Traci Hohenstein's Blog: A Few of My Favorite Things, page 4
April 6, 2011
***It's the BIG Giveaway Contest***
I'm running a special contest in celebration of my new release BURN OUT!
One lucky person will win:
1. $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble (your choice)
2. An autographed copy of BURN OUT plus a gift bag with tons of goodies like a firehouse cookbook, decorative apron, firefighter calendar and more.
3. and….free books by these great authors (links attached so you can sample their work):
AN IMAGE OF DEATH by Libby Fischer Hellman (signed paperback copy)http://www.amazon.com/Image-Death-Foreman-Mysteries-Paperback/dp/1590586751/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302114235&sr=1-10
FEATHERS by Kristina Jackson (eBook)http://www.amazon.com/Feathers-ebook/dp/B004S7EZBG/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1
THE FASHION POLICE by Sibel Hodge (eBook)http://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Police-Murder-Mystery-ebook/dp/B003B3NYS8/ref=pd_sim_kinc_2?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ
IMPENDING JUSTICE by Mel Comley (eBook)http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045UA6F0
DATING MY VIBRATOR and VESTAL VIRGIN by Suzanne Tyrpak (eBook)http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Tyrpak/e/B003ZTP0J4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1302114210&sr=1-2-ent
IN SEARCH OF LUCY by Lia Fairchild (eBook)http://www.amazon.com/In-Search-of-Lucy-ebook/dp/B004O6MV0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302114131&sr=8-1
THE PORTAL BETWEEN by Sarah Barnard (eBook)http://www.amazon.com/Portal-Between-ebook/dp/B0037CEUMW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1302114174&sr=1-1
GIFT OF JOY by Valerie Maarten (eBook) http://www.amazon.com/The-Gift-of-Joy-ebook/dp/B0047742RO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302138441&sr=8-2
To enter the contest, it's easy. Just tell me your favorite scene in BURN OUT in the comments section. All entries will be put in the "magic fan jar" and I will randomly choose the winner. Contest will run through May 4th.
Contest rules (the fine print)
Contests are sponsored by Traci Hohenstein and msthriller.wordpress.com solely for the enjoyment of her loyal fans.
» Winners will be chosen at random from all complete entries. Only one entry per person, please.
» Winner's name will be posted on blog and winner will have 48 hours to claim prize, or another winner will be selected.
» Simply leave a comment on the blog post as indicated. While multiple comments are welcome, only the first will be considered for any individual blog-based giveaway.
» Only entries received through this website will be considered eligible. US, UK and CANADA entries are accepted. Odds of winning are dependent upon number of eligible entries received.
» Any prize or prize notification returned to Traci Hohenstein as undeliverable will result in the awarding of that prize to an alternate winner. Sorry, no cash equivalent.
»» Neither Traci nor her web team shall be held responsible for technical failures in entry transmission, or for any damage to participant's computer occasioned by participation in this contest/promotion or downloading any information necessary to participate in the promotion.
BURN OUT IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON AND BARNES&NOBLE. PRICED AT 99 cents HERE ARE THE LINKS:
Filed under: Uncategorized
April 4, 2011
A Few of My Favorite Things
1. Publix Peach Cobbler ice cream. If you haven't tried it, you're missing out. I could eat this whole carton in one sitting. It's that good.
2. Sorrelli - my all time favorite jewelry line - is now carrying cuff bracelets and bangles. Super glam, super cute.
3. Dancing with the Stars comes on tonight. My fav reality show. I love that the top performers are over 40! Go Ralph and go Kristie.
4. My novel, Burn Out, is now available and has received some smashing reviews! Pick up a copy and drop me a note. I want to know how you liked it.(less)
April 2, 2011
Sample Sunday Recipe, New Contest, and Burn Out News
Sunday is my favorite day of the week and it is also when I feature a sample of my latest novel along with a great recipe - we call it Sample Sunday! First things first, my new novel, Burn Out, is now available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com! Check back on Tuesday for details on a BIG GIVEAWAY.
This week I decided to run a contest for readers to submit their favorite recipes. I will run the contest through April 30th, and all recipes submitted will be considered for the Sample Sunday feature along with the recipe published in one of my upcoming novels.
This Sunday I decided to feature a delicious spring/summer salad that is easy to throw together. Keep submitting your recipes! You never know, it may be featured next!
After the recipe, find a short excerpt from BURN OUT.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
1 can rinsed garbanzo beans
1 cucumber
1 tomato
Cubed mozzarella cheese
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp onion powder
Sea salt (to taste)
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil.
Stir together and refrigerate.
courtesy of Liz Schulte
BURN OUT
(This scene features Stacy Case, a reporter for the Miami Sun and Rachel's friend. She was working on the missing firefighter case when she was kidnapped.)
Her throat was so swollen from the heat she couldn't scream for help. Not that anyone could probably hear her, anyway. The fire seemed to have consumed the room in less than a minute. It was hopeless. She was going to die. She half-crawled to the coffee table and hid underneath it. She knew the fire would find her under there, helpless and vulnerable, but she somehow felt safe. Starting to lose consciousness, her last thoughts were of Mack. As her eyes began to close, she imagined him coming through the door to rescue her.
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April 1, 2011
New Contest – Post Your Recipe Here
I decided to run a fun contest this week. Post your favorite recipe in comments below. I will pick one (or maybe two or three) to feature in my next book as well as put up on Sample Sunday Recipe blogs. It can be anything – main course, appetizer, drinks or dessert! You will get credit in the book as well as blog posts. So put on your chef head and…post away!
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March 25, 2011
Firehouse Chili for Sample Sunday Cookoff
In the new novel, BURN OUT, Lt. Samantha Collins makes Firehouse Chili for all the guys on her crew. Make a batch of her yummy chili and curl up with BURN OUT for an awesome read! Available April 5th on Kindle, Nook, and other eReaders.
FIREHOUSE CHILI
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 lbs ground beef (may substitute ground turkey)
1 large onions, chopped
1 fresh garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground oregano
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 (8 ounce) cans Ro-Tel tomatoes, undrained
1 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2 (16 ounce) cans dark red kidney beans, undrained
5 1/2 ounces tomato juice
Directions
1. Heat oil in a large pot. Brown together ground beef, onion and garlic; drain well.
2. Add all the spices along with the Ro-tel tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and tomato juice. Mix well and bring to a boil.
3. Simmer 1/2 hour uncovered and 1-1/2 hours covered. (If too thick you can add additional tomato juice or water).
Suggested toppings: jalapeno slices, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream. Serve with cornbread or saltine crackers.
Read an excerpt below from BURN OUT. Here are some links to other recipes and stories from author friends!
http://www.jacodypress.blogspot.com/
http://www.lindasprather.wordpress.com/
.http://www.sibelhodge.com/my-blog.php "Discover the recipe for a Chocolate Orgasm!"
http://melcomley.blogspot.com/p/sample-sunday-highlighting-other.html
http://fouryearsfromhome.blogspot.com/ "Recipe for Disaster – Tom Ryan cookies"
http://kristina-jackson.blogspot.com/2011/03/paralytic-pavlova-sample-sunday-cook.html
http://bettysbloggingplace.blogspot.com/p/march-27th-samplesunday-mine-alone-with.html
http://notasadvertised.blogspot.com/2011/03/romantic-recipe-for-spring-evening.html – Romantic recipe for Asparagus, Watercress and Pan roasted tomato risotto
http://sarahbarnard.co.uk/blog/
Kate's Soup http://ow.ly/4n1Zq An excerpt and a recipe!
http://vmaarten.blogspot.com/2011/03/sample-sunday-sweep-him-off-his-feet.html
MAGIC MUSHROOMS – KILLER OMELETTE « mirabooks http://bit.ly/gH2Vew
EASTERN PROMISE – BAKLAVA « mirabooks http://bit.ly/e782iQ
See what Penelope cooks for her captor http://ow.ly/4mGXS @betcar1
Discover the recipe for a Chocolate Orgasm in the novel Fourteen Days Later! http://j.mp/eInu3u #food #kindle
#samplesundaycookoff Come join in the fun showcasing authors and #recipes that you'll love http://bit.ly/fq7qZZ
http://bit.ly/hQTQq7 #samplesundaycookoff #recipes Death by Choclate and the first Chapter of my #thriller.
http://bit.ly/elLVfj by @FaithMortimer
Asparagus, Watercress and Pan Roasted Cherry Tomato Risotto http://tinyurl.com/639wj3k
find out what J's new addiction is: lobster dip by @theapatra http://wp.me/p19omh-82
Recipe for disaster Tom Ryan makes cookies! @larryenright http://bit.ly/hW0Wmw
Why does Grace decide to cook Paralytic Pavlova, on her daughters first birthday #recipe http://ow.ly/4mVYW
Because you need something sweet when reading a thriller. http://on.fb.me/h6xxjZ
Sweep Him Off His Feet Berries and Brownie Sundae – from The Gift of Joy – #kindle #BookLook #recipe http://ow.ly/4n3Y5 RT
Filed under: Uncategorized
March 24, 2011
Burn Out will be available April 5th – Read a sample now!
CHAPTER ONE
Samantha Collin's story
Santa Rosa Beach, FL Thursday 6:36 PM
Just breathe. Stay focused. I said the mantra over and over to calm myself. This wasn't my first fire but my heart still beat a thousand beats a minute as I made my way through flames so vivid I thought I was in hell.
I crawled along the hallway gripping the fire hose tightly. The smoke was so thick I couldn't see past my gloves. I led my crew towards the rear of the building where the victim was last seen.
The angry, orange flames danced up the walls and I could feel the intensity of the heat, even through my protective gear. We should be getting really close. I thought back to what little information dispatch had given us about the fire.
When the call came into the station fifteen minutes earlier, I thought it would be a small fire. Quick, get in get out. But this was a doozy. Campbell's Farmers Market was totally engulfed in flames when we arrived. According to dispatch, the owner's son was last seen in his office at the warehouse.
I pictured the layout of the market in my head. I had been to Campbell's many times to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for my family. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be crawling on my hands and knees in the dark trying to find my way around.
Moving through the dense smoke, I lead the crew to the office which was supposed to be straight ahead. My knees ached badly and I desperately wanted to stop and take a break. But I knew every second counted when a person was missing.
At last I found what I thought was the door to the office. I stopped and felt the door before pushing it open. The smoke was not as heavy in here as it was on the main floor. I slowly made my way around the office and motioned to Kevin and Mack, the guys on my crew, to look around the desk. I felt around the floor and found something hard near the back of the door. I called out to Mack and showed him the body. "Command. Occupant located. We are heading out. Conditions are worsening," I spoke into the radio.
Mack and Kevin carried him out while I followed close behind holding the line. I heard a loud noise and turned around to look. It was hard to see with all of the heavy smoke, but in the distance I saw a sliver of light. What the hell was that?
When we got within a few feet of the front door, I noticed something was out of place. At first, I thought my eyes were deceiving me. Was that a person standing in the distance?
I needed to get closer to get a better look. It was now or never. I checked to see the crew and the victim were safely outside. When I turned back around I noticed the person heading towards the rear of building. I knew it was against protocol, but I made a split second decision to follow. I made my way back through heavy smoke. The air tank suddenly beeped, sending out a signal I was running low.
I could barely make out the figure, but as I got closer I realized whoever it was had firefighter gear on. I quickened my pace, bumping into furniture and equipment trying to reach them. I tripped over something and landed hard on my side. Within a couple of minutes I heard the frantic call through my radio.
"Mayday!" Command called in a desperate tone. "One firefighter unaccounted for. Mayday!"
My last thought was of Bella and Gracie, my sweet little girls, before the roof collapsed into a fiery crash all around me.
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March 18, 2011
Promoting on Goodreads
Goodreads has over four million readers on their site. Where else can you get the attention of that many readers in one place?
The key to successfully promoting on Goodreads is to meet and mingle with other readers in your genre. Think of Goodreads as one big party. Don't be a wallflower and sit in the corner. In other words, do more than just put up a nice photo and profile. Meet other members by joining book clubs that read the type of book that you write…and enjoying reading.
The first thing that I did (after making my profile) was join three book clubs that enjoy reading women who write mystery/suspense books. Most groups have an "Introduce Yourself" thread. I first introduce myself as a reader of mystery/suspense novels and list a few of my favorite authors. Lastly, I mention that I am an author and invite them to read my blog (or go to my website). I also participate in monthly book reads. Most groups have two books that you can choose from to read each month. I found that most times I have either already read the book or it's on my TBR list. After reading the book, participate in discussions about the book. There are other topics to visit and comment on as well. For example, on Women of Mysteries group, there is a thread called "What do you like to read". I interact with other readers on books that I enjoy. Here is an opportunity to mention for example, "I really like reading Sue Grafton. I feel like we have the same writing style." If a member of the group likes Sue Grafton and reads that, they will probably click on your member profile and see what books you have to offer. Look for other opportunities to interact such as Pen Pals, Monthly Challenges, Favorite Author Discussions and Games.
Another way to interact is to send friend requests to other members in the group. I try to "friend" about 10 new people a day with my book club groups. I also "friend" other authors that I know or enjoy reading.
I do all this before I promote my book to the group. I spent at least an hour a day on Goodreads participating in the forums. I believe in the philosophy that you what you give, you get back.
When it comes time to promote your book, always ask permission from the group's moderator. I send a simple email introducing myself and ask if it is okay to post a topic about a free book giveaway to all members of the group. I find that the moderator appreciates the fact that I asked and is more likely to help me spread the word.
Once you have built up a substantial friend list, invite those people to visit your website or blog. Run contests and other fun things on your blog to keep them coming back for more.
Also, remember to spread the love. Recommend other indie authors to your book club members. They will appreciate it and return the favor!
Just remember, don't overdo it! Be friendly, casual, and most importantly, be yourself. It takes time to build up a following, but with patience, you will get there!
xxTraci
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March 13, 2011
Sample Sunday Chapter 1 Excerpt of Asylum Harbor
This is a new, sneak peek of the revised, Asylum Harbor which will be the next book released in the Rachel Scott series. Tentative release date is May 1st.
The story starts out with Amber Knowles, who is the teenage daughter of prominent Florida Governor Rick Knowles, describing her first night on the SeaStar cruise ship. She is with her friends to celebrate their high school graduation. After feeling ill, she is escorted back to her cabin by a VIP host she met earlier that night.
Excerpt of Chapter 1
The night sky takes my breath away. The effect of hundreds of stars combined with the thousands of twinkling lights from the cruise ship reminds me of Christmas time.
I pull my long blonde hair into a ponytail and slid off my pink flip flops taking a big breath of the salty air.
A gust of wind out of nowhere picks up my flip flop and tosses it over the railing. I grab the railing and look over just in time to see the shoe get swallowed up in the foamy wake.
I start to wonder what happened to Josh. He should have been back by now. It is then I hear the sliding glass door open behind me. I turned around and saw Josh standing there.
"Hey there. I thought you forgot me," I say. He has a strange look on his face. "What's wrong?"
Then someone gives Josh a hard push onto the balcony.
I stare at the strange man in shock. He had a gun pointed to Josh's head.
"What are you doing? Are you crazy?" I start screaming at this stranger.
"Move it," The man says pushing Josh further out onto the balcony.
"Leave her alone. She doesn't know anything." Josh finally says.
"What is going on?" I ask again. "Josh, who is this?" This is like a bad scene playing out in a movie.
"Come on Amber. Join the party." The man motions to me with the gun.
It takes me a second to realize what the man said. How does he know my name?
I press my back into the balcony railing. There is no way I am going anywhere with this lunatic. Apparently he has the wrong room or something!
"Leave her out of this. She doesn't know anything." Josh pleads.
"Not my problem. No witnesses." The man raises the gun and points it towards me.
Now I really start to panic. It is silly now to think this, but I can't help but wish my dad would have sent security with me. I turn around and can see what looks like the lights of a coastline. We must be near our next stop in the Bahamas. If I jump, I may have a chance to make it to shore. My hands are shaking as I climb the railing and throw my leg over the side. Contemplating, I look down at the ten story drop into the swirling water below.
"Look we can work this out. I will tell you what you want to know if you just let her go inside." Josh tells the man.
"Don't think so Josh." The holds the gun steady at me.
"Amber, what are you doing?" Josh asks me as I sit on the railing leaning my body toward the water.
I feel the icy finger of fear grip my heart as I look into the water again. A loud pop rings out through the night as I vanish into darkness.
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March 6, 2011
Sample Sunday Chapter 25
The Devil's Claw is about a firefighter, Samantha Collins (Sam), who disappears while at a warehouse fire. In this chapter, Sam is eating dinner with her capturer, who she calls "the asshole", and is trying to figure out why he kidnapped her. The Devil's Claw will be released mid-March 2011 on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. Thanks for reading! Traci
Sam sat at the table staring at the meal "the asshole" had fixed for her. It had grown cold, which was just as well because she had no appetite.
"What's wrong? You need to keep up your strength."
"I told you I'm not hungry. Being kept locked in a dark cell does that to you."
"I said I was sorry about that. I couldn't help it. I had things to do."
"Why are you doing this?"
"To keep you safe."
"I was doing fine without your help." Sam poked at her salad. The lettuce was drowning in the ranch dressing and the tomatoes were mushy.
"No, not really. You have no idea what was going on around you." He smiled at her. "Did you know Pedro Gonzalez had someone following you?"
"What?" Her fork hit the plate with a loud clang.
"Yeah. One of Gonzalez's goons was hanging out around the fire station watching you. Following you on calls. Biding his time."
"Is that what you called to talk to me about the night of the fire?"
"Yes. And to offer you a safe place until I could handle the matter."
Sam took a deep breath to control her anger.
"My welfare is none of your concern. I can take care of things myself. Now if we can quit this whole charade, I need to get back to my girls. My life."
"I'm sorry. That is not an option right now. It's too dangerous for you to go back. Especially in your delicate condition."
Sam's face went pale. "What?"
"Don't play me. You know what I am talking about."
Sam thought hard. How in the world would he know about that? No one knew.
"Look, I am tired of your games. I am not playing along anymore." Sam stood up from the table.
"Sit back down. Now." The asshole had a crazy look on his face. She had seen that look only one other time and it scared the crap out of her.
"No. I am ready to go. Either you take me home or I will walk back." She slammed her hand down hard on the table. "Enough!"
His eyes met hers as he slowly reached under the table and pulled out a gun.
"I said, sit down. If you are good, I will let you sleep in the cabin tonight. We need to come up with a plan of action."
Sam sat slowly back in the chair. She would listen to what he had to say. Then devise a plan to escape this craziness.
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A Few of My Favorite Things
1. Publix Peach Cobbler ice cream. If you haven't tried it, you're missing out. I could eat this whole carton in one sitting. It's that good.
2. Sorrelli - my all ti ...more
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