my whole life. Writing has always been my solace and my passion. Through it, I'll heal theworld I broke and my own soul, and become the partner my husband deserves.  ThePhoenix will be reborn once more, not of fire, but of Darkness, and will emergestronger than ever.
This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25Personal Stories available on Amazonand Barnes& Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today. Also included are sneak peeks into 25 novels! My paranormal romance novel, Abigail , is one of thenovels featured. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for BreastCancer.

Description of the "War of Gods" seriesThe "War of Gods" series by Lizzy Ford is a paranormal romance series depicting the ongoing struggle between good and evil - and the immortals and their human mates who are caught in the middle.  The first book, "Damian's Oracle" (released October 2011) is the story of the White God and his Oracle, the cool beauty, Sofia.  The second book, "Damian's Assassin," (released November 2011) is about the White God's assassin and the woman who heals his heart and body.  The third book will be released 02 Dec and tells the tale of the White God's chief immortal and the mysterious, beautiful Magician he risks his life to protect.Lizzy's info:Website: http://www.guerrillawordfare.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooksTwitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010Google : https://plus.google.com/b/106728579413949863215/pages/getstarted#106728579413949863215/postsGR: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4558309.Lizzy_FordAmazon:http://www.amazon.com/Lizzy-Ford/e/B004XTTYOC/Damian'sOracle(currently free on Amazon)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Damians-Oracle-War-Gods-ebook/dp/B004JN0KHM/
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damians-oracle-lizzy-ford/1029664032iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/damians-oracle/id416014301?mt=11

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE TURKEY TROT

So you've heard of a blog hop? Wellthis is the first ever Fan Page Turkey Trot. You will get to discover somegreat new fan pages to like and win some prizes as well. Each fan page has todo with books and reading, and is linked to the other fan pages, so you willtrot your way through Facebook stopping each time you find the turkey. Whenyou start your trot you will be directed to a fan page. Take a look around, seewhat interests you. Then go to the photo albums and click through until youspot the turkey. Once you find the turkey, you'll know what to do next. Don'tworry if you get lost, you can come back here and get this link http://vmaarten.blogspot.com/2011/11/hop-tours-express.htmlwhich lists all the fanpages .
*Somepages will give you an instant code for a free download of a book while otherswill direct you to enter into a drawing.Starthere on Mel comley Facebook Fan Page
HappyTrotting!

Indie Chick Danielle Blanchard.

Another courageous story from one of my fellow Indie Chicks.  This week Danielle Blanchard is my guest.

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"Write or Die"2010 was the worstyear of my life. After a verysuccessful career in the banking industry, I suddenly found myself unemployed,my marriage falling apart and to add insult to injury my father dying. I had a10 month old daughter and suddenly, I was back living with my unmarried, child-freesister with two children. Life was bleak and the most terrifying part about thewhole situation was I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do.I was attendinguniversity for a degree in International Business but who was I kidding? I'dalways hated business; I was good at banking but should I base my career onsomething I was simply good at or should I be doing something I love? This wasmy dilemma and I had no one to blame for my predicament but myself.Plenty of women hadovercome more tremendous obstacles so why was I feeling sorry for myself? Isteeled my spine and decided to make some real decisions. In the middle of thedetritus which was now my life, I found a wonderful and caring man I fell hopelesslyin love with but the problem was he didn't live in this country and he was asuccessful and driven attorney. What would he want with someone like me?Unemployed, two children, divorced and somewhat shaky ambitions at an age wheremost women had it made, were married and excelling towards middle age. My lifewas a mess and I needed a man like a fish needs a bicycle (thanks, U2!).I took a long hardlook at my life and realized I had failed to plan and therefore I had plannedto fail. When I stood at thatpodium and looked at the few family and friends who had bothered to show up atmy dad's funeral, my life became so clear. My father had had so many chances;so much lost opportunities and had blew all of them due to fear and inertia. Iwas my father's daughter; I was falling into that same black hole ofdespondency with no way out.It took anotherfourteen months before I had the actual courage to see out my dream and make ita reality. Isabelle Solal had written a book, In The Past Imperfect, and her good friend, Sion Dayson, hadpromoted it on her blog. She was tired of waiting for the agent who would neveraccept the publisher who could never take a chance and had decided toself-publish her fictional book on Amazon. Was this possible? Could I self-publish?Could I take my book which I had tried to find an agent for the past eightyears or so and do it myself? Say it isn't so!I was so excitedabout the possibility of publishing, I dug it out of the place it'd warmed mydifferent hard drives and laptops over the years, decided at over one thousandhard back pages, it was much too long to publish as a full length novel,chopped it up into eight parts and hit publish on the first part. I was ecstatic as Ihad done my own cover (a beautiful statue which captivated me while I was on myEuropean vacation) and it was just so perfect. Unfortunately, no one else knewI existed and that is when I realized publishing was more than just abouthitting a button. I had to make sure my novel was edited, the right cover wasused to attract attention and there was a whole list of indie writers I didn'tknow about but they were there and ready to be at my service.In the beginning, Ionly used Kindle's Direct Publishing board because that was the only one I knewabout. Another writer, Athanasios, who wrote a thrilling book titled Mad Gods, told everyone on the KDP boardsabout a new Facebook board group called Indie Writers' Unite. I joined, CherylBradshaw, the creator of IWU accepted me, and the rest is history.I wish I could say Iam selling thousands of copies and I got the guy but that isn't life andnothing happens without time. I am selling and many people have discovered mywork; I have met some of the bravest men and women on the planet at IWU and Ifeel like a million bucks even if my life still isn't a bed of roses. The guy,like everything good in life, will take some time and I am willing to put it inand make the effort; nothing worth anything is easy to accomplish for thematter.I love to write sothat is what I'm doing. I enjoy writing whatever moves me, thus I have work inseveral different genres including Women's Literature, Contemporary Romance,Paranormal, Science Fiction and Fantasy. I also plan to do a novel I have hadin the works for a while that is firmly Mystery with a Thriller twist.For the first time, Istayed true to myself, my ambitions and what I want my life to be andrepresent. I know it will get better and all my dreams will come true—many ofthem already have. My life is still changing, still revolving but I have comeout ahead, stronger and more positive than I ever thought possible. I learnedthe hard way either I write or I can simply subsist and die.Life is like writing;it isn't about perfection but it is about the possibilities we are given everyday, the decisions we make and what we want to do with them. It is about forksin the road and deciding which direction to take and making the best withwhatever is thrown at us once we make our decisions. It is the way it should beand that is simply imperfect.

Amazon (U.S.)Death Wish: Book I (The Vamp Saga): http://www.amazon.com/Death-Wish-Book-Vamp-ebook/dp/B00631HMHYForever 27 (A Novelette): http://www.amazon.com/Forever-27-Novelette-Club-ebook/dp/B005N04MFQ
Amazon (UK)Death Wish: Book I (The Vamp Saga): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Wish-Book-Vamp-ebook/dp/B00641XV3WForever 27 (A Novelette): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forever-27-Novelette-Club-ebook/dp/B005WZYMX4
Barnes & Noble1) Death Wish: Book I (The Vamp Saga): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-wish-danielle-blanchard-benson/11070672142) Forever 27 (A Novelette):  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-27-danielle-blanchard/1105648222
Smashwords
1) Death Wish: Book I (The Vamp Saga):  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1014402) Forever 27 ( A Novellete) Now Free on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88853
CreateSpace (Paperback): https://www.createspace.com/3719572--

Danielle Blanchard Benson, Author of The Vamp Saga and The Beautiful People seriesAll books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords!
Death Wish: Book I (paperback): https://www.createspace.com/3719572Blog:http://thebeautifulpeopleawritersjourney.blogspot.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Author.Danielle.Blanchard.BensonTwitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DeeBlanchard007

Cruel Justice was featured on Pixel of Ink today!http://w...

Cruel Justice was featured on Pixel of Ink today!


http://www.pixelofink.com/bargain-ebook-cruel-justice-by-mel-comley/

Nice to see Lorne romping up the charts again. #6 in the police procedurals!

  #4 in the movers and shakers list on Amazon.com overnight too!

Another Indie Chick for you to discover.

This week it's my pleasure to welcome Indie Chick, Heather Adkins to my blog.


Latchkey KidIt isn't easy being the daughter of a police officer, butit's even more difficult to be the daughter of a female police officer.I would come to understand this early, and often, in my life.
My mom's career has always been the whirling force of myexistence.
She was sworn into the Louisville Police Department on September 10, 1990. I wasfive years old. For the majority of my developmental years, I bounced through asuccession of caretakers—my grandmother, my father and stepmother, and a kindwoman I called 'Mama Lo'—while my mom was forging her way through her earlyyears as a rookie officer.
I remember late nights—my mom in her uniform, her gun beltdigging into my side as she bundled me into a blanket to carry me to the car. Iremember mornings getting on the school bus, knowing Mom would be coming homefrom work just in time for me to leave. But when I remember these things, theyare snippets: Only bits and pieces of the woman who is my mother. Her job wasdemanding and sometimes, you just have to sacrifice to make your dreams cometrue.
When I was ten, Mom aced the Detective test and was grantedher first promotion. Suddenly, we were buying a new house in a niceneighborhood. I was in middle school, which was awkward enough, and Mom beganworking 4 pm to midnight.
Thus began my time as a Latchkey Kid.
I rode the bus home from school and let myself into thehouse around 4:30 everyafternoon. Under Mom's strict instructions, I would check to make sure allthree doors of the house were locked and then I would set the alarm.
Until bedtime, I was on lockdown. No going outside—not evento the backyard. No answering the door, no looking out the windows. Just me andthe dog: A tiny Shih-Tzu named Cinnamon.
I was kind of an odd child. I didn't care much fortelevision, though I did love to play Nintendo. I could rock on some MarioBros. I also absolutely loved to read, particularly R.L. Stine's Goosebumpsand Ann M. Martin's The Babysitter's Club.
There is really only so much video gaming and reading agirl can do before she wishes she had another hobby. At least, that's how itwas for me. I was lonely. Monday through Friday, every evening alone…it sucked.
It was around this time that my daddy shared with me anovel he was writing. Daddy is a computer guru who does freelance work, but hewrites for fun on the side. "Demigod" was one of the most amazing things I hadever read. Not only was I astounded that my dad had such talent, but for thefirst time I realized there were people behind the books I liked to read.
Armed with nothing more than spiral-bound notebooks andpencils, I began writing.
Between 10 and 16, I wrote seven full-length novels. Today,I suppose they would be considered Young Adult. Some of them were murdermysteries with strong heroines. Many of them had elements of what today isconsidered Paranormal Romance. Most of my early influences were from authors Ienjoyed: Stine, as well as Richie Tankersley Cusick and Christopher Pike.Somewhere in the midst of all this, my mom bought me a laptop and I transferredeverything to digital.
I continued to write during high school, thoughsignificantly less once I got my driver's license. I focused mainly on shortstories and built up a vast collection that I ended up losing to the nightmareof an erased floppy disk. I majored in English in high school. Earned a couplecollege credits. And was told multiple times by various English teachers that Ihad talent.
After graduation, I went away to college at Western Kentucky University.My mother had married a great man who was also a police officer. Between thetwo of them, I was able to go away to school and thus started several years ofBAD DECISIONS. I kicked it off right, as most first-time college teens do. Idrank too much and partied too hard, not making it to class, much less spendingmy time writing. Two years later, I came home to Louisville with my tail between my legs, nosmarter than I was before.
Back at my mother and stepfather's home, I found thesituation to be stifling for the girl who had done what she wanted, when shewanted for so long. I was already rebelling—not phoning, disappearing allnight—when a chance encounter on the banks of the Ohio River brought a man into my life who was not right for mein more ways than one.
Jason was an ex-con and felon. I was the daughter of twopolice officers. Cue ominous music.
Let's skip the dirty parts and go to the section where Ipack my things and flee into the night like a bat out of Hades. My parentschange the locks, I cut off all contact, and hole up in a hovel on 3rd Street with myfriend, Brent. Oh, and in the meantime, my convict boyfriend ends up back inthe Slammer.
I bounced around for some time. To an apartment with mycousin, Ryan. Then to a big, fancy house outside of Nashville, Tennesseewith Jason's family. After severing ties with them, I rented a tiny studioapartment downtown. I moved a couple more times, losing money (and myself) inthe process.
Not once in the years I spent chasing something,anything in Tennesseedid I sit down to write.
In January 2008, I was in debt and barely hanging on to theapartment I was renting. My good-for-nothing, pot-smokingboyfriend-of-the-moment wasn't helping with the bills because he couldn't holda job. My car was on the verge of repossession. I was going nowhere; theonly positive thing I did have was that I was talking with my parents again.
Then the life-shattering, earth-moving event. In North Carolina, January31st, my cousin Cory—a Marine, a firefighter, one of my best friends—was killedin a car accident. He was 25 years old.
My mom drove from Louisvilleto Nashvillethe minute she heard. She told me it was because she didn't want me to bealone, nor did she want to tell me something so sensitive over the phone. That'sjust how she is; no matter how terrible a daughter I could be, she always putme first.
Later that same night after she left, I was alone. Mydeadhead boyfriend wasn't home, neither was our equally stoned roommate. I wassitting on our single mattress on the floor, looking around our bare room withits one dresser and a floor strewn with clothes. It hit me.
What are you doing? Really?
Was I just trying to prove I could do it on my own? BecauseI couldn't. Obviously.
In a flash of grief and pain, I realized my life hadspiraled out of control simply because I was too stubborn to admit my parentswere right.
I packed my things. My dog and I climbed in the old Jeep.And we came home to Louisville.
During the upheaval of moving back, I also found somethingI hadn't yet realized I had lost—my writing. Whether it was my grief over Coryor simply returning home, I don't know—but I started writing again.
Even better…I finished the novels I had started yearsbefore and I have started (and finished) even more in the time since.
I've been through a lot in my life. Maybe it wasn't as badas some, maybe it wasn't as rough…but it shows that a girl can make baddecisions, life-changing mistakes, and still bounce back.
My mom is a Major with the Louisville Metro Police force—thethird highest ranking female on the department. She just celebrated her 21stanniversary this month. I am in a stable, committed relationship with a man whowill one day be my husband. We live in a small but nice home—I'm a policedispatcher. He's a police officer.
I was a latchkey kid and because of it, I am now a writer.I am the daughter of a female police officer, and because of that, I'm astronger, better woman.
***This is one story from Indie Chicks: 25 Women 25Personal Stories available on Amazonand Barnes& Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today. Also included are sneak peeks into 25 novels! My paranormal romance novel, Abigail , is one of thenovels featured. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for BreastCancer.

AbigailAmazon USAmazon UKBarnes& NobleSmashwords

Today I have Rosen Trevithick on my blog as part of her t...

Today I have Rosen Trevithick on my blog as part of her tour.

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When and why did you decide to become an Indie writer?
I've been a writer for as long as I can remember. I used to write puppet shows as a child and perform them through a hatch way in our house. Writing eBooks is the natural step for a keen writer who wants to share her work. 
Straight Out of University is my latest novel. It's a comedy-romance about leaving university and approaching thirty.
What genre do you write in and what genre do you prefer to read?

My favourite books to read, are those that make me laugh. I also enjoy reading a good thriller. Most of the material I write is comedy, because I like to be entertained as I work.
Where do you sell most books, USA or UK, Amazon or Barnes and Noble?

I sell most of my books through Amazon UK. I've only just published with Smashwords, so my books are not available in the Barnes and Noble store just yet. I'm expecting Straight Out of University to be added soon.
During your childhood who was your biggest influence?

As a child I loved Roald Dahl. His colourful characters, magical stories and made up words set him part from all of the other childrens' writers.
Are you fortunate enough to write full-time?I write part-time. I'd love to be able to make a living from writing, but I feel that doing it full-time would be rather too solitary for my liking. 
What are your plans for the coming year?I'm currently working on a children's book. It's all rather hush-hush at the moment, but I will be able to reveal more later this year.
And finally, if you were stranded on a desert island what 3 books would you choose to have with you?

"How to escape a desert island Vols 1-3."

Details of latest book: http://www.rosentrevithick.co.uk/straight-out-of-university/Trailer for latest book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47VoHXM-4VYMy writing in general: http://www.rosentrevithick.co.uk/

Featured Indie Chick this week is Shea MacLeod.

If Shea's story doesn't move you to tears then I don't know what will.

Knight in Shining Armorby Shéa MacLeod
It's strange how long a bruise can last.  Long after the physical evidence is gone, the muscles remember.  A raised hand or an angry voice, and the bodyflinches away.  The mind tries to forget,bury the pain deep … but the scars are forever.It didn't start that way, of course. He said all the right things.  Didall the right things.  When I was sick hetook care of me.  When my car broke downhe fixed it.  I thought I'd finally foundmy knight in shining armor.  What I'd found was a nightmare. The minute I was hooked, everything changed.  It started with the name calling, the blame,the bouts of rage.  As time passed, heturned increasingly violent.  It wasalways my fault.  I was useless.  I'd never be anything.  Do anything. Accomplish anything.  If I tried to fight him, he threatened to destroy everyone Iloved.  To ruin their lives.  Stupidly, I believed him.He was always sorry after.You might ask why I didn't leave. It's a fair question.  But untilyou've been there, until you've lived through that, you have no idea how messedup a woman's head gets when she has to live through that day after day.  There is no such thing as confidence,self-esteem.  You learn to live with theoverwhelming conviction that this is all there is.  You have nowhere else to go.  That's the very worst part of abuse. Beyond the bruises and the emotional scars.  The absolute knowledge that this is the wayyou will live.  And most likely the wayyou will die.  You don't deserve anythingelse.In a way, I was lucky.  I hadsomething else.  A secret weapon, if youwill.  I just had no idea back then howpowerful that weapon was.I could write.All through those nightmare years I wrote.  Not about what I was living through, butabout something else.  An imaginary worldwhere I would escape, where I was strong. A place where I kicked bad guy ass. A place where I was my own hero.Prophetic?  Perhaps.  The writing kept a spark of something alive in me.  My soul? Hope?  Who knows.  But one day, that tiny spark of somethingflared up.  I couldn't take anotherminute.I had nothing.  No money.  Nowhere to go.  But I walked out that door and never lookedback.  Nobody rode in on a white horse to save me.  I saved myself.It was a very long uphill struggle to get healthy again, but throughit all I kept writing.  Writing hadalways been my passion, now it was my salvation, too.Through writing I regained my sense of self.  I grew strong.  Stronger than I ever had been before.  Words poured from me as my mind and bodyhealed itself.  Slowly but surely Irecovered.It's nine years later and that life seems like a distantnightmare.  The woman I was then couldnever have dreamed of the life I am living today.The writing has never stopped. It just moved with me, changing zip codes.  I now write in a sunny room in a Georgiantownhouse in London, England.  I haveself published two novels and am about to publish the third.  My stories, while sometimes holding a darkedge, are still full of hope and my readers love them.  I am now selling enough that I can stay athome and write full time.  I made mydreams a reality.Guess what?You can, too.The day I walked out of that abusive relationship was the day Ibecame my own hero.  That one action changedeverything.If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, pleasevisit the Hot Peach Pages for a list of agencies all over the world who helpwomen living in domestic violence.   http://www.hotpeachpages.net/  No woman deserves to be abused and mistreated.  It's time to say NO to violence.It's time to be your own hero.
"This is one story from IndieChicks: 25 Women 25 Personal Stories available on Amazon and Barnes &Noble. To read all of the stories, buy your copy today. Also included are sneakpeeks into 25 novels! My novel, DRAGON WARRIOR, is one of the novels featured.All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer."
Indie Chicks is available on Amazonand Barnes& Noble.
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http://sheamacleod.wordpress.com/DragonWarrior on AmazonDragon Warrioron Smashwords

It's A Dog's Life.

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I've released a novellette in ebook format, with theintention of sending all the royalties to a Dog Rescue Charity that is close tomy heart.About a year before we left England, we met a wonderful ladycalled Sheila Tremellen. We'd just come back from a holiday in Florida anddiscovered one of our dogs, 'Lady' had died in the boarding kennels.Devastated, and needing to find another companion for ourother dog 'Angel' I bought the local paper and saw Sheila's number being advertised.When I rang her we clicked immediately, she invited me toher beautiful old cottage, which had a small kennel attached at the side, whereshe cared for the abandoned dogs she rescued. Sheila showed us a litter of border collies that had beenfound abandoned in a box. I was immediately drawn to the runt of the litter,the only male in the pack, who was picked on by his sisters. We named him Henryand he now features prominently in my books. Almost ten months later we moved to France, but we've never lostcontact with Sheila. Every Christmas she sends a lengthy newsletter to thepeople who've adopted one of her dogs, highlighting the dogs she has saved andre-homed during the current year.I was so proud of her achievements when, in 2002 Sheila wona BBC UK Animal Award for her charity work. Then in 2006, her work got therecognition it deserves when she was awarded an MBE by the Queen.Over the years Sheila has saved a staggering 1040 dogs.From the minute I met Sheila, I knew I had to help out insome way, but donating a small amount to her charity at Christmas wasn't enoughfor me. Unlike other charities out there, I know that every penny donated goesto the dogs in Sheila's care.Therefore, I have decided that all the royalties I make fromselling my story about the plight of ex-racing greyhounds, will be winging itsway to PUPS charity in Worcester.So I'm urging people to buy the book at:   http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Lorne-Simpkins-novellette-ebook/dp/B0063CCIA4
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dogs-Lorne-Simpkins-novellette-ebook/dp/B0063CCIA4
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101925But if you'd like to make further donations to this worthycause please contact me at my email address:  impjust AT orange DOT fr and I'll put you intouch with Sheila.