Krista Ames's Blog, page 123
January 28, 2013
Author, author...
...read all about it !!
Today we have... Cameo Renae with us !!
Welcome, so great to have you here with us.
Thank you so much for having me!!! It’s an honor to be here!!!
Do real life events find their way into your stories?
I think so. Not in a blatant way, but there are some instances where I used a real life event or memory. But majority of what I’ve written so far has been made up.
Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?
Yes. Haha My characters have multiple personalities of friends and family around me, mixed with my own weird humor.
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?
Each novel I’ve written so far have totally different inspirations.
When do you write? Early morning? During the day sometime or all day? After the kids go to bed?
Right now, I only write at night after everyone is sleeping. It’s dark, cool, and quiet. The best time to create. That’s my magic time. That’s when I boot up the laptop, plug in my ear-buds, turn up my writing music, exit the real world and enter my writing world.
How do you feel about marketing your book?
I LOATHE IT…lol I don’t like marketing at all!!! When my kids had fundraisers in school, we’d buy all of the product because I didn’t want to deal with selling it to others. It sucks, and I’m not good at marketing my own stuff. Maybe one day I’ll get rich so I can hire someone to do all of my marketing.
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?
Right now, Facebook seems to be the best place to promote. I try and use twitter, but I end up getting all twitterpated and stressed out. Goodreads is cool too.
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?
I don’t pitch. I have a bad arm. Haha Sorry, that was really bad. BUT… no, I don’t pitch. I wait until the story is complete to see if it’s even worth having someone take a look at.
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing? If so, what is it?
I’d love to try and write a contemporary romance. I don’t know if I ever will, because I’m more of a horror/suspense/humor writer. We’ll see.
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?
Oh yes… I do put myself in the main characters shoes because it’s easier to create feelings and movements when I’m there. I’ve been writing in the first person, which seems to work great for YA and for me.
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions,
Favorite 5
1) Favorite Male Actor - Chris Hemsworth2) Favorite vehicle – Audi A3 (that was our last car and I LOVED it.)3) Favorite way to relax – In bed watching a good movie with my hubby, or reading a great book. 4) Favorite ice cream – Haagen-Dazs Coffee 5) Favorite outfit – Sweatpants and a t-shirt
And for a bonus: If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
Oh gosh…that’s a hard one! Maybe on a Scottish hillside, in a castle, surrounded by mountains, and nature.
Where can our readers find you??
Email: cameo@cameorenae.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/CameoRenae Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CameoRenaeFanPage?ref=hl Website/blog: http://cameorenae.com Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Cameo-Renae/e/B004X2PEH0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4794993.Cameo_Renae
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Hidden Wings..
Seventeen, for Emma Wise, would be a life changing year; sole survivor in car wreck which robbed her of the parents she loved, started a spiral of blurry happenings. A broken arm and few scrapes and bruises are all the outward marks she bares, but inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered to the ends of the earth. Whisked away to Alaska, and an aunt she’s never met, Emma must start all over… broken and alone.
Escorted by the gorgeous Kade Anders, Emma succumbs to a new barrage of feelings. Warmth rushes through her, accompanied by dizzy, euphoric feelings she’s never thought possible. His touch is electrifying to her body and soul. And…it’s only just begun for her.
The secrets unveiling themselves to Emma are going to send her life into a whirlwind of deceit. Her parents, who she loved dearly, weren’t hers at all, and she’s not who she thought she was, or even what she thought she was. Being one of a kind has now placed Emma in the heart of a danger she knew nothing about. Centuries have been passed, awaiting her arrival, and now creatures of horrifying, evil proportions are coming for her. With the help of six, mind-numbingly, beautiful Guardians, and the Aunt she’s just beginning to know, she must be kept safe until her eighteenth birthday. Only then, her transformation will be complete, and she will have a chance at survival. Time will tell what Emma will become, and if she will survive to see eighteen.
Buy link: Amazon
One last thing before we let you leave us today. Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share.
I have this recipe for Korean Chicken Wings. It’s a hit and I’m constantly asked to bring this dish to parties.
Chicken Wings parts. The wing drums and wing pieces. Even mixture of flour and Mochiko (sweet rice flour)Coat wings in flour mixture and refrigerate for about a half hour, deep fry to a golden brown and immediately dip pieces (as they come out of the fryer) into special sauce.
Sauce:1 cup - Aloha Soy Sauce (Shoyu)¾ cup sugar1-2 tsp. sesame oil1 TBSP minced garlicMinced green onionMix together until sugar dissolves.
Once dipped put pieces on a platter and garnish with sesame seeds and more green onion. (optional) YUM!!!
Oh yummy, that sounds like a total winner !!! My hubby loves wings. Thanks for that recipe :)
So glad you could be with us today Cameo and congrats on your release, Hidden Wings. Readers, make sure you get your copy of Hidden Wings today!!
Until next time, happy reading !
Krista
Today we have... Cameo Renae with us !!
Welcome, so great to have you here with us.
Thank you so much for having me!!! It’s an honor to be here!!!
Do real life events find their way into your stories?
I think so. Not in a blatant way, but there are some instances where I used a real life event or memory. But majority of what I’ve written so far has been made up.
Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?
Yes. Haha My characters have multiple personalities of friends and family around me, mixed with my own weird humor.
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?
Each novel I’ve written so far have totally different inspirations.
When do you write? Early morning? During the day sometime or all day? After the kids go to bed?
Right now, I only write at night after everyone is sleeping. It’s dark, cool, and quiet. The best time to create. That’s my magic time. That’s when I boot up the laptop, plug in my ear-buds, turn up my writing music, exit the real world and enter my writing world.
How do you feel about marketing your book?
I LOATHE IT…lol I don’t like marketing at all!!! When my kids had fundraisers in school, we’d buy all of the product because I didn’t want to deal with selling it to others. It sucks, and I’m not good at marketing my own stuff. Maybe one day I’ll get rich so I can hire someone to do all of my marketing.
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?
Right now, Facebook seems to be the best place to promote. I try and use twitter, but I end up getting all twitterpated and stressed out. Goodreads is cool too.
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?
I don’t pitch. I have a bad arm. Haha Sorry, that was really bad. BUT… no, I don’t pitch. I wait until the story is complete to see if it’s even worth having someone take a look at.
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing? If so, what is it?
I’d love to try and write a contemporary romance. I don’t know if I ever will, because I’m more of a horror/suspense/humor writer. We’ll see.
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?
Oh yes… I do put myself in the main characters shoes because it’s easier to create feelings and movements when I’m there. I’ve been writing in the first person, which seems to work great for YA and for me.
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions,
Favorite 5
1) Favorite Male Actor - Chris Hemsworth2) Favorite vehicle – Audi A3 (that was our last car and I LOVED it.)3) Favorite way to relax – In bed watching a good movie with my hubby, or reading a great book. 4) Favorite ice cream – Haagen-Dazs Coffee 5) Favorite outfit – Sweatpants and a t-shirt
And for a bonus: If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
Oh gosh…that’s a hard one! Maybe on a Scottish hillside, in a castle, surrounded by mountains, and nature.
Where can our readers find you??
Email: cameo@cameorenae.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/CameoRenae Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CameoRenaeFanPage?ref=hl Website/blog: http://cameorenae.com Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Cameo-Renae/e/B004X2PEH0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4794993.Cameo_Renae
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Hidden Wings..
Seventeen, for Emma Wise, would be a life changing year; sole survivor in car wreck which robbed her of the parents she loved, started a spiral of blurry happenings. A broken arm and few scrapes and bruises are all the outward marks she bares, but inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered to the ends of the earth. Whisked away to Alaska, and an aunt she’s never met, Emma must start all over… broken and alone.Escorted by the gorgeous Kade Anders, Emma succumbs to a new barrage of feelings. Warmth rushes through her, accompanied by dizzy, euphoric feelings she’s never thought possible. His touch is electrifying to her body and soul. And…it’s only just begun for her.
The secrets unveiling themselves to Emma are going to send her life into a whirlwind of deceit. Her parents, who she loved dearly, weren’t hers at all, and she’s not who she thought she was, or even what she thought she was. Being one of a kind has now placed Emma in the heart of a danger she knew nothing about. Centuries have been passed, awaiting her arrival, and now creatures of horrifying, evil proportions are coming for her. With the help of six, mind-numbingly, beautiful Guardians, and the Aunt she’s just beginning to know, she must be kept safe until her eighteenth birthday. Only then, her transformation will be complete, and she will have a chance at survival. Time will tell what Emma will become, and if she will survive to see eighteen.
Buy link: Amazon
One last thing before we let you leave us today. Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share.
I have this recipe for Korean Chicken Wings. It’s a hit and I’m constantly asked to bring this dish to parties.
Chicken Wings parts. The wing drums and wing pieces. Even mixture of flour and Mochiko (sweet rice flour)Coat wings in flour mixture and refrigerate for about a half hour, deep fry to a golden brown and immediately dip pieces (as they come out of the fryer) into special sauce.
Sauce:1 cup - Aloha Soy Sauce (Shoyu)¾ cup sugar1-2 tsp. sesame oil1 TBSP minced garlicMinced green onionMix together until sugar dissolves.
Once dipped put pieces on a platter and garnish with sesame seeds and more green onion. (optional) YUM!!!
Oh yummy, that sounds like a total winner !!! My hubby loves wings. Thanks for that recipe :)
So glad you could be with us today Cameo and congrats on your release, Hidden Wings. Readers, make sure you get your copy of Hidden Wings today!!
Until next time, happy reading !
Krista
January 25, 2013
Romance Madness Hop
Welcome to my post for the
Romance Madness Hop
sponsored by
The Romance Reviews!!
Today i want to share one of my all-time favorite romance books.....
Colters' WomanBook 1 in the Colters' LegacybyMaya Banks
At this point I don't even remember how I came across this book but I am oh so glad I did. I definitely have to say that this is probably one of my most favorite reads. I've even read it more than once...about 4 times actually. I just think it's a really well written book. Maya Banks did a fantastic job capturing these characters in a moving and romantic way.
blurb:Holly Bardwell is running from her past mistakes. Straight into the arms of the Colter brothers.Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren’t looking for women. They’re looking for a woman. One woman they know will share their lives and their beds. They’re losing hope they’ll find her, that is until Adam discovers Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin.Adam knows she’s the one the minute he holds her in his arms, and as soon as his brothers see her, they know it too. The only problem is convincing Holly of that fact—and protecting her from the danger of her past.
excerpt:Holly sat at the bar between Adam and Ryan as Ethan served up plates of bacon, eggs and toast. She glanced between them often, gauging their mood, their reaction to her, but they seemed unruffled.
It was as if they made such proclamations every day. She shook her head and speared another piece of egg with her fork. How could such a relationship work? Jealousy would be inevitable. And things would be much more difficult for her than for any of them. They would only have one "spouse" to contend with while she would have three.
Three men to please, put up with, all different. The mere idea of the complexities involved in the situation made her head ache even harder.
Ethan was the easiest going of the three brothers. She relaxed around him. It was a natural reaction. Even if she didn't know Adam was the oldest, it was as clear as if it was written across his forehead. And even though he had gone to great lengths to make her feel at ease, she knew he could be dangerous when crossed. He exuded power and authority, wore it like a mantle draped around him.
Her gaze flitted sideways to Ryan. He was an enigma. The only one she didn't have an idea formed about already. He was quiet and serious, but more than that, she saw pain in his eyes. Like her, he'd seen the darker side of life.
"Are you all right?" Ethan asked.
She looked up to see him frowning at her.
"Just a headache," she replied.
He walked to one of the cabinets and retrieved a bottle of ibuprofen, shook out several pills and handed them to her. Just one more example of them taking care of her. It warmed her to her toes and scared the hell out of her all at the same time.
"What's on your mind, baby?" Adam asked.
Was she that easy to read? Could they already see inside her mind and soul? Her fingers tensed on her fork for a moment as she contemplated denying that anything was on her mind, but Adam's honesty compelled her to be equally honest.
"The dynamics of the whole relationship you all propose… It's rather mind-boggling."
She didn't miss the triumphant smiles passed between the brothers. Surely to them, this was a sign they were making headway. And maybe they were, as insane as she was to even contemplate it.
"Anything in particular you want to talk about?" Adam prompted.
She sighed and set down her fork. "This has all pretty much blown me away. I don't even know where to begin. I keep expecting to be told this is one huge joke at my expense."
Ryan put a hand on her knee. "This is no joke. Now tell us what's on your mind."
She took in a deep breath, told herself she was completely nuts and then proceeded to tell them precisely what concerns she had.
"The thing is, you guys only have one person to concern yourselves with, relationship-wise. I have three. Three overbearing, overprotective, rather large men. I don't see how it's remotely possible that I could please all of you all of the time."
Cocky, self-assured grins adorned the three men's faces.
"I don't think any of us expect perfection," Ethan said. "Though," he added with an up-and-down sweep of her, "I'm not arguing with what we've been given."
"We've discussed this many times," Adam said in a serious tone. "We know it won't always be easy. It wasn't always easy for our mother and fathers, but if we all work at it, there's no reason we can't live in harmony."
"I guess I just don't understand the concept," Holly said. "I can't wrap my brain around it."
Ryan reclaimed her attention by turning her back around to face him. "Then think of it this way. Three men completely devoted to your happiness. Three men worshipping your body with theirs. Three men who would love you with complete abandon. Three men who would protect you and cherish you always."
She stared at him open-mouthed. "Well, when you put it that way."
"Damn, Ryan, why didn't you speak up earlier?" Ethan said in amusement.
"The first order of business is to go into town and buy you some clothes and whatever else you need," Adam said, changing the subject.
"But I don't need anything," she protested. Well, that wasn't entirely true, but she didn't want them buying her a bunch of stuff.
"Ryan, you care to repeat that part about three men devoted to her happiness, worshipping her, etcetera?" Ethan spoke up. "Because I'm pretty sure making sure our woman is clothed and provided for falls under that heading."
Holly blushed.
"Ethan, you and Ryan want to drive her into town? I need to check out the horses and get the hay out. It's supposed to snow again tonight." Adam turned to Holly. "There's a western store in town. It isn't much but you'll be able to get boots, jeans and some shirts. And a coat. You need a decent coat. Next week, we'll drive into the city to do the heavy shopping for you."
"Thank you." She couldn't manage much more around the huge knot in her throat. She felt dangerously close to tears and fought to contain them.
Adam leaned forward and brushed his mouth across hers. He was surprisingly gentle. For the first time, she reached a hand out to touch him, running her fingertips across his cheek, feeling the slight stubble along his jaw.
When he drew away, his eyes were burning with passion, and she felt heady with the knowledge she had affected him.
Ryan stood up from his seat at the bar. "Well if we're going into town, we need to go now. We don't want to be late getting back if it's going to snow."
"Is it…is it safe for me to go into town?" she asked. The idea that someone might see her and report back to Mason struck fear into her heart, despite the brothers' vow to protect her.
"We'll make sure you're not seen," Ethan said. "Riley's Western Store is on the edge of town. We'll park you in a corner of the store and do your shopping for you, let you try on stuff if you need to, and we'll keep a sharp eye for anything unusual going on."
She expelled a long breath. "Okay. Let's do it then."
Both blurb and excerpt are thanks to http://mayabanks.com/books/woman/
At the bottom of Maya's page are all the buy links for this book.
Maya continues the Colters' Legacy with a free short story sequel to the Colters' Woman called Colters' Wife. It's available here. Then after that is Colters' Lady, Colters' Daughter, Colters' Promise and Colters' Gift which comes out in April 2013.
Trust me the rest of the books in this series definitely do not disappoint either. This is one series I would recommend to anyone I meet that loves to read romance !!!
I would love to hear from you readers as to whether you've ever read this series and what you thought. Or, please tell me what your favorite Romance book is !
One lucky person will win digital copies of each of my 4 short story anthologies !!
Please leave your comment below and don't forget to click on the Romance Madness Hop button for the next blog in the hop.
Romance Madness Hop
sponsored by
The Romance Reviews!!
Today i want to share one of my all-time favorite romance books.....
Colters' WomanBook 1 in the Colters' LegacybyMaya Banks
At this point I don't even remember how I came across this book but I am oh so glad I did. I definitely have to say that this is probably one of my most favorite reads. I've even read it more than once...about 4 times actually. I just think it's a really well written book. Maya Banks did a fantastic job capturing these characters in a moving and romantic way.
blurb:Holly Bardwell is running from her past mistakes. Straight into the arms of the Colter brothers.Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren’t looking for women. They’re looking for a woman. One woman they know will share their lives and their beds. They’re losing hope they’ll find her, that is until Adam discovers Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin.Adam knows she’s the one the minute he holds her in his arms, and as soon as his brothers see her, they know it too. The only problem is convincing Holly of that fact—and protecting her from the danger of her past.
excerpt:Holly sat at the bar between Adam and Ryan as Ethan served up plates of bacon, eggs and toast. She glanced between them often, gauging their mood, their reaction to her, but they seemed unruffled.
It was as if they made such proclamations every day. She shook her head and speared another piece of egg with her fork. How could such a relationship work? Jealousy would be inevitable. And things would be much more difficult for her than for any of them. They would only have one "spouse" to contend with while she would have three.
Three men to please, put up with, all different. The mere idea of the complexities involved in the situation made her head ache even harder.
Ethan was the easiest going of the three brothers. She relaxed around him. It was a natural reaction. Even if she didn't know Adam was the oldest, it was as clear as if it was written across his forehead. And even though he had gone to great lengths to make her feel at ease, she knew he could be dangerous when crossed. He exuded power and authority, wore it like a mantle draped around him.
Her gaze flitted sideways to Ryan. He was an enigma. The only one she didn't have an idea formed about already. He was quiet and serious, but more than that, she saw pain in his eyes. Like her, he'd seen the darker side of life.
"Are you all right?" Ethan asked.
She looked up to see him frowning at her.
"Just a headache," she replied.
He walked to one of the cabinets and retrieved a bottle of ibuprofen, shook out several pills and handed them to her. Just one more example of them taking care of her. It warmed her to her toes and scared the hell out of her all at the same time.
"What's on your mind, baby?" Adam asked.
Was she that easy to read? Could they already see inside her mind and soul? Her fingers tensed on her fork for a moment as she contemplated denying that anything was on her mind, but Adam's honesty compelled her to be equally honest.
"The dynamics of the whole relationship you all propose… It's rather mind-boggling."
She didn't miss the triumphant smiles passed between the brothers. Surely to them, this was a sign they were making headway. And maybe they were, as insane as she was to even contemplate it.
"Anything in particular you want to talk about?" Adam prompted.
She sighed and set down her fork. "This has all pretty much blown me away. I don't even know where to begin. I keep expecting to be told this is one huge joke at my expense."
Ryan put a hand on her knee. "This is no joke. Now tell us what's on your mind."
She took in a deep breath, told herself she was completely nuts and then proceeded to tell them precisely what concerns she had.
"The thing is, you guys only have one person to concern yourselves with, relationship-wise. I have three. Three overbearing, overprotective, rather large men. I don't see how it's remotely possible that I could please all of you all of the time."
Cocky, self-assured grins adorned the three men's faces.
"I don't think any of us expect perfection," Ethan said. "Though," he added with an up-and-down sweep of her, "I'm not arguing with what we've been given."
"We've discussed this many times," Adam said in a serious tone. "We know it won't always be easy. It wasn't always easy for our mother and fathers, but if we all work at it, there's no reason we can't live in harmony."
"I guess I just don't understand the concept," Holly said. "I can't wrap my brain around it."
Ryan reclaimed her attention by turning her back around to face him. "Then think of it this way. Three men completely devoted to your happiness. Three men worshipping your body with theirs. Three men who would love you with complete abandon. Three men who would protect you and cherish you always."
She stared at him open-mouthed. "Well, when you put it that way."
"Damn, Ryan, why didn't you speak up earlier?" Ethan said in amusement.
"The first order of business is to go into town and buy you some clothes and whatever else you need," Adam said, changing the subject.
"But I don't need anything," she protested. Well, that wasn't entirely true, but she didn't want them buying her a bunch of stuff.
"Ryan, you care to repeat that part about three men devoted to her happiness, worshipping her, etcetera?" Ethan spoke up. "Because I'm pretty sure making sure our woman is clothed and provided for falls under that heading."
Holly blushed.
"Ethan, you and Ryan want to drive her into town? I need to check out the horses and get the hay out. It's supposed to snow again tonight." Adam turned to Holly. "There's a western store in town. It isn't much but you'll be able to get boots, jeans and some shirts. And a coat. You need a decent coat. Next week, we'll drive into the city to do the heavy shopping for you."
"Thank you." She couldn't manage much more around the huge knot in her throat. She felt dangerously close to tears and fought to contain them.
Adam leaned forward and brushed his mouth across hers. He was surprisingly gentle. For the first time, she reached a hand out to touch him, running her fingertips across his cheek, feeling the slight stubble along his jaw.
When he drew away, his eyes were burning with passion, and she felt heady with the knowledge she had affected him.
Ryan stood up from his seat at the bar. "Well if we're going into town, we need to go now. We don't want to be late getting back if it's going to snow."
"Is it…is it safe for me to go into town?" she asked. The idea that someone might see her and report back to Mason struck fear into her heart, despite the brothers' vow to protect her.
"We'll make sure you're not seen," Ethan said. "Riley's Western Store is on the edge of town. We'll park you in a corner of the store and do your shopping for you, let you try on stuff if you need to, and we'll keep a sharp eye for anything unusual going on."
She expelled a long breath. "Okay. Let's do it then."
Both blurb and excerpt are thanks to http://mayabanks.com/books/woman/
At the bottom of Maya's page are all the buy links for this book.
Maya continues the Colters' Legacy with a free short story sequel to the Colters' Woman called Colters' Wife. It's available here. Then after that is Colters' Lady, Colters' Daughter, Colters' Promise and Colters' Gift which comes out in April 2013.
Trust me the rest of the books in this series definitely do not disappoint either. This is one series I would recommend to anyone I meet that loves to read romance !!!
I would love to hear from you readers as to whether you've ever read this series and what you thought. Or, please tell me what your favorite Romance book is !
One lucky person will win digital copies of each of my 4 short story anthologies !!
Please leave your comment below and don't forget to click on the Romance Madness Hop button for the next blog in the hop.
January 24, 2013
Author, author... #giveaway
....read all about it !!
Today we have Khelsey Jackson to tell
us a little about herself and her writing !
Welcome, so great to have you here with us. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hello! My name is Khelsey and I live in Las Vegas. I was raised in Minnesota in a very small town called Pillager. I am a stay at home mother of three kids all under four. I wrote Kallos, and it took me a year to write it.
Do real life events find their way into your stories?Kind of, I use what I learned.
Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?I do Sean is based after my husband, and I like to add my children’s names to my books.
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?I walked my dog or take a shower to get my inspiration so yes I do!
When do you write? Early morning? During the day sometime or all day? After the kids go to bed?When I am really into my story I will write all day and night.
How do you feel about marketing your book?I love to spread the word about Kallos, I love it and hope others will too.
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?I love Facebook, and Twitter
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in? I will show my publisher a little blurb what I’m working on.
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing? If so, what is it?I have an erotica book out, and it was harder to do but I love it.
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?I do, I see a little of myself in Kallos J
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, Favorite 5 1) Favorite Male Actor - Ian Somerhalder2) Favorite vehicle - Hmm 55 CHEVY BEL AIR3) Favorite way to relax - Listening to loud music or reading4) Favorite ice cream – Mint Chocolate Chip5) Favorite outfit – Sweat pants and a Sweatshirt
And for a bonus: If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
I would say London, I am a history lover and would love to live there.
Where can our readers find you??
Email: khelseyrjackson@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/KhelseyrJackson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Khelsey-Jackson/340240632713069 Amazon author page: http://khelseyrjackson.wix.com/kallosseries Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6427017.Khelsey_Jackson
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Blurb for Kallos
Kallos is a shy sixteen year old girl unready to face the world, but when she meets Ian and Sean Hunter the world will open up for her. Secrets revealed are to much to bear and her past life as a goddess, unimaginable. A visit from the goddess Aphrodite, Kallos is told her soul mate must be found or her life will be forfeit. Kallos desperate to find her one true match has discovered she may have two possibilities. Kallos has a choice to make and her decisions may have life ending consequences.
Buy Links: Amazon CHBB Publishing
Excerpt from KallosPrologue
Aphrodite looks at the young girl and prays that she will make it. “Come on, you can do it.” It isn't fair that Aphrodite must watch from up here and not do anything to help. The young girl starts to have a seizure, as the man in a white jacket straps her down. “Come on Acidalia, you can do it.” Aphrodite hears someone enter her chambers. She doesn’t have to look up to know it’s Apollo. She has been in love with him since the beginning of time. Granted she has had many lovers, but she has always come back to Apollo and to Aries. They have been cursed to live while watching themselves reincarnated over and over until one is perfect. Apollo and Aries have watched themselves successfully reincarnated many times, Aphrodite hasn’t. She has never seen herself be reincarnated; she has only watched herself die many times over. “You shouldn’t be watching this, Agápe.” Aphrodite smiles at what he has called her since they first met. Agápe means unconditional love or his true love. Standing next to her, he places his warm hand into hers. “Maybe she will be different.” Aphrodite brings her other hand up to wipe away a tear. Part of being reincarnated is that she cannot interfere. She has known for a while that Acidalia wouldn't make it. She wasn’t strong enough to survive; but it still breaks her heart to watch another of her reincarnates die. Acidalia doesn’t love the Hunters likes she should; she loves Ian more.“Oh my Agápe, please stop watching.” Rubbing her shoulder soothingly as he tries to comfort her “We already know her outcome.” Apollo was right, as she let him pull her away from watching. “Would you like to see where the soul is going?” She had to think about that for just a minute and she nods.“I must see who will be next. I do not understand why none of the girls make it. And it is not fair that I have to watch.” They walk over to the looking glass, and see a woman about to have a baby. Looking closer, Aphrodite notices the woman is not a woman but a child herself. She has short, brownish red hair, and when she opens her eyes, Aphrodite is shocked, seeing incredible sapphire eyes staring back at her. She squeezes Apollo's hand. “Look at that. The mother has my eyes.” She whispers.“She does, but that does not mean that the baby being born is going to be the one.” Aphrodite knows that he is right but prays he is wrong. As the doctor pulls the baby from the young women, Aphrodite is amazed. She has not seen a more beautiful baby in all of her time. “I know, but look at her.” Aphrodite smiles down at the beautiful baby and sees another couple burst excitedly into the room. The woman runs to the baby; slowly she brings her hands to her face as tears run freely down. The woman turns to face the man; and he smiles proudly at her. Aphrodite looks back at the young mother as she is being rolled out of the room. As the young mother passes by, she turns her head away from the newborn baby. The second woman moves to the young girl’s side and kisses her forehead. She is saying something, but Aphrodite cannot hear what. “Apollo what is going on?”“She has been adopted amore. The younger one is not able to care for our little beauty.” Ares says as he walks in. Aphrodite understands and nods to Ares. They have already seen Apollo and Ares be reincarnated. She wonders if this one will be the one. At that moment the baby opens her eyes and seems to be looking right at Aphrodite. She gasps and wonders if this baby is the one, the one that will become her. Aphrodite concentrates and now can hear the woman and the man talking.“James, she is beautiful. I know the perfect name for her.” The woman pauses and wipes away a few tears. “Kallos … it means beauty in Greek.” Aphrodite starts to laugh. Maybe the woman can see the great beauty this little one holds. She sends a welcome to the new baby girl. Welcome, Kallos
**Kelsey is giving away a set of the Kallos Series Ebooks... Acidalia Sean & Ian, Aphrodite's Curse and Kallos!! Make sure to comment below and leave your email address to be contacted if you win!!**
Khelsey, thanks so much for being with me today!
Readers, what a great series to have a chance at winning. Don't forget to comment!
Until next time, happy reading :)
Krista
Today we have Khelsey Jackson to tell
us a little about herself and her writing !
Welcome, so great to have you here with us. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hello! My name is Khelsey and I live in Las Vegas. I was raised in Minnesota in a very small town called Pillager. I am a stay at home mother of three kids all under four. I wrote Kallos, and it took me a year to write it.
Do real life events find their way into your stories?Kind of, I use what I learned.
Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?I do Sean is based after my husband, and I like to add my children’s names to my books.
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?I walked my dog or take a shower to get my inspiration so yes I do!
When do you write? Early morning? During the day sometime or all day? After the kids go to bed?When I am really into my story I will write all day and night.
How do you feel about marketing your book?I love to spread the word about Kallos, I love it and hope others will too.
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?I love Facebook, and Twitter
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in? I will show my publisher a little blurb what I’m working on.
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing? If so, what is it?I have an erotica book out, and it was harder to do but I love it.
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?I do, I see a little of myself in Kallos J
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, Favorite 5 1) Favorite Male Actor - Ian Somerhalder2) Favorite vehicle - Hmm 55 CHEVY BEL AIR3) Favorite way to relax - Listening to loud music or reading4) Favorite ice cream – Mint Chocolate Chip5) Favorite outfit – Sweat pants and a Sweatshirt
And for a bonus: If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
I would say London, I am a history lover and would love to live there.
Where can our readers find you??
Email: khelseyrjackson@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/KhelseyrJackson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Khelsey-Jackson/340240632713069 Amazon author page: http://khelseyrjackson.wix.com/kallosseries Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6427017.Khelsey_Jackson
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Blurb for Kallos
Kallos is a shy sixteen year old girl unready to face the world, but when she meets Ian and Sean Hunter the world will open up for her. Secrets revealed are to much to bear and her past life as a goddess, unimaginable. A visit from the goddess Aphrodite, Kallos is told her soul mate must be found or her life will be forfeit. Kallos desperate to find her one true match has discovered she may have two possibilities. Kallos has a choice to make and her decisions may have life ending consequences.Buy Links: Amazon CHBB Publishing
Excerpt from KallosPrologue
Aphrodite looks at the young girl and prays that she will make it. “Come on, you can do it.” It isn't fair that Aphrodite must watch from up here and not do anything to help. The young girl starts to have a seizure, as the man in a white jacket straps her down. “Come on Acidalia, you can do it.” Aphrodite hears someone enter her chambers. She doesn’t have to look up to know it’s Apollo. She has been in love with him since the beginning of time. Granted she has had many lovers, but she has always come back to Apollo and to Aries. They have been cursed to live while watching themselves reincarnated over and over until one is perfect. Apollo and Aries have watched themselves successfully reincarnated many times, Aphrodite hasn’t. She has never seen herself be reincarnated; she has only watched herself die many times over. “You shouldn’t be watching this, Agápe.” Aphrodite smiles at what he has called her since they first met. Agápe means unconditional love or his true love. Standing next to her, he places his warm hand into hers. “Maybe she will be different.” Aphrodite brings her other hand up to wipe away a tear. Part of being reincarnated is that she cannot interfere. She has known for a while that Acidalia wouldn't make it. She wasn’t strong enough to survive; but it still breaks her heart to watch another of her reincarnates die. Acidalia doesn’t love the Hunters likes she should; she loves Ian more.“Oh my Agápe, please stop watching.” Rubbing her shoulder soothingly as he tries to comfort her “We already know her outcome.” Apollo was right, as she let him pull her away from watching. “Would you like to see where the soul is going?” She had to think about that for just a minute and she nods.“I must see who will be next. I do not understand why none of the girls make it. And it is not fair that I have to watch.” They walk over to the looking glass, and see a woman about to have a baby. Looking closer, Aphrodite notices the woman is not a woman but a child herself. She has short, brownish red hair, and when she opens her eyes, Aphrodite is shocked, seeing incredible sapphire eyes staring back at her. She squeezes Apollo's hand. “Look at that. The mother has my eyes.” She whispers.“She does, but that does not mean that the baby being born is going to be the one.” Aphrodite knows that he is right but prays he is wrong. As the doctor pulls the baby from the young women, Aphrodite is amazed. She has not seen a more beautiful baby in all of her time. “I know, but look at her.” Aphrodite smiles down at the beautiful baby and sees another couple burst excitedly into the room. The woman runs to the baby; slowly she brings her hands to her face as tears run freely down. The woman turns to face the man; and he smiles proudly at her. Aphrodite looks back at the young mother as she is being rolled out of the room. As the young mother passes by, she turns her head away from the newborn baby. The second woman moves to the young girl’s side and kisses her forehead. She is saying something, but Aphrodite cannot hear what. “Apollo what is going on?”“She has been adopted amore. The younger one is not able to care for our little beauty.” Ares says as he walks in. Aphrodite understands and nods to Ares. They have already seen Apollo and Ares be reincarnated. She wonders if this one will be the one. At that moment the baby opens her eyes and seems to be looking right at Aphrodite. She gasps and wonders if this baby is the one, the one that will become her. Aphrodite concentrates and now can hear the woman and the man talking.“James, she is beautiful. I know the perfect name for her.” The woman pauses and wipes away a few tears. “Kallos … it means beauty in Greek.” Aphrodite starts to laugh. Maybe the woman can see the great beauty this little one holds. She sends a welcome to the new baby girl. Welcome, Kallos
**Kelsey is giving away a set of the Kallos Series Ebooks... Acidalia Sean & Ian, Aphrodite's Curse and Kallos!! Make sure to comment below and leave your email address to be contacted if you win!!**
Khelsey, thanks so much for being with me today!
Readers, what a great series to have a chance at winning. Don't forget to comment!
Until next time, happy reading :)
Krista
January 23, 2013
Author, author...
...read all about it !
Today we have a guest blogger...please welcome,
Cassandra Carr
What exactly IS a female-led relationship?by
Cassandra Carr
I had a new release last Friday titled Unexpected Top. It's about a woman named Cissy who tires of her husband Len's inattention and insensitivity. She's about had it, but she doesn't want to end her marriage. Instead, she goes online looking for other women who have the same problems and finds out about the concept of the female-led relationship. Here's a definition from Wikipedia:
The term female-led relationship (or "FLR") refers to a model for romantic heterosexual relationship in which both partners agree that the woman will act as the leader and ultimate authority. If the participants are married, the arrangement may be termed a female-led marriage (FLM) or wife-led marriage (WLM). A FLR involves some form of power exchange with varying degrees of role enforcement and permanence according to the terms agreed upon by the participants. Some relationships involve total power exchange (TPE) which involves exchange of autonomy on a continuous 24/7 basis. In a female-led TPE relationship, the female possesses complete authority over the male's life and acts as a final authority in personal decisions. TPE relationship structures may be enforced by consensual transfer of power whose exercise (by the female) is more dissatisfying (to the male) than the loss of the given freedoms. An example of such prohibitive power is financial decision-making authority.
So you're probably asking yourself...how is this different from a FemDom relationship? Well, there are some differences. First, a FLR isn't necessarily about sex. Not that FemDom has to be either, but it seems to have more of a sexual component. Also, though the male does consent to some degree of power exchange with the woman, many times it's focused on one area. In Unexpected Top, Cissy is sick of Len not helping around the house and generally not keeping her and their marriage a priority. When she does research into FLR she discovers one of the ways to get the man's consent about things like this is to reward them sexually, so she makes a list of chores with associated rewards. Len, of course, is thrilled.
But then Cissy starts putting more and more conditions on his earning of the rewards. How will Len take that? I guess you'll have to read to find out!
Buy Link: Amazon Ellora's Cave
Today we have a guest blogger...please welcome,
Cassandra Carr
What exactly IS a female-led relationship?by
Cassandra Carr
I had a new release last Friday titled Unexpected Top. It's about a woman named Cissy who tires of her husband Len's inattention and insensitivity. She's about had it, but she doesn't want to end her marriage. Instead, she goes online looking for other women who have the same problems and finds out about the concept of the female-led relationship. Here's a definition from Wikipedia:The term female-led relationship (or "FLR") refers to a model for romantic heterosexual relationship in which both partners agree that the woman will act as the leader and ultimate authority. If the participants are married, the arrangement may be termed a female-led marriage (FLM) or wife-led marriage (WLM). A FLR involves some form of power exchange with varying degrees of role enforcement and permanence according to the terms agreed upon by the participants. Some relationships involve total power exchange (TPE) which involves exchange of autonomy on a continuous 24/7 basis. In a female-led TPE relationship, the female possesses complete authority over the male's life and acts as a final authority in personal decisions. TPE relationship structures may be enforced by consensual transfer of power whose exercise (by the female) is more dissatisfying (to the male) than the loss of the given freedoms. An example of such prohibitive power is financial decision-making authority.
So you're probably asking yourself...how is this different from a FemDom relationship? Well, there are some differences. First, a FLR isn't necessarily about sex. Not that FemDom has to be either, but it seems to have more of a sexual component. Also, though the male does consent to some degree of power exchange with the woman, many times it's focused on one area. In Unexpected Top, Cissy is sick of Len not helping around the house and generally not keeping her and their marriage a priority. When she does research into FLR she discovers one of the ways to get the man's consent about things like this is to reward them sexually, so she makes a list of chores with associated rewards. Len, of course, is thrilled.
But then Cissy starts putting more and more conditions on his earning of the rewards. How will Len take that? I guess you'll have to read to find out!Buy Link: Amazon Ellora's Cave
Author, author...
...read all about it !!
Today we have the fabulous author from Still Moments Publishing, Heather Sharpe, to tell us about herself, her Christmas Holiday and her new book release!
Hi Heather, thanks so much for being with us today. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
First, thank you very much for having me on your blog today! I'm excited to celebrate the release of For the Love of a Sphynx with you.
I am an exelementary teacher turned stay-at-home mom. I live in the middle of Kansas on six acres with my husband, toddler, mother-in-law, and her daughter. We also have four dogs, two cats, and a lizard.
What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory ?
My Grandpa and Grandma would read the Christmas story when we got together Christmas morning. They had a bag of old tangled tinsel that we kids would dig through and use to make halos, etc. then we'd pretend to be angels, Joseph, and Mary while listening to Grandpa read.
Do you like to decorate your house?
Anything special that you do for your decorating? I love to decorate. I don't have anything particular that I do every year for decorating, except that we hang the stockings we've had since we were kids-even though they are somewhat falling apart. :)
Do you have any special tradition that your family celebrates for the Christmas Holiday?
My husband's family always gathers Christmas Eve evening, so Santa can stop by on his way to fill stockings and drop off a gift for each of the kids and get his picture with them. My husband even remembers the year they could see the reindeer grabbing a snack in one of the cow pens when he was younger.
Are you the holiday cook or do you let someone else do the cooking?
I bake desserts and decorate cakes-I leave the real food to the better cooks!
Do you like to be where there is snow for the holidays or are you a snowbird that likes to fly south for the winter?
I love snow, and Christmas is still early enough in the season to be excited for it. If it was in February, I might be tired of the snow by then and ready for some heat. As it is, I'm always dreaming of a white Christmas.
As a reader, do you like to read Christmas stories?
I do. I love the magic of the season. I've noticed, however, that since I've become a mommy I tend to tear up a lot more at all the heartwarming stories that used to just make me sigh. :)
As a writer, do you like to write Christmas stories?
I haven't tried yet. I love to read about Christmas magic, and I think deep down I'm a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to catch exactly right in a story. Or else I'm just too busy trying to chase down a seventeen-month old and catch up on my sleep!
Do you give the gift of reading for Christmas ?
Santa always brings something to read in stockings, and I always gift myself and my baby with a book. Other than that, it's usually a toss-up. On average, though, I almost always end up wrapping several books to put under the tree.
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite Christmas song - Carol of the Bells
2) Favorite Christmas movie- White Christmas
3) Favorite Christmas story - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
4) Favorite Christmas color- Blue with silver snowflakes
5) Favorite Christmas food - Chocolate covered marshmallows. Yum!
And for a bonus, if you were given the gift of travel to anywhere for the holidays, where would you want to go???
Hmm, I guess in spite of my desire for snow for Christmas, if I was going to make a vacation of the holiday I ALWAYS vote beach--any beach where it's warm and sunny!
Where can our readers find you??
Email: heathermsharpe@ymail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heathermsharpe
Website/blog:http://www.heathermsharpe.webstarts.com/
Amazon author page:http://www.amazon.com/Heather-Sharpe/...
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
For the Love of a Sphynx has released through Still Moments Publishing! I am so excited for this novella, which was inspired by a cat we adopted from the shelter six years ago.
When time’s the enemy, there’s no room to pussyfoot around.
Blurb:
Betrayed by her fiancé, Mahri Lassler swears never to risk losing her heart again. She’s convinced she may as well collect cats since she’s on the path to spinsterhood. She adopts a tomcat, and just as they’re beginning to learn each other’s idiosyncrasies, the cat bolts out the door, disappearing without a trace. Her quest to find the darn cat leads her to a confused, naked man writhing on the street. The hopeless look in his eyes touches something deep inside Mahri. Can she trust her heart enough to risk it on a man with no past? Will her love be enough to break his curse?
Excerpt:
Unimaginable agony ripped through him, searing every nerve, and igniting his blood. Contorting in pain, his muscles contracted independently, twisting his body into impossible positions. What seemed an eternity later, he lay gasping in the dirt. He pulled his lips back in a painful grimace as he sucked air into his aching lungs and looked around for Brigid. He would think twice before giving her an opportunity to hurt him that profoundly again. In all the battles he’d fought, he’d never felt such pain. The clearing was empty. Brigid, the cottage, his horse, the small garden where they’d spent hours talking; all of it, had disappeared without a trace. A shiver of unease raced through his limbs. The breeze, gentle now, ruffled his hair playfully. Testing his muscles tentatively, he noticed only a slight tenderness remained after the unbearable agony of before. His muscle and joint pain paled in comparison to a sudden thirst. Climbing unsteadily to his feet, he stumbled to the brook. Whatever she’d done to him had messed with his vision. Everything seemed skewed. While trees and other still objects appeared fuzzy, anything that moved snapped with clarity, instantly claiming his undivided attention. A silver sheen blanketed the world before him. It dampened the saturation of the forest colors, but he noticed more small animals scurrying about than ever before.Closing his eyes to offset the dizzying effects of this visual phenomenon, Morgan stretched toward the musical bubbling of water over stones and lapped several mouthfuls before daring to crack his eyes open. After the tortuous eternity and weird theatrics, he was unsure what he’d expected, but it definitely wasn’t this. A furry black face with two short, pointed ears and feline eyes stared up at him from the surface of the water. What the hell?
Buy links: Still Moments Publishing Amazon
(available in print and ebook)
One last thing before we let you leave us today! Do you have a favorite holiday recipe you'd like to share?I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share.
A very simple recipe that I'm sure many people already have is a staple at our family dinners. We always called it Yum Yum Salad, but in my husband's family it is lovingly labeled Pink Fluff.
1 large container cool whip1 large can cherry pie filling1 bag mini marshmallows**I've also had it with chopped nuts, pineapple tidbits, and mandarin oranges in it, but those are all optional.
Mix the ingredients together carefully and chill. Serve with a very large spoon!
Thanks again for having me today.
Bio: Heather Sharpe lives on six acres in Central Kansas with her husband, perfect baby boy, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. In case the house isn’t full enough, it also includes four noisy dogs, one cat who inspired For the Love of a Sphynx and another who torments him, and a lizard. At night, all of them think they need room on the bed (except the lizard, thankfully). Up until the birth of her son, Heather taught elementary school. Now she chases around her toddler and writes whenever he naps.
Links: www.stillmomentspublishing.comwww.heathermsharpe.webstarts.comwww.facebook.com/heathermsharpe
Heather it was a pleasure having you with us today and can't wait for whatever you have in store for us next !!
Readers, don't miss out on this great read, For the Love of a Sphynx. You won't be disappointed.
Until next time, happy reading !!
Krista
Today we have the fabulous author from Still Moments Publishing, Heather Sharpe, to tell us about herself, her Christmas Holiday and her new book release! Hi Heather, thanks so much for being with us today. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
First, thank you very much for having me on your blog today! I'm excited to celebrate the release of For the Love of a Sphynx with you.
I am an exelementary teacher turned stay-at-home mom. I live in the middle of Kansas on six acres with my husband, toddler, mother-in-law, and her daughter. We also have four dogs, two cats, and a lizard.
What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory ?
My Grandpa and Grandma would read the Christmas story when we got together Christmas morning. They had a bag of old tangled tinsel that we kids would dig through and use to make halos, etc. then we'd pretend to be angels, Joseph, and Mary while listening to Grandpa read.
Do you like to decorate your house?
Anything special that you do for your decorating? I love to decorate. I don't have anything particular that I do every year for decorating, except that we hang the stockings we've had since we were kids-even though they are somewhat falling apart. :)
Do you have any special tradition that your family celebrates for the Christmas Holiday?
My husband's family always gathers Christmas Eve evening, so Santa can stop by on his way to fill stockings and drop off a gift for each of the kids and get his picture with them. My husband even remembers the year they could see the reindeer grabbing a snack in one of the cow pens when he was younger.
Are you the holiday cook or do you let someone else do the cooking?
I bake desserts and decorate cakes-I leave the real food to the better cooks!
Do you like to be where there is snow for the holidays or are you a snowbird that likes to fly south for the winter?
I love snow, and Christmas is still early enough in the season to be excited for it. If it was in February, I might be tired of the snow by then and ready for some heat. As it is, I'm always dreaming of a white Christmas.
As a reader, do you like to read Christmas stories?
I do. I love the magic of the season. I've noticed, however, that since I've become a mommy I tend to tear up a lot more at all the heartwarming stories that used to just make me sigh. :)
As a writer, do you like to write Christmas stories?
I haven't tried yet. I love to read about Christmas magic, and I think deep down I'm a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to catch exactly right in a story. Or else I'm just too busy trying to chase down a seventeen-month old and catch up on my sleep!
Do you give the gift of reading for Christmas ?
Santa always brings something to read in stockings, and I always gift myself and my baby with a book. Other than that, it's usually a toss-up. On average, though, I almost always end up wrapping several books to put under the tree.
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite Christmas song - Carol of the Bells
2) Favorite Christmas movie- White Christmas
3) Favorite Christmas story - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
4) Favorite Christmas color- Blue with silver snowflakes
5) Favorite Christmas food - Chocolate covered marshmallows. Yum!
And for a bonus, if you were given the gift of travel to anywhere for the holidays, where would you want to go???
Hmm, I guess in spite of my desire for snow for Christmas, if I was going to make a vacation of the holiday I ALWAYS vote beach--any beach where it's warm and sunny!
Where can our readers find you??
Email: heathermsharpe@ymail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heathermsharpe
Website/blog:http://www.heathermsharpe.webstarts.com/
Amazon author page:http://www.amazon.com/Heather-Sharpe/...
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
For the Love of a Sphynx has released through Still Moments Publishing! I am so excited for this novella, which was inspired by a cat we adopted from the shelter six years ago. When time’s the enemy, there’s no room to pussyfoot around.
Blurb:
Betrayed by her fiancé, Mahri Lassler swears never to risk losing her heart again. She’s convinced she may as well collect cats since she’s on the path to spinsterhood. She adopts a tomcat, and just as they’re beginning to learn each other’s idiosyncrasies, the cat bolts out the door, disappearing without a trace. Her quest to find the darn cat leads her to a confused, naked man writhing on the street. The hopeless look in his eyes touches something deep inside Mahri. Can she trust her heart enough to risk it on a man with no past? Will her love be enough to break his curse?
Excerpt:
Unimaginable agony ripped through him, searing every nerve, and igniting his blood. Contorting in pain, his muscles contracted independently, twisting his body into impossible positions. What seemed an eternity later, he lay gasping in the dirt. He pulled his lips back in a painful grimace as he sucked air into his aching lungs and looked around for Brigid. He would think twice before giving her an opportunity to hurt him that profoundly again. In all the battles he’d fought, he’d never felt such pain. The clearing was empty. Brigid, the cottage, his horse, the small garden where they’d spent hours talking; all of it, had disappeared without a trace. A shiver of unease raced through his limbs. The breeze, gentle now, ruffled his hair playfully. Testing his muscles tentatively, he noticed only a slight tenderness remained after the unbearable agony of before. His muscle and joint pain paled in comparison to a sudden thirst. Climbing unsteadily to his feet, he stumbled to the brook. Whatever she’d done to him had messed with his vision. Everything seemed skewed. While trees and other still objects appeared fuzzy, anything that moved snapped with clarity, instantly claiming his undivided attention. A silver sheen blanketed the world before him. It dampened the saturation of the forest colors, but he noticed more small animals scurrying about than ever before.Closing his eyes to offset the dizzying effects of this visual phenomenon, Morgan stretched toward the musical bubbling of water over stones and lapped several mouthfuls before daring to crack his eyes open. After the tortuous eternity and weird theatrics, he was unsure what he’d expected, but it definitely wasn’t this. A furry black face with two short, pointed ears and feline eyes stared up at him from the surface of the water. What the hell?
Buy links: Still Moments Publishing Amazon
(available in print and ebook)
One last thing before we let you leave us today! Do you have a favorite holiday recipe you'd like to share?I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share.
A very simple recipe that I'm sure many people already have is a staple at our family dinners. We always called it Yum Yum Salad, but in my husband's family it is lovingly labeled Pink Fluff.
1 large container cool whip1 large can cherry pie filling1 bag mini marshmallows**I've also had it with chopped nuts, pineapple tidbits, and mandarin oranges in it, but those are all optional.
Mix the ingredients together carefully and chill. Serve with a very large spoon!
Thanks again for having me today.
Bio: Heather Sharpe lives on six acres in Central Kansas with her husband, perfect baby boy, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. In case the house isn’t full enough, it also includes four noisy dogs, one cat who inspired For the Love of a Sphynx and another who torments him, and a lizard. At night, all of them think they need room on the bed (except the lizard, thankfully). Up until the birth of her son, Heather taught elementary school. Now she chases around her toddler and writes whenever he naps.
Links: www.stillmomentspublishing.comwww.heathermsharpe.webstarts.comwww.facebook.com/heathermsharpe
Heather it was a pleasure having you with us today and can't wait for whatever you have in store for us next !!
Readers, don't miss out on this great read, For the Love of a Sphynx. You won't be disappointed.
Until next time, happy reading !!
Krista
January 21, 2013
Author, author...
...read all about it !!
Hi and welcome, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m an author with two faces, so to speak. I write crime fiction under my own name, and, as Eve Summers, I author romantic novels that sometimes slip into erotica.
What or who initially inspired you to become a writer?
You’ll laugh: it was a man. Long, long, long ago, I thought that to impress a guy, I had to be mysterious and intriguing. I imagined that saying “I’m writing a short story” would be so much more interesting to a 20-year old than “My bra is red and lacy, would you like to see it?”
What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get?
My friends read my romance books, the ones that slip into erotica, and always ask with a knowing nudge how much research I do. Have I really done it in the cockpit of a boat (I Want To Know What Love Is), in the bath (A Slave Of My Own Desire), in an elevator (Elevator With A View)? No, no, and unfortunately not.
On the plus side, I’ve had most of the cocktails and single malt whiskies mentioned in Fiji On Fire, Fiji On Ice.And I’ve been to Fiji. And I’ve loved: strongly, exclusively and steadfastly. So, yup, in a nutshell - lots of research.
Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
From my computer chair, I can see a stretch of green New Zealand bush inhabited by colourful parrots, and, just beyond it, the blue of the ocean. So you’ll forgive me if I confess that I always write in my study, on my computer, right eye on the text, left eye on the birds outside my window….
As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
I enjoy reading thinking women’s fiction, like Jane Porter’s or Joshilyn Jackson’s books. While I do like the formula of a happy ever after, I also value originality and characters who feel real and whom I’d like to keep as friends.
What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse?
Throughout the whole writing process, from toying with the core idea to third manuscript revision, I always keep a notebook handy. You know, one of those spiral-bound things, not something you need to switch on only to find out the battery’s dead…. The pages are full of scrawls that even I can’t decipher: “Heroine goes to d-ist” (dentist? dermatologist? taxidermist?), “Stars need darkness to shine” (did I read that or make it up?), “What if hero has a hypochondriac ex-wife?”
I do a bit of plotting, just enough to get me started, but not so much that I’m bored stiff by the time I sit down in front of the computer. And then I write… no, I lie. Then I try to write, except real life doesn’t get in the way….
When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing?
Being a mom. Reading. Walking the dog on the beach. Watching mindless TV series because I’m too tired to write and too wired to go to sleep. Playing bridge, poker, board games. Planning my next overseas trip….
Is there anything about yourself nobody knows that you would like to share with our readers??
Once, to get a guy’s attention at a party, I went skinny-dipping with another guy. Man, to I know how to impress men, or what? ;-)
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite color - blue2) Favorite dessert - used to be chocolate, but now it’s strawberry mousse 3) Favorite Season - autumn4) Favorite sad song- Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody5) Favorite Romantic movie – Casablanca
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation??
Any Greek island, as long as it has a beach, an olive grove and a seafood restaurant.
Where can our readers find you??
Email: yve@xtra.co.nzTwitter: hotyveFacebook: Eve Summers, authorWebsite: http://www.yvonnewalus.com/Eve-Summers.htmblog: http://eve-summers.blogspot.co.nz/
My photo: http://jlwylie.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/yvonne.jpg
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Current release: Not Complicated (http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=1299)
Blurb:After five years of no contact, Abigail Franklin wants only one thing from Luke Taylor: half an hour of his time to see the son he doesn’t know he has.
Excerpt
Facebook is weird. It lets you list your favorite movies (Casablanca) and music (Snow Patrol) and books (Joshilyn Jackson), it shows updates about your day (another late night at the office, Christopher was asleep by the time I got home), and yet it fails to capture the very essence that makes you - you.Growing up, I wore homemade clothes because my parents couldn’t afford labels or even store-bought dresses. It made me feel inferior, but also loved beyond belief, because every garment I wore had been lovingly designed, cut and sewn by my mom. Where do I write that on Facebook?My short-term goal is to work saner hours, my dream is for my son to get to know his dad, and my secret fantasy involves a happily-ever-after with Luke. Facebook remains totally oblivious of all that.I choose not to confirm Luke as a friend. A Facebook friendship would be so much less than what we once had. That leaves me one option: I have to go to the reunion.
Before we let you go today, do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share but it's totally up to you.
Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies In The World
1 cup sugar1 egg1 cup peanut butter (or almond butter, or macadamia butter)
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C or 400 F.Mix the ingredients together. Line a baking tray with baking paper.Place tablespoon size pieces of the dough onto the tray. Optional: sprinkle with coarse salt.Bake 5-7 minutes.Serve hot or cold.~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Eve it was fantastic having you visit today, thank you so much !! My hubby will love you for the Peanut Butter Cookies.
Readers, make sure to get your copy of Not Complicated today!
Until next time, happy reading !
Krista
Hi and welcome, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m an author with two faces, so to speak. I write crime fiction under my own name, and, as Eve Summers, I author romantic novels that sometimes slip into erotica.
What or who initially inspired you to become a writer?
You’ll laugh: it was a man. Long, long, long ago, I thought that to impress a guy, I had to be mysterious and intriguing. I imagined that saying “I’m writing a short story” would be so much more interesting to a 20-year old than “My bra is red and lacy, would you like to see it?”
What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get?
My friends read my romance books, the ones that slip into erotica, and always ask with a knowing nudge how much research I do. Have I really done it in the cockpit of a boat (I Want To Know What Love Is), in the bath (A Slave Of My Own Desire), in an elevator (Elevator With A View)? No, no, and unfortunately not.
On the plus side, I’ve had most of the cocktails and single malt whiskies mentioned in Fiji On Fire, Fiji On Ice.And I’ve been to Fiji. And I’ve loved: strongly, exclusively and steadfastly. So, yup, in a nutshell - lots of research.
Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
From my computer chair, I can see a stretch of green New Zealand bush inhabited by colourful parrots, and, just beyond it, the blue of the ocean. So you’ll forgive me if I confess that I always write in my study, on my computer, right eye on the text, left eye on the birds outside my window….
As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
I enjoy reading thinking women’s fiction, like Jane Porter’s or Joshilyn Jackson’s books. While I do like the formula of a happy ever after, I also value originality and characters who feel real and whom I’d like to keep as friends.
What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse?
Throughout the whole writing process, from toying with the core idea to third manuscript revision, I always keep a notebook handy. You know, one of those spiral-bound things, not something you need to switch on only to find out the battery’s dead…. The pages are full of scrawls that even I can’t decipher: “Heroine goes to d-ist” (dentist? dermatologist? taxidermist?), “Stars need darkness to shine” (did I read that or make it up?), “What if hero has a hypochondriac ex-wife?”
I do a bit of plotting, just enough to get me started, but not so much that I’m bored stiff by the time I sit down in front of the computer. And then I write… no, I lie. Then I try to write, except real life doesn’t get in the way….
When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing?
Being a mom. Reading. Walking the dog on the beach. Watching mindless TV series because I’m too tired to write and too wired to go to sleep. Playing bridge, poker, board games. Planning my next overseas trip….
Is there anything about yourself nobody knows that you would like to share with our readers??
Once, to get a guy’s attention at a party, I went skinny-dipping with another guy. Man, to I know how to impress men, or what? ;-)
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite color - blue2) Favorite dessert - used to be chocolate, but now it’s strawberry mousse 3) Favorite Season - autumn4) Favorite sad song- Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody5) Favorite Romantic movie – Casablanca
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation??
Any Greek island, as long as it has a beach, an olive grove and a seafood restaurant.
Where can our readers find you??
Email: yve@xtra.co.nzTwitter: hotyveFacebook: Eve Summers, authorWebsite: http://www.yvonnewalus.com/Eve-Summers.htmblog: http://eve-summers.blogspot.co.nz/
My photo: http://jlwylie.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/yvonne.jpg
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?Current release: Not Complicated (http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=1299)
Blurb:After five years of no contact, Abigail Franklin wants only one thing from Luke Taylor: half an hour of his time to see the son he doesn’t know he has.
Excerpt
Facebook is weird. It lets you list your favorite movies (Casablanca) and music (Snow Patrol) and books (Joshilyn Jackson), it shows updates about your day (another late night at the office, Christopher was asleep by the time I got home), and yet it fails to capture the very essence that makes you - you.Growing up, I wore homemade clothes because my parents couldn’t afford labels or even store-bought dresses. It made me feel inferior, but also loved beyond belief, because every garment I wore had been lovingly designed, cut and sewn by my mom. Where do I write that on Facebook?My short-term goal is to work saner hours, my dream is for my son to get to know his dad, and my secret fantasy involves a happily-ever-after with Luke. Facebook remains totally oblivious of all that.I choose not to confirm Luke as a friend. A Facebook friendship would be so much less than what we once had. That leaves me one option: I have to go to the reunion.Before we let you go today, do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share but it's totally up to you.
Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies In The World
1 cup sugar1 egg1 cup peanut butter (or almond butter, or macadamia butter)
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C or 400 F.Mix the ingredients together. Line a baking tray with baking paper.Place tablespoon size pieces of the dough onto the tray. Optional: sprinkle with coarse salt.Bake 5-7 minutes.Serve hot or cold.~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Eve it was fantastic having you visit today, thank you so much !! My hubby will love you for the Peanut Butter Cookies.
Readers, make sure to get your copy of Not Complicated today!
Until next time, happy reading !
Krista
January 20, 2013
Author, author...
...read all about it !! Today we have a spotlight on...
Master of The Inn by Ella Jade
Book One in the Pleasure Inn Series
Pleasure Inn… Where all of your fantasies become reality.
Executive chef Elyse Clapton has had it with city life. She’s spent the last few years building her cheating boyfriend’s trendy New York City restaurant into a success. When their relationship ends, so does her desire to be in his kitchen. She flees to a quaint inn she remembers visiting as a child. She gets more than she bargains for when she meets the sexy, reclusive inn keeper.
Handyman Logan Cole inherited Pleasure Inn against his wishes. Ever since he got caught up in a scandal involving another man’s wife, he keeps to himself – finding solace in a bottle. He didn’t realize how lonely he’d become until Elyse shows up on his porch. He’s instantly drawn to her and convinces her to stay at the Bed and Breakfast.
Elyse comes to town looking for a getaway. She never expects to fall for Logan. It doesn’t take her long to believe the inn’s motto. Logan’s dominance in the bedroom makes all of her fantasies a reality.
Excerpt: A light came on in an upstairs window indicating someone was there. Elyse walked up the front steps and tried the door, but it was locked. Just as she reached for the bell, the door flew open and a large, muscular figure appeared. The old screen door and the absence of lighting in the foyer concealed his face.“Hi,” Elyse said. “I was driving by and wondered if you had any vacancies.”
“Here?”
“This is an inn, isn’t it?”
“It hasn’t been for over four years.” He turned on the porch light. “I thought everyone in this town knew that.”
His disheveled appearance made her think he wasn’t planning on entertaining visitors. His dark, thick hair looked as if he’d run his fingers through it causing it to stand on end. He hadn’t bothered to button his faded blue jeans or put on a shirt before answering the door. Elyse couldn’t help but notice how his well-defined abs disappeared into his waistband.
“I’m sorry.” She moved away from the entrance. “I’m intruding.”
“No.” He stepped out onto the porch in his bare feet. “I just didn’t expect anyone out here at this time of the night.”
“I drove from the city. I thought I might stay the night. I used to come here as a kid.” She looked past his shoulder into the foyer. She saw a fresh stack of wood in the corner and several cans of paint. “Are you renovating?”
“Trying to.” He nodded. “It’s a work in progress.”
She caught a wave of alcohol on his breath.
“Are you just passing through?”
“I’m not sure. I just needed to get away and I remembered how perfect this place always was.”“Yeah,” he looked over his shoulder. “Not so much anymore.”
“What happened?”
“My uncle owned the place, but he couldn’t keep up with the maintenance. He and my aunt retired and left it to me. It’s just been sitting vacant since then. It needed a ton of work. I didn’t realize how much until I actually started ripping things out.”
“How long have you been renovating?”
“A little over six months.”
“Well, thanks for your time. Maybe I’ll visit when you’re finished,” She smiled encouragement, but disappointment filled Elyse’s heart at the thought of not staying there. “Good luck with the renovations.”
When she turned to leave, he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Wait.”
When she turned, his ice blue eyes held her gaze. The intensity there made her stomach flutter. It should have been a warning sign to run fast and far, but her body responded in other ways. The sensation he created from just one touch coursed through her system, landing straight between her legs.
Oh my…
“For the past few months I’ve been renovating the third floor. If I’m going to live here and run this place, I wanted my rooms to be done first before I started on the rest of the inn. There are two bedrooms up there; both have private bathrooms. You could stay if you want.”
“That’s very nice of you, but—”
“Your room has a lock.”
As if that would keep you out. You have the keys.
“I’m not ready to have guests yet, so I wouldn’t charge you.”
“I couldn’t, but thank you.”
“You drove all this way to Pleasure Inn. There isn’t another place for miles. Spend the night and then you can leave in the morning.”
She wasn’t familiar with the surrounding area and the drive had made her tired. What if she couldn’t find another place to spend the night?
“I don’t blame you for being cautious.” He shrugged. “You do what your gut tells you: but you’re more than welcome to stay here.”
She stared into his deep eyes for a few moments. She’d left the city to get away and forget about the disaster of a relationship with Phillip. She’d done nothing but work for years. She hadn’t been to a restaurant or on a vacation in months. She was too busy cooking for others. Would one night in a beautiful Victorian inn be so bad? How could it be, especially when the inn keeper looked like a goddamned Calvin Klein model?
“I’ll stay on one condition.”
“Sure.”
“You have to tell me your name.”
“Oh.” He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled for the first time since greeting her. “Forgive my manners. I’m Logan Cole.” He extended his hand to her.
“Nice to meet you, Logan,” She said properly as she shook his hand. “I’m Elyse Clapton.”
“Welcome to Pleasure Inn, Ms. Clapton.” He dipped his head as he held the door open for her. “Where all of your fantasies become reality.”
About the Author:Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
Connect with the Author:Site Facebook Author Page Twitter
Giveaway:Ella is giving away a digital copy of her book during her Tour. For a chance to win please fill out the Raffle copter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 17, 2013
Author, author spotlight....
.... read all about it !!
Momentum
by
Cassandra Carr
Book three in the Buckin’ Bull Riders series.
Marco D’Allesandro has a destiny he wants no part of—running his family’s Italian olive oil empire. Against his family’s wishes, he moves to America to pursue his dream of becoming a professional bull rider and is at the pinnacle of his career, but his family wants him home. Things only get more complicated when he meets Natalie Webster, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed angel who’s got problems of her own.Their chemistry is explosive from the beginning, and both find themselves in a situation they never thought they would—they’re falling in love. Natalie has had a rough time of it lately, and it’s tempting to let naturally protective Marco take care of her. Both in and out of bed. Marco discovers he relishes the role and wants to keep Natalie close. Really close.But Natalie’s situation in life and Marco’s continued battle with his family threaten to tear them apart. Neither of them was looking for forever, but might have found their true destiny in each other.
Available on Amazon and Ellora's Cave.
Momentum
by
Cassandra Carr
Book three in the Buckin’ Bull Riders series.Marco D’Allesandro has a destiny he wants no part of—running his family’s Italian olive oil empire. Against his family’s wishes, he moves to America to pursue his dream of becoming a professional bull rider and is at the pinnacle of his career, but his family wants him home. Things only get more complicated when he meets Natalie Webster, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed angel who’s got problems of her own.Their chemistry is explosive from the beginning, and both find themselves in a situation they never thought they would—they’re falling in love. Natalie has had a rough time of it lately, and it’s tempting to let naturally protective Marco take care of her. Both in and out of bed. Marco discovers he relishes the role and wants to keep Natalie close. Really close.But Natalie’s situation in life and Marco’s continued battle with his family threaten to tear them apart. Neither of them was looking for forever, but might have found their true destiny in each other.
Available on Amazon and Ellora's Cave.
Author, author...
...read all about it !!
Today we have Carla Caruso joining us...please give her a warm welcome !!
Hi Carla, great to have you … could you tell us a little about yourself ?
Hello, I’m an Australian-based writer (with Italian ancestry!). My background is in journalism, but writing novels has always been a pipedream for me, which has finally come true. I’m married, a star-sign junkie, running fanatic, sometimes vegetarian – and have a tabby cat with ‘tood called Luca.
What or who initially inspired you to become a writer?
Oh my gosh, I was such a bookworm as a kid – Enid Blyton, Sweet Valley, The Baby-Sitters Club, Judy Blume, you name it. I remember when I was five years old, getting a book for my birthday and staring at the print, asking my mom if I could read yet – I was so desperate to!
What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get?
For my latest novel, Cityglitter, I did a whole bunch of research online and at the library on fairies (which is a central theme). I even watched Tinker Bell on DVD! Unfortunately, I couldn’t interview a real fairy haha. Often travel spots will inspire writing, so I’m always scribbling copious notes when I’m away. I’m planning to write a rural romance next, so am planning to go on a cray-fishing boat as part of the research. That should be cool.
Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
I have a white-walled, airy home office, with a book shelf behind me and a pink shag rug on the floor – it’s the most girly room in the house! It looks out onto our backyard, which is quite big and green. A mandarin tree provides a bit of shade in the summertime, too. (My cat’s curled up behind me as we speak!)
As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
I’m a sucker for a romantic comedy – in film or book form. I do try to read outside my genre, but the rom-coms are my ‘comfort’ books. I feel at home reading them! Favorite authors are Sophie Kinsella and Maggie Alderson. They always make me chortle!
What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse?
I write mostly on my PC (though I have a laptop) and I do plot, but in a brief sort of way. I write down a lot of ideas in a mini notepad, then type them all up, work out a bit of a plot structure from that, and away I go. It’s not overly detailed and very haphazard. It’s the only way I can work!
When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing?
Reading in the sun haha! Plus, because I’m sitting a lot as a novelist (and freelance journo), but an energetic sort of person, I crave getting outdoors and moving my limbs. Jogging’s my release! I also love to socialize with family and friends, read my star-sign and watch trashy TV. I’ve recently discovered ‘Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$ Girl’ – love it!
Is there anything about yourself nobody knows that you would like to share with our readers??
I used to have a habit of losing things like my purse when I was a kid, so now I double check that I have all my bank cards in my wallet etcetera all the time. I’m a bit obsessive!
Now for fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite color – white (a non-color sorry!) or yellow2) Favorite dessert – cheesecake or Pavlova (you can’t make a girl choose ha!)3) Favorite season – sizzling summer4) Favorite sad song – If I Ever Fall in Love by Shai5) Favorite romantic movie – The Vow
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation??
The Maldives! Or Bora Bora
Where can our readers find you??
Twitter: @CarlaCaruso79Website/blog: www.carlacaruso.com.au
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Cityglitter (from Penguin’s Destiny Romance)is about a gorgeous fairy living a glam life in the big city who does the one thing she promised herself she’d never do: fall in love with a human! The fairies in the story all look like Victoria’s Secret Angels – with actual wings.
http://www.destinyromance.com/
Before we let you leave us, do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share but it's totally up to you.
I’ve just discovered this new site, Vogue Vegan, because I’m a wannabe vegetarian, so I’m going to steal one of theirs at this link: http://www.thevoguevegan.com/raw-bites-with-simone-samuels-mushroom-medley/ Enjoy!
Oh yummy!! Carla the mushroom recipe sounds really good. I would love to try that... thanks so much for the recipe link !
It was great having you here today and learning more about you !
Readers, make sure you get your copy of Cityglitter today :)
Until next time, happy reading!
Krista
Today we have Carla Caruso joining us...please give her a warm welcome !!
Hi Carla, great to have you … could you tell us a little about yourself ?
Hello, I’m an Australian-based writer (with Italian ancestry!). My background is in journalism, but writing novels has always been a pipedream for me, which has finally come true. I’m married, a star-sign junkie, running fanatic, sometimes vegetarian – and have a tabby cat with ‘tood called Luca.
What or who initially inspired you to become a writer?
Oh my gosh, I was such a bookworm as a kid – Enid Blyton, Sweet Valley, The Baby-Sitters Club, Judy Blume, you name it. I remember when I was five years old, getting a book for my birthday and staring at the print, asking my mom if I could read yet – I was so desperate to!
What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get?
For my latest novel, Cityglitter, I did a whole bunch of research online and at the library on fairies (which is a central theme). I even watched Tinker Bell on DVD! Unfortunately, I couldn’t interview a real fairy haha. Often travel spots will inspire writing, so I’m always scribbling copious notes when I’m away. I’m planning to write a rural romance next, so am planning to go on a cray-fishing boat as part of the research. That should be cool.
Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
I have a white-walled, airy home office, with a book shelf behind me and a pink shag rug on the floor – it’s the most girly room in the house! It looks out onto our backyard, which is quite big and green. A mandarin tree provides a bit of shade in the summertime, too. (My cat’s curled up behind me as we speak!)
As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
I’m a sucker for a romantic comedy – in film or book form. I do try to read outside my genre, but the rom-coms are my ‘comfort’ books. I feel at home reading them! Favorite authors are Sophie Kinsella and Maggie Alderson. They always make me chortle!
What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse?
I write mostly on my PC (though I have a laptop) and I do plot, but in a brief sort of way. I write down a lot of ideas in a mini notepad, then type them all up, work out a bit of a plot structure from that, and away I go. It’s not overly detailed and very haphazard. It’s the only way I can work!
When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing?
Reading in the sun haha! Plus, because I’m sitting a lot as a novelist (and freelance journo), but an energetic sort of person, I crave getting outdoors and moving my limbs. Jogging’s my release! I also love to socialize with family and friends, read my star-sign and watch trashy TV. I’ve recently discovered ‘Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$ Girl’ – love it!
Is there anything about yourself nobody knows that you would like to share with our readers??
I used to have a habit of losing things like my purse when I was a kid, so now I double check that I have all my bank cards in my wallet etcetera all the time. I’m a bit obsessive!
Now for fun, I have a few personal questions,
Your Favorite 5
1) Favorite color – white (a non-color sorry!) or yellow2) Favorite dessert – cheesecake or Pavlova (you can’t make a girl choose ha!)3) Favorite season – sizzling summer4) Favorite sad song – If I Ever Fall in Love by Shai5) Favorite romantic movie – The Vow
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation??
The Maldives! Or Bora Bora
Where can our readers find you??
Twitter: @CarlaCaruso79Website/blog: www.carlacaruso.com.au
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
Cityglitter (from Penguin’s Destiny Romance)is about a gorgeous fairy living a glam life in the big city who does the one thing she promised herself she’d never do: fall in love with a human! The fairies in the story all look like Victoria’s Secret Angels – with actual wings. http://www.destinyromance.com/
Before we let you leave us, do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share but it's totally up to you.
I’ve just discovered this new site, Vogue Vegan, because I’m a wannabe vegetarian, so I’m going to steal one of theirs at this link: http://www.thevoguevegan.com/raw-bites-with-simone-samuels-mushroom-medley/ Enjoy!
Oh yummy!! Carla the mushroom recipe sounds really good. I would love to try that... thanks so much for the recipe link !
It was great having you here today and learning more about you !
Readers, make sure you get your copy of Cityglitter today :)
Until next time, happy reading!
Krista
January 5, 2013
Author, author...
...read all about it !!
Today's spotlight is...
The Colburn Stables Ranch had always been a large part of Nick Colburn’s life. As a quarter horse breeder and trainer, he cared deeply for his employees, and considered each one of them as part of his family. When tragedy would strike, he was always there to help in any way he could.Nick’s best ranch hand, Jake, seems inconsolable after his wife divorces him, and now he’s going abroad to meet a mail-order bride. When Jake returns with a beautiful wife, everyone is pleased for him and he feels as though he’s won the lottery. However, both Jake and Nick soon discover the mail-order bride isn’t quite what she seems.Nick, his wife and son soon find themselves faced with one mishap after another, until what every parent fears, disaster strikes…
A Northern Woods Novel
Love on the Horizon is available on Kindle, Kindle PC, iPad and iPhone from Amazon.com and the paperback is coming soon.
About the author: Charliann Roberts was born and raised in Minnesota. She has lived in Santa Monica, CA and currently resides in Arizona with her long-time sweetheart. They have a sheltie and a corgi, the two smallest herding dogs (although Chase and Kristi do believe they’re actually their children).
Charliann enjoys writing romantic suspense and is currently working on her third novel.
You can visit her website at www.charliann-roberts.com.
Today's spotlight is...
The Colburn Stables Ranch had always been a large part of Nick Colburn’s life. As a quarter horse breeder and trainer, he cared deeply for his employees, and considered each one of them as part of his family. When tragedy would strike, he was always there to help in any way he could.Nick’s best ranch hand, Jake, seems inconsolable after his wife divorces him, and now he’s going abroad to meet a mail-order bride. When Jake returns with a beautiful wife, everyone is pleased for him and he feels as though he’s won the lottery. However, both Jake and Nick soon discover the mail-order bride isn’t quite what she seems.Nick, his wife and son soon find themselves faced with one mishap after another, until what every parent fears, disaster strikes…
A Northern Woods Novel
Love on the Horizon is available on Kindle, Kindle PC, iPad and iPhone from Amazon.com and the paperback is coming soon.
About the author: Charliann Roberts was born and raised in Minnesota. She has lived in Santa Monica, CA and currently resides in Arizona with her long-time sweetheart. They have a sheltie and a corgi, the two smallest herding dogs (although Chase and Kristi do believe they’re actually their children).
Charliann enjoys writing romantic suspense and is currently working on her third novel.
You can visit her website at www.charliann-roberts.com.
