Ginger Voight's Blog, page 24
May 8, 2013
"Fierce" Playlist for the teaser "Imogene Strikes Again"
If you listened to the interview I did with my good buddy Brian Crow on his "American Psycho" radio program on April 26, 2013 (podcast available for you to review if you missed it,) then you already know what kind of influence music has had on my writing career. From the first novella I wrote at the tender age of 14 to my latest novel, "Fierce," music is the pulse that beats under the surface of the words I write.
"Fierce" covers a lot of musical ground considering these characters are contestants on a singing show. Some of the music was fictional, referring to the songs Giovanni Carnevale wrote throughout the Groupie Trilogy. But other songs inspired important scenes, which I will include here as teasers as we get closer to that June 4th release date. Don't forget to follow Brandee's Book Endings to find out about exciting giveaways and all the blog tour information.
(Videos are embedded in these blogs. Those readers on Goodreads, click "View More on Ginger Voight's website" at the bottom of the page to enjoy.)
Teaser #1: "Imogene Strikes Again"
By seven o’clock that following Monday morning, I was back on the studio lot, racing from one building to another in order to make my appointment with Imogene. One did not show up late for an appointment with Imogene. I had already made that mistake once and she bypassed me completely for the next contestant who had “found it important enough to show up on time.” I was five minutes early this particular Monday. Instead of cracking that stony face with a smile, Imogene simply glanced at her watch and glanced over the tops of her glasses to look me over. With a muffled “harrumph,” she told me, “Get on with it. I haven’t got all day.”
My hands were shaking as I lifted the sheet music to the stand in front of me. I had finally decided on the song I wanted to sing, a Celine Dion tune that was sure to show off my range and give me something a little more current than an obscure tune from a musical.
She stood in front of me, arms folded in front of her, glaring over the tops of her glasses as I sang the first couple of bars. Her countenance was as severe as her cropped silver hair, and her pursed lips and narrowed eyes gave nothing away in how she thought I was doing. My voice lost a bit of steam as I made it to the chorus, and actually cracked when I went for my upper register. She held up her hand with an exasperated sigh.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
“Don’t apologize to me,” she said. “Apologize to the music.” She stalked over to the table which served as her desk. It was overrun with sheet music, which she flipped through impatiently. She finally found the one she was looking for, came over to me and thrust it into my hands. “Here. Sing this.”
I glanced down. It was another Celine song, but an upbeat number I had never performed before. “Why?” I asked. When I looked up at her, she had an arched eyebrow that indicated she did not like to be questioned about her choices.
She indulged me an answer anyway. “Because your other choice bored me. It’ll bore the audience.”
“But I don’t know this song,” I offered helplessly.
“Then learn it,” she said. She folded her arms, leaned back against the edge of the table, and waited.
I cleared my throat as I read through the music. When I opened my mouth, I had zero self-confidence I could pull it off. The more I struggled, the more awkward it got. Finally, with another exhale of exasperation, she stomped over to me. She took up the next verse with a powerful voice that demanded I look at her as she sang, but the minute my eyes came off the page she was pointing her finger back down to it. She wanted me to follow the notes as she demonstrated how it was supposed to be done.
Even without a backup band, her voice boomed through the empty auditorium that had been constructed on the soundstage. When she finished, I could think of nothing to say.
“This is an entertainment competition, not a high school pageant. You will not win by playing it safe. You need to take risks and step outside your comfort zone. You need to own what you can do on this stage. This song can do that for you. Or it can break you. Your choice.” She walked back over to the table and screamed out, “Next!” to dismiss me and invite the next victim into her little lair. I passed Shelby as I made my way down the steps. She gave me a sympathetic smile as she squeezed my arm. Rather than watch her time at the gallows, I escaped and made my way to the food truck outside. Pepper and Lavender sat together at one of the tables nearby, and beckoned me to join them. They already knew from the look on my face where I had been and what had happened.
“Imogene strikes again,” Lavender smiled, her full lips painted a pale purple color indicative of her stage name. She wore fabulous wigs in varying shades of purple as well, and today she wore a grape-colored bob to match her 60s mod-style plastic dress.
I nodded as I sat. “Tell me I’m not the only one she hates.”
Pepper laughed. “She doesn’t hate you, baby. She’s a hard-ass, but it’s to make you better.”
“I suck right now,” I responded as I put the sheet music on the table. “She’s given me this song to sing.”
Lavender smiled wide as she picked up the sheet music. “This is a classic. I used to do this for my drag shows. It’s a lot of fun.”
Pepper nodded. “It’s a cover of an old tune with a big sound. You can definitely pull that off, easy.”
I still wasn’t convinced, so after I ate the two of them dragged me to an empty sound stage to show me how it was done. Like Imogene, their voices were big enough to carry the song. Together they filled the empty space with a huge wall of sound. Once they hit the chorus, I finally joined in. They spent the next hour teaching me the song until I no longer needed the sheet music.
More than that, Lavender used her considerable performance skills to show me how to deliver the song. She tried to teach me some dance moves, but I felt like a clumsy idiot as I tried to imitate what she pulled off so flawlessly. She was patient as a saint, as was Pepper, as we fell into an impromptu group choreography I was glad no one else could see.
At least, I thought no one else could see it. When we finished, we were rewarded to hear applause from one lone spectator hidden in the darkened shadows of the empty sound stage.
It was Jace, who had a big smile plastered on his face as he approached. “Bravo! Encore! Encore!” I blushed at least five shades of red while my two companions bowed for our appreciative audience of one. “If that is a group number, it’s brilliant.”
“That’s all Jordi,” Pepper said. “Imogene picked it for her to perform on the premiere.”
“I haven’t decided yet,” I said as I gathered my stuff.
“She’s feeling a little insecure,” Lavender told him quietly with a wink and a nudge of her elbow. She glanced over at Pepper, nodding toward the door so they could leave us alone.
Apparently Jace had some convincing to do.
“So what’s the problem with the song?” he wanted to know as he walked over to where I stood.
I shook my head. “I don’t think I can pull that off. I was definitely a weak link in that trio. They not only know the song, they know how to sing it. I feel like a big fat idiot.”
“Hey,” he said firmly as he looked me in the eye. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.” The tone in his voice left no room for argument, so I said nothing. “Sing it for me,” he instructed softly.
I cleared my throat and glanced down at the sheet music, having completely forgotten every single word of a song I had just sung over and over for the last hour and a half. I started to sing, following the notes on the page, and Jace indulged me for about a verse before he finally took the paper from my hands.
“Sing it to me,” he corrected. He took a couple of steps back and gave me a stage. I looked into those deep, green eyes and took a deep breath before I launched into a song that talked about loving someone deeper than a river and higher than a mountain. I sang this to a virtual stranger, memorizing every line in his handsome face as I went through verse after voice of everlasting devotion. By the time I got to the chorus, my huge voice made it all the way to the rafters and back. I got stuck a little on the second verse, so he joined in.
Butterflies tap-danced in my tummy as he sold the song very convincingly through his body language and the look in his eyes. When we hit the chorus, he linked his hand in mine with a smile that I couldn’t help but mirror. He pulled me through a couple of dance moves as we brought it home, our voices echoing in the empty space. He spun me around and I twirled around him, allowing myself to fall completely in character of the song. We were laughing as we finished and he pulled me into a lingering hug. “You are so not a weak link, Jordi,” he said into my hair.
He pulled back a little, but still held me in his embrace. His arms were linked around my waist, pressing me into his strong chest. Long moments passed between us as we did nothing more than look into each other’s eyes. I honestly didn’t know what to say. Nervously I bit my lip, which drew his gaze in that direction. I felt every single nerve ending go up in flames. What it took Eddie physical intimacy to achieve, Jace had managed with just an absently placed glance.
I cleared my throat as I pulled away. “I guess I should head over to see Jorge,” I said.
He nodded as he stepped back. “Yeah, I have an appointment with Imogene.”
I had to smile. “Good luck.”
He laughed. His eyes were thoughtful as he studied me for a moment, then he turned to leave. Before he got to the door, he turned back. “Wanna grab some lunch later?”
A flood of warmth washed over me as I looked into his hopeful eyes. I didn’t know what I saw there, or what I wanted to see there, but the way it made me feel was head and shoulders above the high I got from anything else, even food. Just being in his company made me feel better about me. I felt accepted… wanted… for the first time ever.
Lunch was the least of my concerns as I nodded with a smile.
"Fierce" covers a lot of musical ground considering these characters are contestants on a singing show. Some of the music was fictional, referring to the songs Giovanni Carnevale wrote throughout the Groupie Trilogy. But other songs inspired important scenes, which I will include here as teasers as we get closer to that June 4th release date. Don't forget to follow Brandee's Book Endings to find out about exciting giveaways and all the blog tour information.
(Videos are embedded in these blogs. Those readers on Goodreads, click "View More on Ginger Voight's website" at the bottom of the page to enjoy.)
Teaser #1: "Imogene Strikes Again"
By seven o’clock that following Monday morning, I was back on the studio lot, racing from one building to another in order to make my appointment with Imogene. One did not show up late for an appointment with Imogene. I had already made that mistake once and she bypassed me completely for the next contestant who had “found it important enough to show up on time.” I was five minutes early this particular Monday. Instead of cracking that stony face with a smile, Imogene simply glanced at her watch and glanced over the tops of her glasses to look me over. With a muffled “harrumph,” she told me, “Get on with it. I haven’t got all day.”
My hands were shaking as I lifted the sheet music to the stand in front of me. I had finally decided on the song I wanted to sing, a Celine Dion tune that was sure to show off my range and give me something a little more current than an obscure tune from a musical.
She stood in front of me, arms folded in front of her, glaring over the tops of her glasses as I sang the first couple of bars. Her countenance was as severe as her cropped silver hair, and her pursed lips and narrowed eyes gave nothing away in how she thought I was doing. My voice lost a bit of steam as I made it to the chorus, and actually cracked when I went for my upper register. She held up her hand with an exasperated sigh.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
“Don’t apologize to me,” she said. “Apologize to the music.” She stalked over to the table which served as her desk. It was overrun with sheet music, which she flipped through impatiently. She finally found the one she was looking for, came over to me and thrust it into my hands. “Here. Sing this.”
I glanced down. It was another Celine song, but an upbeat number I had never performed before. “Why?” I asked. When I looked up at her, she had an arched eyebrow that indicated she did not like to be questioned about her choices.
She indulged me an answer anyway. “Because your other choice bored me. It’ll bore the audience.”
“But I don’t know this song,” I offered helplessly.
“Then learn it,” she said. She folded her arms, leaned back against the edge of the table, and waited.
I cleared my throat as I read through the music. When I opened my mouth, I had zero self-confidence I could pull it off. The more I struggled, the more awkward it got. Finally, with another exhale of exasperation, she stomped over to me. She took up the next verse with a powerful voice that demanded I look at her as she sang, but the minute my eyes came off the page she was pointing her finger back down to it. She wanted me to follow the notes as she demonstrated how it was supposed to be done.
Even without a backup band, her voice boomed through the empty auditorium that had been constructed on the soundstage. When she finished, I could think of nothing to say.
“This is an entertainment competition, not a high school pageant. You will not win by playing it safe. You need to take risks and step outside your comfort zone. You need to own what you can do on this stage. This song can do that for you. Or it can break you. Your choice.” She walked back over to the table and screamed out, “Next!” to dismiss me and invite the next victim into her little lair. I passed Shelby as I made my way down the steps. She gave me a sympathetic smile as she squeezed my arm. Rather than watch her time at the gallows, I escaped and made my way to the food truck outside. Pepper and Lavender sat together at one of the tables nearby, and beckoned me to join them. They already knew from the look on my face where I had been and what had happened.
“Imogene strikes again,” Lavender smiled, her full lips painted a pale purple color indicative of her stage name. She wore fabulous wigs in varying shades of purple as well, and today she wore a grape-colored bob to match her 60s mod-style plastic dress.
I nodded as I sat. “Tell me I’m not the only one she hates.”
Pepper laughed. “She doesn’t hate you, baby. She’s a hard-ass, but it’s to make you better.”
“I suck right now,” I responded as I put the sheet music on the table. “She’s given me this song to sing.”
Lavender smiled wide as she picked up the sheet music. “This is a classic. I used to do this for my drag shows. It’s a lot of fun.”
Pepper nodded. “It’s a cover of an old tune with a big sound. You can definitely pull that off, easy.”
I still wasn’t convinced, so after I ate the two of them dragged me to an empty sound stage to show me how it was done. Like Imogene, their voices were big enough to carry the song. Together they filled the empty space with a huge wall of sound. Once they hit the chorus, I finally joined in. They spent the next hour teaching me the song until I no longer needed the sheet music.
More than that, Lavender used her considerable performance skills to show me how to deliver the song. She tried to teach me some dance moves, but I felt like a clumsy idiot as I tried to imitate what she pulled off so flawlessly. She was patient as a saint, as was Pepper, as we fell into an impromptu group choreography I was glad no one else could see.
At least, I thought no one else could see it. When we finished, we were rewarded to hear applause from one lone spectator hidden in the darkened shadows of the empty sound stage.
It was Jace, who had a big smile plastered on his face as he approached. “Bravo! Encore! Encore!” I blushed at least five shades of red while my two companions bowed for our appreciative audience of one. “If that is a group number, it’s brilliant.”
“That’s all Jordi,” Pepper said. “Imogene picked it for her to perform on the premiere.”
“I haven’t decided yet,” I said as I gathered my stuff.
“She’s feeling a little insecure,” Lavender told him quietly with a wink and a nudge of her elbow. She glanced over at Pepper, nodding toward the door so they could leave us alone.
Apparently Jace had some convincing to do.
“So what’s the problem with the song?” he wanted to know as he walked over to where I stood.
I shook my head. “I don’t think I can pull that off. I was definitely a weak link in that trio. They not only know the song, they know how to sing it. I feel like a big fat idiot.”
“Hey,” he said firmly as he looked me in the eye. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.” The tone in his voice left no room for argument, so I said nothing. “Sing it for me,” he instructed softly.
I cleared my throat and glanced down at the sheet music, having completely forgotten every single word of a song I had just sung over and over for the last hour and a half. I started to sing, following the notes on the page, and Jace indulged me for about a verse before he finally took the paper from my hands.
“Sing it to me,” he corrected. He took a couple of steps back and gave me a stage. I looked into those deep, green eyes and took a deep breath before I launched into a song that talked about loving someone deeper than a river and higher than a mountain. I sang this to a virtual stranger, memorizing every line in his handsome face as I went through verse after voice of everlasting devotion. By the time I got to the chorus, my huge voice made it all the way to the rafters and back. I got stuck a little on the second verse, so he joined in.
Butterflies tap-danced in my tummy as he sold the song very convincingly through his body language and the look in his eyes. When we hit the chorus, he linked his hand in mine with a smile that I couldn’t help but mirror. He pulled me through a couple of dance moves as we brought it home, our voices echoing in the empty space. He spun me around and I twirled around him, allowing myself to fall completely in character of the song. We were laughing as we finished and he pulled me into a lingering hug. “You are so not a weak link, Jordi,” he said into my hair.
He pulled back a little, but still held me in his embrace. His arms were linked around my waist, pressing me into his strong chest. Long moments passed between us as we did nothing more than look into each other’s eyes. I honestly didn’t know what to say. Nervously I bit my lip, which drew his gaze in that direction. I felt every single nerve ending go up in flames. What it took Eddie physical intimacy to achieve, Jace had managed with just an absently placed glance.
I cleared my throat as I pulled away. “I guess I should head over to see Jorge,” I said.
He nodded as he stepped back. “Yeah, I have an appointment with Imogene.”
I had to smile. “Good luck.”
He laughed. His eyes were thoughtful as he studied me for a moment, then he turned to leave. Before he got to the door, he turned back. “Wanna grab some lunch later?”
A flood of warmth washed over me as I looked into his hopeful eyes. I didn’t know what I saw there, or what I wanted to see there, but the way it made me feel was head and shoulders above the high I got from anything else, even food. Just being in his company made me feel better about me. I felt accepted… wanted… for the first time ever.
Lunch was the least of my concerns as I nodded with a smile.
May 5, 2013
"Fierce" is coming!
If you have been patiently waiting to see where my spin-off story, "Fierce," takes the characters you came to know and love in the Groupie series, the wait is almost over. "Fierce" will release June 4, 2013*. (*On or about, depending on the venue you purchase your book.)
SYNOPSIS
All her life, Jordi Hemphill was told that she needed to change to fit in and be accepted. She talked too much, laughed too loud, and most definitely, indisputably and inexcusably weighed too much. In fact, she wore her size-20+ clothes without so much as an apology. She didn’t care to fit in. She didn’t want to be beautiful. Instead, she wanted to wear her hair in funky colors, she itched for tattoos and piercings, and dreamed of a life much bigger than working at the local Burger Palace for minimum wage. She had been born with the voice of a superstar, and something inside her told her it was OK to dream big, even if she had to do it in secret.
On her eighteenth birthday, she takes every last cent she has and buys a one-way ticket for Los Angeles. She is sure her talent will get her noticed by those more open-minded to see it. Then and only then will she show all the naysayers in her hometown that she was a somebody no matter what they thought.
Unfortunately Los Angeles wasn't any more welcoming. Jordi didn't fit into their pop machine no matter how well she sang. Other pop princess had the "full package," whereas Jordi still needed to change if she wanted her dreams to come true. It took a plus-size TV producer to take a chance on her, casting her for a reality talent show called "Fierce," which put attitude and talent far above the traditional pop star image.
Thanks to Giovanni Carnevale, the lead singer of "Dreaming in Blue" and “Fierce’s” rock star judge, Jordi gets a chance to fight for her place on a national stage.
But will America embrace this alternative diva? Or will they too expect her to conform in order to be accepted... to be loved? Despite the acceptance of new friends and supporters, old ghosts continue to haunt Jordi on her new journey. It will take handsome fellow contestant, Jace Riga, to finally help expose and exorcise the demons that drive her self-destruction.
"Fierce" continues the story introduced in the Ginger Voight novel, "Mogul," where Jordi joins a hodge-podge of other contestants to battle for the championship that dares every single hopeful to live large, to be FIERCE.
Ginger Voight, the author of the best-selling "Groupie" series, brings fame once again to the forefront with her new adult story, "Fierce." The characters you grew to love in the "Groupie" trilogy and "Love Plus One" are back to help the incomparable Jordi Hemphill carve a place for her as a pop princess despite the odds in this coming-of-age Rubenesque romance.
Right now you can enter to win a $25 gift card from either Amazon or Barnes and Noble through several different blogs along our cover reveal tour, which will also feature a few teasers of the story. Be sure to enter and keep your eye out for the book release tour because some big things are coming. You won't want to miss it. Follow me on Twitter so you can catch all the updates! You can also "like" my official Facebook author page, or the "Fierce" page itself.
For those who don't know, "Fierce" was a very personal story for me to write. This coming-of-age novel introduces us to Jordi Hemphill, a plus-size young adult who goes through a tremendous rite of passage in front of a national and even worldwide audience. Her battles are both external and internal, as she fights against an emotionally abusive upbringing and those outside voices that reinforce her biggest fears. Fortunately for Jordi, she meets a handsome veteran named Jace Riga, who meets life's challenges on one leg better and more enthusiastically than most people do with two. He teaches Jordi a thing or two about self-acceptance by perfectly accepting her for who she is, where she is, even when she believes she's so far from perfect.
I have to admit, I fell pretty much head over heels for Jace during the writing. That's one of the best parts of being an author, in my humble opinion. You have an idea of where the story is going to go and who the characters are going to be, but they will often surprise you by being so much more than you ever dared imagine. Jace was like that from the minute he impersonated Yogi Bear just to make Jordi laugh. He was sexy and he was romantic, both when he was singing and when he wasn't. He was brave and strong and real as the anti-bad boy rocker. He could sing, he could croon, he could strut and he could step out of the spotlight to share the glory with others. He was wounded, but wasn't egocentric, so getting to know him was a true joy. He's a burgeoning rock star without all the nasty baggage poor Vanni had to carry. He's had his heart broken by his high school sweetheart, who wasn't able to get past the loss of his leg, so he is in no way superficial when it comes to the "perfect" look. Instead he focuses on inner beauty, and Jordi captures his interest from the first time he hears her sing.
Their road to be together is as rocky as Vanni and Andy's, littered with foes far worse than Holly, Julian and Leo. This, compounded with Jordi's deep, dark secret that motivates her self-destructive choices, will drive the angst and drama throughout their journey on a reality show competition to see who takes home the big prize.
There are moments when this book lifted me up and moments when it broke my heart. I truly hope that you all enjoy this next chapter in the Groupie universe. You don't have to read the Complete Groupie Trilogy to get up to date with what takes place in "Fierce," but those who have read "Love Plus One," "Under Texas Skies" and the Groupie trilogy will have a deeper appreciation for the cameos of their favorite characters. If you want to catch up, the Complete Groupie Trilogy is on sale for only $6.99. That's three books for one low price. Or you could start simply with "Groupie" for only $0.99! All other books are reasonably priced at $2.99.
Disclaimer: This book will frankly talk about eating disorders, body perception and abuse. It also begins a whole new trilogy which will not complete until 2014.
SYNOPSIS
All her life, Jordi Hemphill was told that she needed to change to fit in and be accepted. She talked too much, laughed too loud, and most definitely, indisputably and inexcusably weighed too much. In fact, she wore her size-20+ clothes without so much as an apology. She didn’t care to fit in. She didn’t want to be beautiful. Instead, she wanted to wear her hair in funky colors, she itched for tattoos and piercings, and dreamed of a life much bigger than working at the local Burger Palace for minimum wage. She had been born with the voice of a superstar, and something inside her told her it was OK to dream big, even if she had to do it in secret.
On her eighteenth birthday, she takes every last cent she has and buys a one-way ticket for Los Angeles. She is sure her talent will get her noticed by those more open-minded to see it. Then and only then will she show all the naysayers in her hometown that she was a somebody no matter what they thought.
Unfortunately Los Angeles wasn't any more welcoming. Jordi didn't fit into their pop machine no matter how well she sang. Other pop princess had the "full package," whereas Jordi still needed to change if she wanted her dreams to come true. It took a plus-size TV producer to take a chance on her, casting her for a reality talent show called "Fierce," which put attitude and talent far above the traditional pop star image.
Thanks to Giovanni Carnevale, the lead singer of "Dreaming in Blue" and “Fierce’s” rock star judge, Jordi gets a chance to fight for her place on a national stage.
But will America embrace this alternative diva? Or will they too expect her to conform in order to be accepted... to be loved? Despite the acceptance of new friends and supporters, old ghosts continue to haunt Jordi on her new journey. It will take handsome fellow contestant, Jace Riga, to finally help expose and exorcise the demons that drive her self-destruction.
"Fierce" continues the story introduced in the Ginger Voight novel, "Mogul," where Jordi joins a hodge-podge of other contestants to battle for the championship that dares every single hopeful to live large, to be FIERCE.
Ginger Voight, the author of the best-selling "Groupie" series, brings fame once again to the forefront with her new adult story, "Fierce." The characters you grew to love in the "Groupie" trilogy and "Love Plus One" are back to help the incomparable Jordi Hemphill carve a place for her as a pop princess despite the odds in this coming-of-age Rubenesque romance.
Right now you can enter to win a $25 gift card from either Amazon or Barnes and Noble through several different blogs along our cover reveal tour, which will also feature a few teasers of the story. Be sure to enter and keep your eye out for the book release tour because some big things are coming. You won't want to miss it. Follow me on Twitter so you can catch all the updates! You can also "like" my official Facebook author page, or the "Fierce" page itself.
For those who don't know, "Fierce" was a very personal story for me to write. This coming-of-age novel introduces us to Jordi Hemphill, a plus-size young adult who goes through a tremendous rite of passage in front of a national and even worldwide audience. Her battles are both external and internal, as she fights against an emotionally abusive upbringing and those outside voices that reinforce her biggest fears. Fortunately for Jordi, she meets a handsome veteran named Jace Riga, who meets life's challenges on one leg better and more enthusiastically than most people do with two. He teaches Jordi a thing or two about self-acceptance by perfectly accepting her for who she is, where she is, even when she believes she's so far from perfect.
I have to admit, I fell pretty much head over heels for Jace during the writing. That's one of the best parts of being an author, in my humble opinion. You have an idea of where the story is going to go and who the characters are going to be, but they will often surprise you by being so much more than you ever dared imagine. Jace was like that from the minute he impersonated Yogi Bear just to make Jordi laugh. He was sexy and he was romantic, both when he was singing and when he wasn't. He was brave and strong and real as the anti-bad boy rocker. He could sing, he could croon, he could strut and he could step out of the spotlight to share the glory with others. He was wounded, but wasn't egocentric, so getting to know him was a true joy. He's a burgeoning rock star without all the nasty baggage poor Vanni had to carry. He's had his heart broken by his high school sweetheart, who wasn't able to get past the loss of his leg, so he is in no way superficial when it comes to the "perfect" look. Instead he focuses on inner beauty, and Jordi captures his interest from the first time he hears her sing.
Their road to be together is as rocky as Vanni and Andy's, littered with foes far worse than Holly, Julian and Leo. This, compounded with Jordi's deep, dark secret that motivates her self-destructive choices, will drive the angst and drama throughout their journey on a reality show competition to see who takes home the big prize.
There are moments when this book lifted me up and moments when it broke my heart. I truly hope that you all enjoy this next chapter in the Groupie universe. You don't have to read the Complete Groupie Trilogy to get up to date with what takes place in "Fierce," but those who have read "Love Plus One," "Under Texas Skies" and the Groupie trilogy will have a deeper appreciation for the cameos of their favorite characters. If you want to catch up, the Complete Groupie Trilogy is on sale for only $6.99. That's three books for one low price. Or you could start simply with "Groupie" for only $0.99! All other books are reasonably priced at $2.99.
Disclaimer: This book will frankly talk about eating disorders, body perception and abuse. It also begins a whole new trilogy which will not complete until 2014.
April 19, 2013
Are Dove critics missing the point?
Recently Dove, in their ongoing campaign to celebrate 'real beauty,' conducted an experiment where women were asked to describe themselves to a forensic artist. He was to compose a sketch based on nothing more than their descriptions of how they believe they look. This was then compared to sketches composed asking strangers to describe these same women. These composites were then put side-by-side with the original in an attempt to prove that we are often our own worst critics who regularly fail to see how truly beautiful we are to others because we're so worried about all these glaring faults and flaws we think we have.
The results were fairly drastic, especially to the women who had judged themselves so harshly. It was an eye-opening moment as these women realized that the world around them saw them much more gently than they had been judging themselves. It's a rather bothersome fact about women in that they tend to dwell on those things they feel make them unworthy or lesser than. These usually have nothing to do with what others think when they see them, especially those of the opposite sex. I've made this assertion before, when defending the Rubenesque romance genre, in saying that men are often way less critical of us than we are ourselves. We're so wrapped up in what dress size we wear, when the men we date usually have no such concerns. They know what they like, and it's in no way so limited.
Sex appeal, much like beauty, is a very subjective thing. Everyone gets to decide the standards for themselves, which... I think... was the point of the ad. You're allowed to give up all that time you spend fretting about your crow's feet, the bags under your eyes, the size of your nose, the shape of you face and just accept - unquestionably and bravely - that you are beautiful even with your litany of perceived flaws.
The message of us being overly critical to the point of distorting our own image is in no way groundbreaking. As women we are conditioned by the world around us to pinpoint what is wrong with us, as if it invalidates all that is right. An entire culture has decided for us what the standards of beauty are, and we all have collectively agreed that they are right. It has nothing to do with reality, not really, as seen by the experiment above. But we buy into it, hook, line and sinker as if it's the gospel truth.
Where did we get such ideas of beauty? I'll tell you where. From people whose bottom line depend on us feeling like shit about ourselves ALL THE TIME. It all boils down to what makes good business. There are several industries, cosmetics included, that make a pretty penny by convincing us how unpretty we are and how desperately we need their help. Whether we buy a magazine or a pill, potion, gadget or gizmo, we are constantly bombarded that if we just do our part to change these flaws, we'll be happier, more successful, easier to love. Rarely are we encouraged to see ourselves as beautifully flawed, especially when it comes from those with a trunk full of snake oil to sell. Millions of dollars are spent to undermine our self-confidence, making us reliant on products to somehow "earn" the right to even leave our houses.
So what if you're ugly? If you have a few bucks, you can buy admission into societal acceptance.
It's a great time to be a woman. We've come a long way, baby.
As much as we want to believe we've made all this progress past the objectification of our superficial value in society, we haven't come nearly as far as we want to think we have. That was why, when I saw this Dove "ad" for the first time, I was encouraged by the message. As an overweight woman especially, I get tired of the propaganda that despite everything that we are or do to make us unique, beautiful individuals, our minor flaws define us. And I say minor because if you're successful in every area of your life but one (in my case, weight) and you judge yourself by your failure RATHER than your successes, then there's a definite perception problem. Never is this more pervasive than when it comes to women and weight.
Case in point, there is a Jenny Craig ad where the lady tearfully admits she never took any pictures of herself because of how she looked at a heavier size. She was willing to take herself out of the history of her life and the lives of her children because of nothing more than her appearance. It wasn't her health that made her shy away from the camera, it was her perception of her overwhelming failure as a fat person. She was conditioned very early on that this one failure invalidated everything else. Was she smart? Was she funny? Was she talented? Was she good at her job? Was she a good mom? Was she a compassionate wife or generous neighbor? We'll never know... because the one thing that defined her to the point of altering her happiness was her weight. She had no value in her mind because she didn't fit this image in her mind of how she should look. Only now that she could fit into a smaller dress size is she allowing herself to - haltingly - call herself beautiful.
Let me put this in perspective for you. In the photo on the left, she didn't find herself beautiful. She fixated on those thirty pounds as the dealbreaker between her and society, much the way these girls in the Dove experiment regarded their crow's feet. I have to wonder how the Dove forensic experiment would have affected how she saw herself... versus how strangers saw her... without losing a pound. She felt like a lesser person, someone who wasn't worth the moniker "beautiful" ... how might a kinder, gentler stranger description helped her own all the OTHER things about her that made her beautiful?
Someone else set the standard of beauty and she wasn't happy until she fit into it. This is a scathing indictment of how we see, treat and accept women on some superficial gradation of merit. A commenter on my blog said it bluntly when he said, “Men really don’t care about your intelligence, your wit, your charm, your job, etc. All men are genetically programmed to seek the conventionally attractive women.”
And it's because of that this poor woman had a distorted view of her own appearance. My guess if they had asked her to describe herself she would have added twenty pounds and made her eyes sad, her face drawn, her countenance unfulfilled. That's not what I see when I look at the lovely woman on the left, whose eyes light up when she smiles. But that was her mental picture of her very identity, which - for any woman trying to navigate our superficial world - begins with our outer appearance. A flawed appearance = an inferior person. It's a woman who cannot love herself, much less be loved by anyone else, until she changes these flaws to make her a closer version of that physical perfection expect.
This weight loss ad ever so subtly reinforced that misogynistic viewpoint, yet oddly, it did not draw and has not drawn the same criticism or ire as this Dove ad, that dared to challenge our own skewed perception of our outer appearance without changing one damn thing about it.
Instead we're told, "It's not feminist," to tell women to celebrate their own unique beauty in this way, because it's still focusing on a woman's appearance. It's a convenient critique, as if it was the only ad to do such a thing. Instead the very heart of that ad counters the normal browbeating we get from these advertisers, and what we're really criticizing is the change itself. Worse, it is still putting our value up for grabs to any stranger to decide whether or not we're beautiful, as if we're still incapable of making this call for ourselves.
I respectfully - or maybe not so respectfully - call bullshit on the brouhaha.
The society we live in, the society you condone with your silent acceptance of each and every OTHER ad that reinforces a skewed mentality of self-worth prior TO the Dove ad, (which is oh... ALL OF THEM) has already told these women that strangers decide their worth based on appearance - but in a bad way. We're taught that society will shun us or ignore us if we don't do our part to fit in. In fact we're invisible unless we do so. It is reinforced in the media and subtly accepted in society. It's so pervasive, in fact, that pompously taking issue with this one ad campaign is a bit like spitting into the wind. Every day, in ways both subtle and overt, women are continually riddled with the idea that we are not good enough. This is what pumps billions of dollars into all kinds of industries, Dove included.
Criticizing an ad that tries to walk back this harsh criticism of ourselves is both backward and self-defeating. I'll go one further. If you're staying silent on all these other ads that blatantly tell women their value is in their appearance, that their appearance SUCKS and they need to change it, while criticizing the other, more tolerant, less critical message, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
No one will say boo to the woman who sheds weight, because she has fulfilled her social contract. She has given in to the pressure of our culture to "fit in" and now she does. Yay for her. She's joined the club. No one would dare dream to criticize her "hard work" in her journey to "health", or question how she now qualifies herself as 'beautiful.' And the health argument is a load of horse shit anyway, because no one cares how you get from your "Before" pic to your "After" pic, just so long as you get there. It's the results that matter. Not the means. See the male comment to my blog above. No one gives a shit what you got right before you lost those last ten pounds, twenty pounds or thirty pounds ... just so long as you do. There has to be a transformation in order to even hit the national radar.
These women in the Dove ad had no such conversion, except for the mental realization that what they judged so harshly about themselves didn't even register on the radar of someone else. This is a far more empowering message, but more importantly it's a necessary message. The entire reason these women need to see they've been too hard on themselves is because they've been too hard on themselves. How is your flogging the messenger telling them that it's okay to own what makes them beautiful - flaws included - supposed to help them?
You are the reason women need a stranger to be gentle on them, because the society that surrounds them day after day is anything but. We're still trying to define beauty of others, particularly whether it's important or not, by our own standard. How in the world is that feminist? Shouldn't we do our best to empower women WHERE THEY ARE NOW and show them how beautiful they are for *all* that they are, rather than silently sit by while a male-dominated culture browbeats our sisters into feeling like they aren't worthy to be happy because of some crow's feet?
In essence you're getting the message backward, and what is that telling the women this ad is targeted to empower? Essentially you're reiterating that value still comes in the form of a stranger, just by your standards now rather than the ones in the ad.
I find your criticism of their lack of criticism disturbing.
One thing is certain. It's time for a new standard. Maybe it's time we buck the system and demand that women of all shapes, sizes, colors, complexions, races and age groups be defended whenever they reach every so haltingly for the permission to consider themselves "beautiful" in whatever way that is defined. Beauty is not a state of value for women - it is a completely human condition that celebrates something within us that is uniquely individual. We are the shining light in an often ugly world. We are the givers, the creators, the lovers and the peacemakers. These are the things that connect us one and all and give us inherent value to the planet. Once we accept that, it can't be anything BUT beautiful.
You see, that is the true value of self-esteem, which is something we should be striving to teach our girls with or without Dove's help.
Maybe, just maybe, if we were doing a better job at empowering our women and our girls, we wouldn't need a cosmetics company to fill the void in the first place.
The results were fairly drastic, especially to the women who had judged themselves so harshly. It was an eye-opening moment as these women realized that the world around them saw them much more gently than they had been judging themselves. It's a rather bothersome fact about women in that they tend to dwell on those things they feel make them unworthy or lesser than. These usually have nothing to do with what others think when they see them, especially those of the opposite sex. I've made this assertion before, when defending the Rubenesque romance genre, in saying that men are often way less critical of us than we are ourselves. We're so wrapped up in what dress size we wear, when the men we date usually have no such concerns. They know what they like, and it's in no way so limited.
Sex appeal, much like beauty, is a very subjective thing. Everyone gets to decide the standards for themselves, which... I think... was the point of the ad. You're allowed to give up all that time you spend fretting about your crow's feet, the bags under your eyes, the size of your nose, the shape of you face and just accept - unquestionably and bravely - that you are beautiful even with your litany of perceived flaws.
The message of us being overly critical to the point of distorting our own image is in no way groundbreaking. As women we are conditioned by the world around us to pinpoint what is wrong with us, as if it invalidates all that is right. An entire culture has decided for us what the standards of beauty are, and we all have collectively agreed that they are right. It has nothing to do with reality, not really, as seen by the experiment above. But we buy into it, hook, line and sinker as if it's the gospel truth.
Where did we get such ideas of beauty? I'll tell you where. From people whose bottom line depend on us feeling like shit about ourselves ALL THE TIME. It all boils down to what makes good business. There are several industries, cosmetics included, that make a pretty penny by convincing us how unpretty we are and how desperately we need their help. Whether we buy a magazine or a pill, potion, gadget or gizmo, we are constantly bombarded that if we just do our part to change these flaws, we'll be happier, more successful, easier to love. Rarely are we encouraged to see ourselves as beautifully flawed, especially when it comes from those with a trunk full of snake oil to sell. Millions of dollars are spent to undermine our self-confidence, making us reliant on products to somehow "earn" the right to even leave our houses.
So what if you're ugly? If you have a few bucks, you can buy admission into societal acceptance.
It's a great time to be a woman. We've come a long way, baby.
As much as we want to believe we've made all this progress past the objectification of our superficial value in society, we haven't come nearly as far as we want to think we have. That was why, when I saw this Dove "ad" for the first time, I was encouraged by the message. As an overweight woman especially, I get tired of the propaganda that despite everything that we are or do to make us unique, beautiful individuals, our minor flaws define us. And I say minor because if you're successful in every area of your life but one (in my case, weight) and you judge yourself by your failure RATHER than your successes, then there's a definite perception problem. Never is this more pervasive than when it comes to women and weight.
Case in point, there is a Jenny Craig ad where the lady tearfully admits she never took any pictures of herself because of how she looked at a heavier size. She was willing to take herself out of the history of her life and the lives of her children because of nothing more than her appearance. It wasn't her health that made her shy away from the camera, it was her perception of her overwhelming failure as a fat person. She was conditioned very early on that this one failure invalidated everything else. Was she smart? Was she funny? Was she talented? Was she good at her job? Was she a good mom? Was she a compassionate wife or generous neighbor? We'll never know... because the one thing that defined her to the point of altering her happiness was her weight. She had no value in her mind because she didn't fit this image in her mind of how she should look. Only now that she could fit into a smaller dress size is she allowing herself to - haltingly - call herself beautiful.
Let me put this in perspective for you. In the photo on the left, she didn't find herself beautiful. She fixated on those thirty pounds as the dealbreaker between her and society, much the way these girls in the Dove experiment regarded their crow's feet. I have to wonder how the Dove forensic experiment would have affected how she saw herself... versus how strangers saw her... without losing a pound. She felt like a lesser person, someone who wasn't worth the moniker "beautiful" ... how might a kinder, gentler stranger description helped her own all the OTHER things about her that made her beautiful?
Someone else set the standard of beauty and she wasn't happy until she fit into it. This is a scathing indictment of how we see, treat and accept women on some superficial gradation of merit. A commenter on my blog said it bluntly when he said, “Men really don’t care about your intelligence, your wit, your charm, your job, etc. All men are genetically programmed to seek the conventionally attractive women.”
And it's because of that this poor woman had a distorted view of her own appearance. My guess if they had asked her to describe herself she would have added twenty pounds and made her eyes sad, her face drawn, her countenance unfulfilled. That's not what I see when I look at the lovely woman on the left, whose eyes light up when she smiles. But that was her mental picture of her very identity, which - for any woman trying to navigate our superficial world - begins with our outer appearance. A flawed appearance = an inferior person. It's a woman who cannot love herself, much less be loved by anyone else, until she changes these flaws to make her a closer version of that physical perfection expect.
This weight loss ad ever so subtly reinforced that misogynistic viewpoint, yet oddly, it did not draw and has not drawn the same criticism or ire as this Dove ad, that dared to challenge our own skewed perception of our outer appearance without changing one damn thing about it.
Instead we're told, "It's not feminist," to tell women to celebrate their own unique beauty in this way, because it's still focusing on a woman's appearance. It's a convenient critique, as if it was the only ad to do such a thing. Instead the very heart of that ad counters the normal browbeating we get from these advertisers, and what we're really criticizing is the change itself. Worse, it is still putting our value up for grabs to any stranger to decide whether or not we're beautiful, as if we're still incapable of making this call for ourselves.
I respectfully - or maybe not so respectfully - call bullshit on the brouhaha.
The society we live in, the society you condone with your silent acceptance of each and every OTHER ad that reinforces a skewed mentality of self-worth prior TO the Dove ad, (which is oh... ALL OF THEM) has already told these women that strangers decide their worth based on appearance - but in a bad way. We're taught that society will shun us or ignore us if we don't do our part to fit in. In fact we're invisible unless we do so. It is reinforced in the media and subtly accepted in society. It's so pervasive, in fact, that pompously taking issue with this one ad campaign is a bit like spitting into the wind. Every day, in ways both subtle and overt, women are continually riddled with the idea that we are not good enough. This is what pumps billions of dollars into all kinds of industries, Dove included.
Criticizing an ad that tries to walk back this harsh criticism of ourselves is both backward and self-defeating. I'll go one further. If you're staying silent on all these other ads that blatantly tell women their value is in their appearance, that their appearance SUCKS and they need to change it, while criticizing the other, more tolerant, less critical message, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
No one will say boo to the woman who sheds weight, because she has fulfilled her social contract. She has given in to the pressure of our culture to "fit in" and now she does. Yay for her. She's joined the club. No one would dare dream to criticize her "hard work" in her journey to "health", or question how she now qualifies herself as 'beautiful.' And the health argument is a load of horse shit anyway, because no one cares how you get from your "Before" pic to your "After" pic, just so long as you get there. It's the results that matter. Not the means. See the male comment to my blog above. No one gives a shit what you got right before you lost those last ten pounds, twenty pounds or thirty pounds ... just so long as you do. There has to be a transformation in order to even hit the national radar.
These women in the Dove ad had no such conversion, except for the mental realization that what they judged so harshly about themselves didn't even register on the radar of someone else. This is a far more empowering message, but more importantly it's a necessary message. The entire reason these women need to see they've been too hard on themselves is because they've been too hard on themselves. How is your flogging the messenger telling them that it's okay to own what makes them beautiful - flaws included - supposed to help them?
You are the reason women need a stranger to be gentle on them, because the society that surrounds them day after day is anything but. We're still trying to define beauty of others, particularly whether it's important or not, by our own standard. How in the world is that feminist? Shouldn't we do our best to empower women WHERE THEY ARE NOW and show them how beautiful they are for *all* that they are, rather than silently sit by while a male-dominated culture browbeats our sisters into feeling like they aren't worthy to be happy because of some crow's feet?
In essence you're getting the message backward, and what is that telling the women this ad is targeted to empower? Essentially you're reiterating that value still comes in the form of a stranger, just by your standards now rather than the ones in the ad.
I find your criticism of their lack of criticism disturbing.
One thing is certain. It's time for a new standard. Maybe it's time we buck the system and demand that women of all shapes, sizes, colors, complexions, races and age groups be defended whenever they reach every so haltingly for the permission to consider themselves "beautiful" in whatever way that is defined. Beauty is not a state of value for women - it is a completely human condition that celebrates something within us that is uniquely individual. We are the shining light in an often ugly world. We are the givers, the creators, the lovers and the peacemakers. These are the things that connect us one and all and give us inherent value to the planet. Once we accept that, it can't be anything BUT beautiful.
You see, that is the true value of self-esteem, which is something we should be striving to teach our girls with or without Dove's help.
Maybe, just maybe, if we were doing a better job at empowering our women and our girls, we wouldn't need a cosmetics company to fill the void in the first place.
April 16, 2013
GROUPIE NEW LOW PRICE, Updates on Fierce
April can be a tough month on the pocketbook, it's true. So we've dropped the price of the popular first book of the Groupie trilogy - GROUPIE - to $0.99!
Just one dollar and you can see what so many people are raving about, and with enough time to read all three books before the next book releases this summer.
For those of you patiently waiting for FIERCE, the spinoff book from the Groupie Trilogy, I'm happy to report that I'm right on schedule to finish this week. I've been working like a maniac, though it has not been an easy book to write. For those of you who love an angsty emotional roller coaster, I can tell you from my own scrapes and bruises this book has everything I gave you in GROUPIE, turned up to "eleven." You'll hate the antagonists more, but I think you're going to love the hero more, too.
And Jordi, my beautiful, broken, brave, tenacious, Jordi... well, I hope you love her most of all.
There are some exciting things coming up including a BIG giveaway, a cover reveal and teasers for Fierce, as well as a book blog tour for the summer release date. Follow the incomparable Brandee of Brandee's Book Endings for all the latest. If you have a book blog and you'd like to be a part of the release party or get an advance review copy, just let me or Brandee know.
Just one dollar and you can see what so many people are raving about, and with enough time to read all three books before the next book releases this summer.
For those of you patiently waiting for FIERCE, the spinoff book from the Groupie Trilogy, I'm happy to report that I'm right on schedule to finish this week. I've been working like a maniac, though it has not been an easy book to write. For those of you who love an angsty emotional roller coaster, I can tell you from my own scrapes and bruises this book has everything I gave you in GROUPIE, turned up to "eleven." You'll hate the antagonists more, but I think you're going to love the hero more, too.
And Jordi, my beautiful, broken, brave, tenacious, Jordi... well, I hope you love her most of all.
There are some exciting things coming up including a BIG giveaway, a cover reveal and teasers for Fierce, as well as a book blog tour for the summer release date. Follow the incomparable Brandee of Brandee's Book Endings for all the latest. If you have a book blog and you'd like to be a part of the release party or get an advance review copy, just let me or Brandee know.
March 29, 2013
Book Bash in Orlando, June 29 - POLL
It's official! I'm going to be attending the Book Bash in Orlando, Florida, June 29, 2013, joining some of your favorite writers for a one-day-only, epic book-signing event! It's my first public appearance so I'm pretty psyched about it. I honestly can't wait to meet everyone. So come out and get your book signed, and be on the lookout for a new release coordinated for this event! (It should be fierce! ;) )
If you haven't purchased any of my paperbacks yet, that's OK. We're going to be bringing some for sale. But since I'm brand new at this, I'd like to ensure that you get the titles you want by taking a poll of which books have the most demand. So let us know which titles you want to purchase so we can have enough on hand! (Check all that apply!)
Which books would you be interested in purchasing at Book Bash, 2013? Groupie Rock Star Mogul The Complete Groupie Trilogy Fierce Love Plus One My Immortal Picture Postcards Under Texas Skies pollcode.com free polls
See you there!!
If you haven't purchased any of my paperbacks yet, that's OK. We're going to be bringing some for sale. But since I'm brand new at this, I'd like to ensure that you get the titles you want by taking a poll of which books have the most demand. So let us know which titles you want to purchase so we can have enough on hand! (Check all that apply!)
Which books would you be interested in purchasing at Book Bash, 2013? Groupie Rock Star Mogul The Complete Groupie Trilogy Fierce Love Plus One My Immortal Picture Postcards Under Texas Skies pollcode.com free polls
See you there!!
March 17, 2013
March Featured Book of the Month Deals & Details
Happy St. Patrick's Day! While you're guzzling green beverages and pinning on your "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" buttons, check out my featured book for March: "My Immortal." It's a paranormal Rubenesque romance that toys with the idea of reincarnation, soul mates and sacrificing it all for love. You want angst? I deliver in this book and then some, and for this month only it's $.99 for your Kindle!!
The usual warnings about HEAs apply, though. Fair warning.
*Special Note: If you're digging the music used for these book trailers, check out my buddy Hal Sparks and his band Zero 1. If you're in Los Angeles, be sure to check out local gigs... you never know what Groupie-esque romance writer you'll see in the audience.
If you're in the mood for an Irish short story involving luck and romance, check out my free short story, The Luck of the Irish (In Love.)
And of course if you haven't already checked out what's got readers excited about "Groupie," the first book in the series is on sale for only $1.99!!
For more deals, featured books and all the latest information about upcoming books, follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/GingerVoight. And please drop a line to let me know what you think about the books. I love the feedback!
The usual warnings about HEAs apply, though. Fair warning.
*Special Note: If you're digging the music used for these book trailers, check out my buddy Hal Sparks and his band Zero 1. If you're in Los Angeles, be sure to check out local gigs... you never know what Groupie-esque romance writer you'll see in the audience.
If you're in the mood for an Irish short story involving luck and romance, check out my free short story, The Luck of the Irish (In Love.)
And of course if you haven't already checked out what's got readers excited about "Groupie," the first book in the series is on sale for only $1.99!!
For more deals, featured books and all the latest information about upcoming books, follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/GingerVoight. And please drop a line to let me know what you think about the books. I love the feedback!
February 10, 2013
Mogul Blog Tour!!
It's finally here! My first blog tour and I'm super stoked. Here's the schedule, the links, and what you can expect from this week made of complete awesome! :D
“MOGUL” Tour Schedule
Make sure to follow along and stop by each blog on the tour to see what each blog has for you and to enter the Giveaway at each stop.
Sunday, February 10th
Brandee’s Book Endings – Review & Interview
The Indie Bookshelf – Review
For the Love of Film and Novels – Review
THESUBCLUBbooks - Spotlight
Monday, February 11th
Bookworm Brandee – Review & Interview
I Read Indie – Spotlight
Kindlehooked – Review
Tuesday, February 12th
My Secret Romance Book Reviews – Review
Three Chicks and Their Books – Review & Interview
Wednesday, February 13th
A Diary of a Book Addict – Review & Interview
The Autumn Review – Review
Thursday, February 14th
Laura’s Review Bookshelf – Review
Sugar and Spice Book Reviews – Review
Friday, February 15th
CS Maxwell ~ Where’s My Muse? – Review
Reality Bites! – Let’s Get Lost!! - Review
Saturday, February 16th
Angie’s Dreamy Reads – Review
Beauty Brains and Books – Interview
The Boyfriend Bookmark – Review
Make sure you go like Brandee's Book Endings on Facebook. She's the powerhouse that made all this possible. She rocks so hard, Vanni may need a few lessons. ;) And many thanks to all the bloggers who are participating in this tour! We writers couldn't reach our audience without you. Much love and respect!!
“MOGUL” Tour Schedule
Make sure to follow along and stop by each blog on the tour to see what each blog has for you and to enter the Giveaway at each stop.
Sunday, February 10th
Brandee’s Book Endings – Review & Interview
The Indie Bookshelf – Review
For the Love of Film and Novels – Review
THESUBCLUBbooks - Spotlight
Monday, February 11th
Bookworm Brandee – Review & Interview
I Read Indie – Spotlight
Kindlehooked – Review
Tuesday, February 12th
My Secret Romance Book Reviews – Review
Three Chicks and Their Books – Review & Interview
Wednesday, February 13th
A Diary of a Book Addict – Review & Interview
The Autumn Review – Review
Thursday, February 14th
Laura’s Review Bookshelf – Review
Sugar and Spice Book Reviews – Review
Friday, February 15th
CS Maxwell ~ Where’s My Muse? – Review
Reality Bites! – Let’s Get Lost!! - Review
Saturday, February 16th
Angie’s Dreamy Reads – Review
Beauty Brains and Books – Interview
The Boyfriend Bookmark – Review
Make sure you go like Brandee's Book Endings on Facebook. She's the powerhouse that made all this possible. She rocks so hard, Vanni may need a few lessons. ;) And many thanks to all the bloggers who are participating in this tour! We writers couldn't reach our audience without you. Much love and respect!!
February 3, 2013
Waiting for Mogul?
The Wait. Is Over.
But wait! That's not all. Along with the release of our last epic book of the Groupie Trilogy, there are going to be exciting events thanks to nearly twenty blogs who have signed on to participate in the Mogul Blog Tour! There will be giveaways, there will be interviews... you will even get to hear from Andy and Vanni themselves! It sounds too good to be true, I know, but I've been fortunate to find so many good people who support Indie writers and romance books in general. So there will be something new on every stop along the tour. You won't want to miss ANYTHING. It all starts Monday, February 4th, with a giveaway from the Rock Stars of Romance on Facebook!! Make sure you "Like" their page and give em some love, they're amazing.
The fabulous Brandee at Brandee's Book Endings is hosting the tour, so please go check out her page and "like" her on Facebook so you will be able to follow along all these amazing stops along the tour.
If you're new to the Groupie series, there's no better time to get buckled into the roller coaster. For the duration of the tour, the first Kindle e-book, "Groupie," is on sale for only $.99.
And, if that's not enough, I've confirmed that I will be at the Book Bash in Orlando, Florida, June 29, 2013. It's a huge author/fan event put together by the incomparable Maryse of Maryse's Book Blog.
Super Bowl, Schmooper Bowl!! Let's DO THIS THING!
But wait! That's not all. Along with the release of our last epic book of the Groupie Trilogy, there are going to be exciting events thanks to nearly twenty blogs who have signed on to participate in the Mogul Blog Tour! There will be giveaways, there will be interviews... you will even get to hear from Andy and Vanni themselves! It sounds too good to be true, I know, but I've been fortunate to find so many good people who support Indie writers and romance books in general. So there will be something new on every stop along the tour. You won't want to miss ANYTHING. It all starts Monday, February 4th, with a giveaway from the Rock Stars of Romance on Facebook!! Make sure you "Like" their page and give em some love, they're amazing.
The fabulous Brandee at Brandee's Book Endings is hosting the tour, so please go check out her page and "like" her on Facebook so you will be able to follow along all these amazing stops along the tour.
If you're new to the Groupie series, there's no better time to get buckled into the roller coaster. For the duration of the tour, the first Kindle e-book, "Groupie," is on sale for only $.99.
And, if that's not enough, I've confirmed that I will be at the Book Bash in Orlando, Florida, June 29, 2013. It's a huge author/fan event put together by the incomparable Maryse of Maryse's Book Blog.
Super Bowl, Schmooper Bowl!! Let's DO THIS THING!
February 1, 2013
Join me and Brandee's Book Endings for a LIVE CHAT!!
Friday, February 1, between 9:30pm and 10pm EST, I'll be joining Brandee of Brandee's Book Endings for a live chat via Facebook. If you have questions, I have answers! Come join us for all the fun. ;)
Also watch this space and Brandee's Book Endings so you'll catch all the fun for the Mogul book release blog tour and release party. Giveaways, interviews and Giovanni Carnevale - OH MY. ;)
To get you in a rockin' mood... some Zero 1. ;)
Oh, and it's a Free Read Friday. Check it out:
Also watch this space and Brandee's Book Endings so you'll catch all the fun for the Mogul book release blog tour and release party. Giveaways, interviews and Giovanni Carnevale - OH MY. ;)
To get you in a rockin' mood... some Zero 1. ;)
Oh, and it's a Free Read Friday. Check it out:
January 27, 2013
The "Mogul" party begins early!
"Mogul" drops in only 9 more days, y'all! We got a lot of fun stuff happening between now and then.
The amazing and wonderful Brandee at Brandee's Book Endings is featuring me along with author Michelle Warren all this week (Jan. 27 - Feb. 2) on her blog. There will be TONS of goodies, including a giveaway of the Complete Groupie Trilogy soft cover book. (A $24.99 value!) There will also be interviews (maybe even a character interview?) and sneak peeks of my books, including an exclusive teaser for my next book, "Fierce," which is a spin-off of the popular Groupie series. Andy's and Vanni's journey may be complete in "Mogul," but you're about to meet a brand new superstar who fights hard to carve out a place for herself in the pop music scene. Thanks to some of your favorites in "Groupie" and "Love Plus One," she'll get her best chance to do just that!
So go "Like" Brandee's Facebook page. She's a powerhouse who loves books, authors and readers. She's also hosting the Blog Book Tour of "Mogul." So many blogs, so many great reviews/interviews/giveaways. It's going to be spectacular. Details to come!!
Meanwhile... enjoy this little diddy from my "Mogul" playlist. ;)
The amazing and wonderful Brandee at Brandee's Book Endings is featuring me along with author Michelle Warren all this week (Jan. 27 - Feb. 2) on her blog. There will be TONS of goodies, including a giveaway of the Complete Groupie Trilogy soft cover book. (A $24.99 value!) There will also be interviews (maybe even a character interview?) and sneak peeks of my books, including an exclusive teaser for my next book, "Fierce," which is a spin-off of the popular Groupie series. Andy's and Vanni's journey may be complete in "Mogul," but you're about to meet a brand new superstar who fights hard to carve out a place for herself in the pop music scene. Thanks to some of your favorites in "Groupie" and "Love Plus One," she'll get her best chance to do just that!
So go "Like" Brandee's Facebook page. She's a powerhouse who loves books, authors and readers. She's also hosting the Blog Book Tour of "Mogul." So many blogs, so many great reviews/interviews/giveaways. It's going to be spectacular. Details to come!!
Meanwhile... enjoy this little diddy from my "Mogul" playlist. ;)
