Allison M. Cosgrove's Blog, page 18
October 26, 2013
BLOG TOUR: Meant For Her
Once again I get to help out a great author friend of mine in yet another of her fabulous blog tours! A warm welcome to Raine Thomas and her latest book “Meant for Her”!
*****
Excerpt from Meant for Her by Raine Thomas
“There’s something invigorating about autumn in Atlanta,” she said. She shared the same southern accent as Cole, he realized. “It represents promise.”
“Promise for what?”
She shrugged. “Endless possibilities.”
He frowned. What the hell did that mean?
Once again, she took his hand. Her hand was dwarfed by his, but he couldn’t deny that the contact felt nice.
“You looked lost in there, Evan Dorsey. I thought maybe I could do something to help guide you on your way.”
Pulling his hand from hers, he said, “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I don’t need to.” She tilted her head to the side and looked at him with her compelling eyes. “Have you been sick?”
The question made him glance away. He supposed she hadn’t done her research before making this approach. Still, she was closer to the truth than made him comfortable.
Her voice was quiet when she continued, “I ask because your suit looks tailored, but it’s loose on you right now, as though you’ve lost weight. There are dark circles under your eyes, making me think you aren’t sleeping well and probably haven’t been eating right. And your hair is short, like it’s just growing back. Since your scalp is pale, I assume you don’t normally wear your hair that way.”
Jesus, she was observant. Shaking his head, he turned to walk back into the reception.
“I see,” she said. Her tone made him hesitate. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Evan.”
When her slender arms went around him from behind, he didn’t know what to do. No one had ever offered him such a pure gesture of comfort. Everyone who attended the funeral had been too emotionally involved to do so, not that it would have been welcome.
But this hug from a stranger was about to undo him.
He stood frozen in place as she walked around him to face him again. His gaze moved down to her bare feet and noted that her nails were the same shade of purple as the streaks in her hair. Belatedly, he considered how cold she must be.
“I can see that you’re in a dark place,” she said, touching the side of his face. It was just the whisper of a caress, but it made his throat tighten. “It’s good that you honor the memory of this person you loved. But don’t be afraid to live now. What you’ve gone through, it will bring you where you need to be. Even the stars can’t shine without darkness.”
Mesmerized, he didn’t resist when she pulled him down. He closed his eyes when her lips touched his. She kissed him, an expression of comfort more than passion. The taste of sweet champagne lingered when they parted. She smiled again, her dimples teasing him, then turned and walked back inside.
After a moment, he followed her. This woman whose name he didn’t even know had given him more to think about in their few minutes together than anyone had in a long time. For someone who appeared no older than her early twenties, she had incredible insight.
She’d given him a glimpse of light that he hadn’t even known he craved. He supposed the least he could do was thank her.
Returning to the reception, he went looking for her. He figured she’d return to the dance floor, so he started there. After twenty minutes, he had to give up.
She was gone.
*****
Author Bio: Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. She is also the author of the bestselling New Adult Contemporary Romance, For Everly, and the much-anticipated spin-off, Meant for Her. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer’s Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social media, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.
Ways readers can connect with Raine:
Twitter (http://twitter/Raine_Thomas)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/rainethomas)
Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5053436.Raine_Thomas)
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/raine_thomas/)
Linkedin (
Website (http://rainethomas.com)
Blog (http://RaineThomas.com/blog/)
Book trailer embed code:
OR, Book trailer link: http://youtu.be/amuvucrY2EY
RAFFLECOPTER CODE for the giveaway:
rel=”nofollow”>a Rafflecopter giveaway
Purchase links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXJ87TO
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meant-for-her-raine-thomas/1117164890
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/meant-for-her-1
iBooks: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781939453075
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18467599-meant-for-her
September 27, 2013
Q & A with Karen DeWitt
Today and MS survivor and a lovely lady with a beautiful smile! Please welcome my latest victim..Karen DeWitt!
*****
What would your bio say?
My bio for The Bunco Club:
Karen DeWitt is a member of a Bunco Club that has been together for more than twenty years. She also holds an MFA in studio art from Southern Illinois University and has attended workshops at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival. Karen’s career as a professional artist became challenged several years ago when Multiple Sclerosis claimed the fine motor skills of her right hand. Struggling to stay creative, she trained her left-hand so she could continue to produce art; while at the same time beginning work on The Bunco Club. “I’ve always loved to write, so when one door closed, I jumped at the chance to open a new one.”
When did you start writing and why?
I began writing seriously about ten years ago. Most authors will tell you, “I’ve always loved to write,” and that statement is also true for me; however, I could more accurately say, “I’ve always loved being creative.” I spent most of my life as a professional studio artist until about ten years ago when, sadly, Multiple Sclerosis overcame the fine motor skills of my right hand. Longing to remain creative, I started writing my first novel.
If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?
Yes, I am a proud parent. I have a 29 year-old son so I suspect my experience is quite different from many authors struggling to balance writing time with young children. My son is not only supportive and excited about my writing, but someone who is also well-read. I’m able to bounce ideas off him about storylines, plots, marketing, and anything else. It’s a joy to get his opinions and have his help.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Ahhh, the old “favorite” question! For 30+ years as a professional artist I was always asked about favorite artists, favorite colors, or favorite periods. I never had one pat answer as an artist and I still don’t have one as an author. It has always been a rather shifty answer that has more to do with my mood and stress-level than anything else.
I will always rush to get a new release from: Jodi Picoult, Kristin Hannah, John Grisham, Juliette Fay, Harlan Coben, and Adriana Trigiani (please note: this is just a sampling of my many favorites!)
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
What I most look forward to accomplishing with my writing is to remain actively creative.
Traditional or Self-publishing? Why?
After doing my share of querying agents it became clear that self-publishing was the best route for me. I’ve reached an age where writing is more “dream” oriented than “career” oriented and I didn’t want to spend years chasing my dream down the most difficult path—a path that could very possibly lead to a dead-end. After weighing the pros and cons it became a no-brainer to self-publish. I 
would have control over my dream; its success or failure would rest in my hands and not be held captive by the whims of others.
Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing.
If I had to sum up my publishing journey in one word, I would say “naïve”. I simply assumed my published book would come first and then the marketing would follow. Oh, how wrong I was! Blogs, Twitter, Facebook Fan Page, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and any other social media that you can imagine should be WELL established prior to the release of a book. Then there are book trailers, print media, pre-pub written reviews, blog interviews, and scheduled appearances that should also be ready to roll when the big day arrives. My debut book was released almost three months ago and I am still digging out from my pre-pub mistakes! My second book (which I’m currently writing and will be a sequel to The Bunco Club) has already been mentioned in my blog and FB page…I’m a fast learner.
Tell us about your book (s)
My debut book is titled The Bunco Club and I am currently working on the next in the series which is temporarily titled Quilters of the Bunco Club: Phree Clarke. Yes, I am planning an ambitious series where there will be a separate book for each of the eight women in The Bunco Club.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, here is the blurb from the back of The Bunco Club:
Eight women, eight months, eight individual tales merge into one compelling story of friendship in The Bunco Club. Attitudes surface and personalities clash as struggles, secrets, and obsessions emerge. Follow the lives of eight quilters from Chicagoland as they gather once a month to play Bunco, the popular no-skills dice game. No Bunco experience is necessary to enjoy this book, so grab the dice and share the fun and favorite recipes of Bunco night.
The last thing Lettie wants is for a member to quit the Bunco Club, but a well-guarded hoarding obsession may cause that very thing to happen. When Nancy’s one-love contacts her after twenty years she shares tidbits each month about the devastating breakup along with news of a possible reunion and she finds there is no shortage of opinions from the women of the Bunco Club. Follow the members as their stories are revealed and woven together through the bond of friendship—from a heart stopping discovery of a national historic treasure, to a 34-year-old secret, to a mom whose child is devastated from being bullied. Eight women capture the hearts of readers who will long to be members of The Bunco Club.
There are recipes in the back of the book as well as book club questions.
What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?
I drew inspiration from the friendships in my own Bunco club, but that is where I drew the line. This is NOT a tell-all book about my club nor is it a how-to-play-Bunco book. It is strictly fiction; made-up from the people that reside in my mind!
Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?
Oh, my, not so easy when there are eight main characters! I can tell you this—some of the characters and their stories you will love and want to know more about, some will annoy you, and some you will probably not care for at all. They are definitely eight unique individuals and depending on your own personality you will connect strongly to some and not to others.
Do(es) your book(s) have a soundtrack?
Hmmmm, good question, but nothing that I can think of—at least not yet.
*****
Thanks for joining us today Karen! You can follow Karen on her blog and her book is available on Amazon!
September 20, 2013
Q & A with A.K. Flynn
Today we have a good friend and fellow Torontonian as my latest victim! Please welcome A.K. Flynn!
*****
What would your bio say?
A.K. Flynn, is a bright eyed bushy tailed Child and Youth Worker who loves art, music writing, and creative musings! She enjoys writing and painting, and more recently a Pinterest addict; the most important activities that keeps her hectic life sane.
She is a Canadian born and raised. Everything she writes or paints has a tie to her love and curiosity of the world around her. Miss Flynn also writes many small flash fiction stories on her website, as well as unconventional thoughts and advice of all sorts. Which can be found at: http://perplexingminds.blogspot.com
It’s always too soon to quit. – Norman Vincent Peale
When did you start writing and why?
I started to write when I was very young. I was considered the day dreamer of my class, and I had a fantastic imagination. It wasn’t until grade 6 did I realize my writing potential. I was encouraged by my teacher to enter the young writer’s program in my school for a chance to compete against other wonderfully gifted writers, or back then my ninja competitors! It was since then I continued to write to give my imagination an outlet while giving me the opportunity to escape to a world that is not my own.
If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?
I think being a parent of a very active 9 year old has changed the way I write indefinitely! Children are a great inspiration to hone in on, they look at the world so differently and I often have a character somewhere as a cameo that contains a few of my son’s quotes. As for effecting my writing habits, so far they have not changed as I’m a night owl. For some odd reason my muse likes the stillness and mysticism of the night to be creative.
Who is your favorite author and why?
My favourite author would have to be Dean Koontz. I really enjoy the integration of horror, thriller, elements of supernatural, and satire notations in his work. I think he really thinks outside the box in his work and I haven’t found a book that I haven’t enjoyed.
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
To be very honest I’m not sure what I am hoping to accomplish with my writing. I enjoy writing and I just want to share with others a little peek into my mind’s eye, and submerse the individual reading my work in a world that is so far away from their current worries, or everyday humdrum. As for the financial aspects of my book, I’m not looking to make vast amounts of money from my book(s). Writing is more of a hobby, but making a few dollars here and there doesn’t hurt.
Traditional or Self publishing? Why?
I think Traditional publishing is great for the aspects of promotion, and getting your book out there in the world. It provides stability, an image of trust, and quality. Self publishing gives the author complete control, but the promoting can be quite tedious, and many consumers are afraid of the quality. I personally went with self publishing because it was simpler, and this way friends and family had a way to get the book in print or electronically. It made it easier for them to have access to it. I’m sure if I ever decide to go beyond friends, family, and co-workers, I would try to go traditional just for the fact of the promoting.
Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing
Publishing is quite a feat in itself. With it comes mixed emotions of joy and anxiety. I know that when I ventured out into the self publishing world it was very difficult to navigate. I used CreateSpace’s platform to accomplish this. Sure it may seem easy to make a cover page, upload your book and then BAM you are an instant Author. Well to be honest it’s not so easy at all.
You have critics, ones that are going to give you great feedback or critical, and then you get unsolicited feedback that really doesn’t help you improve your work. Then the promoting on various other platforms such as Google+, Facebook, and Twitter. Essentially your book becomes less and less of the main focus. You might be thinking I’m nuts when I say this, because it’s all about the book!
However, the book gets put on the backburner while you push promotions and keep up with blogs, vlogs, and other authors just to get a name for yourself. Sadly I am familiar with this approach in publishing, and I had to reel it back in to make it about the book I have written. I’m not famous; heck I’m not even on the map in the author universe, but I am a little star that glints from far away and my work is there for all to see. I just leave it to those who want to read it and pass it on by word of mouth, and this is my small journey in the publishing world.
Tell us about your book (s)
My novel “Lucid Dreams” is a 2009 NaNoWriMo creation, but I’ve always had the idea in the back of my mind to write a book, just never was focused to write something so lengthy. I tend to stick to short stories or articles. I am however, very satisfied with the growth of this little gem, as it wrote itself so beautifully with quirks and all.
Lucid Dreams really plays mind games throughout the novel, and you are never sure exactly where you are, or if it is a dream, or reality. My main character has insomnia, and she often does not know if what she is experiencing is real or if she’s going crazy. I played on the idea of String Theory, alternate universes, and even how apparitions find ways to appear (created this before the movie inception). This novel will throw you through loops, and always will keep you guessing what will happen next.
What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?
I think the biggest inspiration for this particular book for me is my curiosity for the unexplainable. I know growing up I had a few lucid dreams and some people have experienced something like this when they fall asleep, and they feel like they are falling off the bed. The human mind is a very curious organ, and then throw in new age elements that I love to study. I am greatly influenced by curiosities and impossibilities, and that is where I derive my inspiration.
Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?
The main character is very relatable to most people, especially to those who have problems with insomnia, which technically all writers have. She is not over the top, and very down to earth. I loved being in her shoes as she is so naïve and curious, often times I felt like I was exploring with her.
Do(es) your book(s) have a soundtrack?
I must say that this book does have a soundtrack, and it comprised of Owl City, MGMT, John Mayer, Maroon 5, and Life House.
*****
Thanks so much darlin for spending some time with us! You can follow A.K. on her blog and her book is available on Amazon!
September 15, 2013
Blog Highlight: PenPaperPad
Tamara blogs about all things writing! And theres a whole pile of ways to keep in touch with her too! 
A bit about Tamara & her blog;
I’m Tamara Woods. I love writing, connecting with people via social media and geeking out on books, Star Trek TNG and Battlestar.
I’ve been writing for 20 years, starting with poetry and gradually working my way into short stories, articles and now blogs, with the occasional press releases and chapter of a book thrown in for good measure.
On PenPaperPad, I’ll write about: writing, blogging, poetry, using social media and other things that may attract my interest. Drop me a line and let me know what you think: penpaperpad78@gmail.com.
Follow me on Twitter: @PenPaperPad.
Here’s my Facebook author page. Like me and you’ll gain at least two karma points.
You can like Google+ before it’s popular and add me to your circle.
Hi I’m a Pinaholic. Join me in deviant Pinterest ways (which I contend is way better than crack).
You can find her blog here: http://penpaperpad.com/
Aloha ya’ll!
September 13, 2013
Q & A with Martin Byk
Today we have a lovely treat and completely outside the norm for this blog! Please welcome my next victim, children’s author Martin Byk!
*****
What would your bio say?
Marty Byk is a long time Television Writer/Producer who has worked for a wide range of channels including USA Network, Discovery Kids, Sy Fy, E! and others. Among others, he’s written for comedian Gilbert Gottfried and Howard Stern. Despite that, he currently writes and produces for Hallmark Channel in Los Angeles, CA.
Illustrator JoAnn DiMaggio is an artist and designer who is originally from New York City. “The Bug Barians®” is the first of three planned Bug Barian books that will feature her unique graphic art work.
When did you start writing and why?
I’m not sure I can remember when I didn’t write. It’s strange, because I’m quite verbal – a kind of a fast wit. For some reason, though, I’ve always enjoyed writing – especially when the writing gets the reaction that I was striving for. Probably started somewhere in High School. Things usually took the form of plays or screenplays, though and were almost always comedy based. Being an author (especially of a children’s book) was never quite part of the plan. However, I always believe that when that germ of an inkling of a notion pops into your head, you should pursue it (at least for a little while) to see if it goes somewhere. Often times it doesn’t, but sometimes even the messy dead ends get used in some other writing idea that pops up later on. In some ways, my writing is what has moved my career in TV along. To this day, I still write scripts and screenplays. Nothing major has sold yet. However, every time those inklings start way back in the far reaches of my skull…I still listen and wonder if this is the one that’s gonna work. As always, hope springs eternal
If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?
My wife (and Illustrator) JoAnn and I don’t have children. It wasn’t quite planned that way but that’s how it has turned out. Instead, we enjoy our nieces and nephews and the children of friends as much as possible. Since we’ve created a kids book, so we haven’t faced the wrath of the kids as of yet. For this, we are thankful.
Who is your favorite author and why?
With regard to “The Bug Barians®”, I’m not sure that any one author influenced the idea. Probably Bugs Bunny Cartoons would be an
honest. Mostly, I’m a fan of biographies and history. However, in terms of influence, one author should be mentioned in this discussion. When I first started this journey, I purchased ‘Becoming An Indie Author’ by Zoe Winters. It was an invaluable resource. The book is funny and informative and well worth a read. I’d recommend it highly. There are certainly others out there but this one is quite good.
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
We want to entertain kids with a frantic and fun story that‘s full of action and memorable characters. It’s a story with heart and, with some luck, it might just be an animated movie or a series with heart!
Traditional or Self publishing? Why?
I decided to self publish for a few reasons. The first reason was the challenge. I’ve never been one to shy away from learning something new and self publishing seemed like a way to do just that. I think we also liked the idea of control over the project. We liked the idea of owning the book outright. It seemed like a simpler and direct way to go.
Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing
Strap in for this answer. Once the story was edited, and the graphics were in place, it was time to make a book. I’ve passed over the million hours of proofreading that my wife had to endure during this part of the journey and I’ve left out the countless ‘conversations’ that became part of that uneasy time in our lives. Mercifully, I’ve done this in order to save space and to hopefully keep my eyelid from twitching involuntarily once again. Lets just say that if you look at my first drafts, it’s apparent that I should never list English as my first language. Once the proofreading was over, I purchased several books (including the above mentioned Zoe Winters book) on how to create an ebooks. I crammed them into my skull. The eBook was a whole new way of thinking and my brain and I were at odds for a while on this issue. Eventually, one of us won this battle…but neither of us is quite sure who. We still 
argue about that to this day. I then scoured the internet for any, and all info regarding printing self published books. After some deliberation, I finally decided to go with CreateSpace. Not that the others were bad, but CreateSpace seemed to make the most sense for my needs. Then it came time to format the book. This was the most difficult & frustrating part of the experience. My wife and illustrator JoAnn had created some very lush and detailed illustrations of the characters in “The Bug Barians®”
For anyone who has ever tried going the self publishing route – they’ll certainly understand the hours of head scratching and mumbling over book formatting and the relentless and whiny sound of one’s own voice in their ears saying “why doesn’t this thing look right? It’s not supposed to be this complicated.” And then…there’s the joy and euphoria you experience when it’s actually done and you click the return button on your keyboard and you upload your work as an ebook or a paperback or a thing for iPad. It’s a true feeling of accomplishment. Perhaps a glass of wine to celebrate the end of the journey. Ah yes. Life is good. And then….your eyes open wide with a sudden realization – you have to sell the thing you just spent an eternity putting together. It not over. Not by a long shot. That’s when you take the first steps past a threshold that launches you into an entirely new journey. It’s called Marketing. You’re now a member of the self publishing generation. It’s new, it’s revolutionary and if you don’t do it yourself, no one will know your book exists. So… here comes a new learning curve and a whole new level of coffee consumption. It’s time to learn Social Networking. You’ll learn about Facebook Pages and Twitter and Google+ and GoodReads and Tumblr and Jacket Flap and LinkedIn Groups and HootSuite and web design and Likes and Follows and Friends and Circles and so much more. Sleep? Did somebody mention sleep? Sure thing. See if you can pencil that in for somewhere around March of 2015. That should work. Still……we are very happy that we did. We’re also really deeply immersed in all of the kooky new
Tell us about your book
“ONWARD AND AWKWARD!”
If you hear those words, you know that Clonk the Clonkerer and his Bug Barian friends are on the loose. This means only one thing. You’re about to be conquered in the best possible way – with Viking fun. Better yet, it’s Bug Barian fun.
And just who are these Bug Barians? Meet Clonk the Clonkerer, the Mighty Huntoon, Eddik the Dread, Monte, Flo, Valleri and her pet aphid, Thor. They’re the nuttiest and tiniest troop of Viking Bugs you’ll ever meet. They have an eye for adventure and a taste for fun. They also have an awful sense of direction…and that’s when the adventures really start.
Grab a helmet and sail away aboard “The Leaf Erikson” leaf boat with this crazy crew of diminutive heroes. But be prepared for anything. Today’s destination? Anywhere the wind takes them. It’s not far away but getting there won’t be easy. They never know who they’ll meet along the way.
Their world is a pond that’s as big as the eye can see. It’s filled with all sorts of things: grumpy squirrels, mean ducks, a crafty yellow kite, unpredictable weather, and of course, Clonk the Clonkerer. Everything is guaranteed to go haywire when Clonk is on board. And it does. He’s proof that big troubles come in tiny Viking packages.
Written for children and Vikings ages 4 and up, “The Bug Barians®” is a charming and fully illustrated story filled with memorable characters and hilarious situations that kids will love and parents will be comfortable with.
All it takes is a little luck, a good gust of wind and you. WHOOSH! Now everyone’s a Bug Barian. Come along as they float, fly and fumble their way into trouble and into your hearts. ALL FOR BUGS AND BUGS FOR ALL!
Our crazy little critters are available in Paperback and eBook
What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?
Our book, ‘The Bug Barians®’ originally started out as a pilot script for a children’s animated show. I was working at a channel called Discovery Kids and at the time they were getting into producing animations. I thought that it would be a great time to work up an idea to see if they were interested. The short version of the story is, that by the time the pilot script was ready, Discovery Kids was not. However, I liked the idea of tiny Viking Bugs so much that I then developed the script into a screenplay. This new version skewed slightly older, added other characters and even some drama. The hope was, that we could get some interest from DreamWorks or Pixar or someone along those lines. Although, the script is something I’m quite proud of, it sat. After a bit, the idea was rescued when JoAnn and I decided to turn the original idea into a kids book. The story would be told over 3 books and JoAnn would create new illustrations for each. Currently, the first part of the trilogy is available and the other 2 parts will eventually join it. ‘The Bug Barians®’ has had quite a long and interesting path but it’s been a valuable one for us.
Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?
The Bug Barians® is an ensemble cast but if there’s one lead – it’s the jittery and accident prone ‘Clonk The Clonkerer’. Think of him as the Gilligan of the bunch and you’ll be in the ball park. Sure he causes things to happen, but Clonk means well and he’s as lovable and innocent as a clumsy six armed Viking Bug who winds up sitting on his horned helmet a lot – can be. Plus…if it wasn’t for Clonk, the adventures wouldn’t be half as fun. He’s a Bug Barian through and through.
Does your book have a soundtrack?
Hmmm…not yet…but if we manage to sell it as either a series or a box office animation, it most certainly will. For now, we consider the sound of Clonk accidentally breaking things as the only soundtrack The Bug Barians® need.
*****
Thank you Marty for spending some time with us today! Please follow Marty and his lovely wife JoAnn on their website.
You can pick up your copy of Bug Barians at any one of these fine retailers:
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/11L7Non Paperback & eBook
Barnes Noble http://goo.gl/IlnSJ Paperback & eBook
iTunes for iPad http://goo.gl/gmLpz Formatted for iPad
Lulu.com http://goo.gl/jbxRq eBook
CreateSpace.com http://goo.gl/ZJF3x Paperback
Kobo.com http://goo.gl/8rCMB eBook
September 6, 2013
Q & A with Kevin Saito
Today we have a teacher in the hot seat! Please welcome Kevin Saito!
*****
What would your bio say?
Born and raised all over Southern California, Kevin finally landed in Long Beach. After graduating from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in History and preparing for a career in teaching, Kevin found that the state of education in California wasn’t quite prepared for him. The lack of jobs in his field eventually led him back to his first love and passion… writing
When did you start writing and why?
I wrote my first story back when I was about 13 or so. A really terrible piece of sci-fi drek but I enjoyed the process a lot. I loved creating a world and these characters to fill it. I started writing because I wanted to be able to do what those writers I admired were able to do… really touch people. They made me think and they made me feel. To me, being able to do that, to really impact people with words was an amazing feeling. It was powerful and I wanted to be able to do that as well. I want to be able to help people escape the day-to-day stuff life throws at them and really engage them, transport them to another time and/or place and let them just enjoy some time away from their life for a while.
If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?
Well, I’m not a parent so I don’t have children to impact my writing or my writing habits. The dog and cat though, they’re pretty tough critics.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Now that’s just not a fair question. If I had kids, it would be like forcing me to choose my favorite. Honestly, there are so many on my “favorite” list that I can’t pick just one. I love Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, George Orwell, Michael Connelly, John Irving, Edgar Allan Poe… I really could go on. I love them because they all really engage me. They make me “feel”… whether it’s fear, disgust or paranoia, they engage my brain and my emotions. That’s why I love them all and why I can’t pick just one!
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
Ultimately, I want to be able to be self-sustaining as a writer. I would love nothing more than to be able to earn a living doing something I’m so passionate about and love so much. I love the feedback I get from my readers, I love that they seem engaged and enjoy my work and that just makes me want to be able to do that full-time. Forever. I love being able to make people feel *something* when they read my work. It reminds me of how other writers have made me feel and what books have done for me in my life. I would love nothing more than to be able to (hopefully) do that for others as well.
Traditional or Self publishing? Why?
Self publishing for the most part. My first book “From the Edge of Darkness” and my upcoming book “Shattered Honor” have both 
gone through a small Indie house called “Fey Publishing”. It’s been a really great experience and I will never hesitate to work through Fey again. But I do tend to be a bit Type-A about things and I think for me, the biggest motivating factor for going the Indie route comes down to control of my own work. How it’s done, when it’s done and why it’s done. I want to be in control of my project from start to finish and be able to do with it as I please. Fey has given me that sort of control over my own work which is why I have nothing but good things to say about them and why I’ll absolutely work with them again in the future. But right now, I’m going to start cranking out some novellas and collections of short stories because I love working in a shorter medium and I think that is sort of more conducive to a self-publishing route.
Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing.
Well, to be honest, at the moment I only have the one book, “From the Edge of Darkness” in print. It’s a collection of 13 short horror stories. I had a blast creating it and getting it out last November was an awesome feeling for me. The forthcoming book, “Shattered Honor” is a full-length novel and to me, seems more like a huge departure from the first book. This is more psychological thriller than horror but it’s been a project that I have loved working on. I’m relieved that my part is mostly done but still a little sad to see it go. It will be put out by Fey Publishing within the next month or two and I’m really excited (and a little nervous) to see how it goes over with people who see and like my usual gory, scary work. I haven’t yet put anything out on my own but I have things in the works.
Tell us about your book (s)
As I mentioned, “From the Edge of Darkness” is a collection of 13 short stories. They range from serial killer pieces to ghost stories to creature features. I was pretty much allowed to run amok and just have fun with it. What I like most is that each story is different. There really aren’t two in the collection that are alike and I like to think that there’s a little something for everybody!
The forthcoming book, “Shattered Honor” is a whole different animal entirely. It deals with a man who comes home from the war in Afghanistan to a life and a perception of himself that is completely different. He sees this darkness inside of himself and has real trouble letting go of certain events in Afghanistan. They haunt him. Without giving away too much, I will say that they literally haunt him. He feels himself unraveling and his relationship with his girlfriend Shannon beginning to crumble as terrible, dark things appear in his mind. Ultimately, Danny has to either self-destruct or confront his past and travel a darker path in order to break free from his past and rebuild his life.
What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?
It was actually based on a short story I wrote for a competition a couple of years ago. I wrote it to fit a prompt and it went over well with the people in the competition. It was my girlfriend though, who saw a bigger potential to it and more or less browbeat me into expanding it into a novel.
Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?
Speaking for “Shattered Honor,” I think that Danny is a character that should be loved AND hated. He has both good and bad inside of him. I like to think that a lot of people can relate to him on some levels but unless we’ve been through what he has, we may never fully understand him. I like to think that in most ways, he’s just like us. He just wants to live a normal and happy life. But he’s got this big, dark cloud hovering over him and he has to contemplate monstrous things in order to reclaim his life and build that normality he so desperately wants. He has had to endure brutal hardships but at the heart of him, he’s a good guy. I hope that people, as they read this book, will really think about what they might do in the situations he found himself in and perhaps, not judge him too harshly for his decisions.
Do(es) your book(s) have a soundtrack?
Not an official one, no. But I’ve talked to a few people about creating a “book trailer” as a fun little way to introduce the book and the song that immediately came to mind and to me, is just about perfectly fitting is Metallica’s “One.”
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Thanks so much Kevin for joining us today! You can follow Kevin on his website! And find his book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
August 30, 2013
Q & A with Nicola Cameron
An author with a pen name! Welcome a returning author who wants to talk about her alter-ego
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What would your bio say?
Nicola Cameron is a married woman of a certain age who really likes writing about sex. When not writing about sex, she likes to knit. Well, it’s true!
Okay, okay, the full version: Nicola Cameron has had a healthy interest in sex since puberty, but it wasn’t until 2012 that she decided to write about it. Turns out that the skills picked up during her SF writing career transfer rather nicely to erotic romance and erotica — who knew? She currently has a Romance on the Go(TM) story called “A Boon by Moonlight” out with Evernight Publishing, and her debut novel Storm Season (Book One in the Olympic Cove series) was released in April.
When did you start writing and why?
When I was a kid — my sister and my father were both great verbal storytellers, very witty and funny. I didn’t inherit the verbal facility, but I did love telling stories, and writing them down just grew naturally from that. I didn’t plan on becoming a professional writer — I was going to be a neurosurgeon. But flunking Organic Chem in college plus an epiphany in the hair care aisle at Walgreen’s got my frame of mind back onto the right track, and here I am.
If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?
I don’t have kids, but I do have four cats who insist on being fed and watered first thing in the morning before I do anything else. They also like sitting on the arms of the chair and acting as furry armrests while I write. On warm days, this can get to be a bit overwhelming. My husband is incredibly supportive of my career, and I know I’m truly blessed with him.
Who is your favorite author and why?
All time favorite is Sir Terry Pratchett, because he’s effortlessly funny and then can turn on a dime and talk about serious topics. I would happily buy and read his shopping lists just for the footnotes.
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
I want to entertain people. I’m not in this to write the Great American Novel — I just want to write stuff that will keep people engrossed for a couple of hours. If it makes them think a little, even better. Also, I’d like to earn enough where the Bodacious Brit can retire and I can support him in the manner to which he’ll quickly become accustomed. I’m giving that way.
Traditional or Self publishing? Why?
They both have pluses and minuses. My first short story collection, I self-pubbed because I knew how to produce a professional ebook and how to promote it. That being said, I’m very happy with Evernight Publishing because they’re a class act and have been extremely good to me. If you have a publishing house that is willing to invest time and effort in promoting you, that’s a godsend. I think it really depends on what you’re writing and what the market looks like at the time.
Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing
Been a professional writer since 1995, mainly wrote short SF and urban fantasy as Melanie Fletcher until 2012, at which point I expanded my horizons and started writing paranormal erotic romance under the name Nicola Cameron. I like having a foot in both camps — if I want to write straight SF, I can write it as Melanie. If I want to write something steamier (and I do), I can write it as Nicola. I have no problem with people knowing I’m Melanie/Nicola — the names are just to keep the genres separate.
Tell us about your book (s)
Here’s the blurb for Storm Season: Ian West had his summer all planned out — go down to Florida, stay in his family’s beach cottage on Olympic Cove, and work on his science fiction novel. But his plans get thrown for a loop when gorgeous twin sea gods Bythos and Aphros show up in the cove and inform him he’s their fated consort. As if that wasn’t enough, something in the Gulf of Mexico is turning mermaids into legendary monsters and gods into demons. Now, Ian not only has to navigate the complicated waters of a ménage relationship with twin sea gods, he also has to stop an insane deity and save the whole damn planet. No pressure.
What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?
I’ve always been interested in Greek mythology, and some of the latest ecological disasters (global warming, the BP oil spill, hurricanes, etc.) made me wonder what they would think about what humans are doing to the planet, and how they might try to alleviate the worst of our screwups. Storm Season and the Olympic Cove series grew out of that — yeah, it’s got a lot of hot sex in it, but there’s also a very strong subplot about ecological responsibility and what we owe our planet.
Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?
Ian is an everyman, a guy who lost his wife and is trying to write his first SF novel as a tribute to her. Suddenly, these two gorgeous sea gods show up in his cove, seduce him, and throw him into a paranormal maelstrom that will affect the survival of humanity. He’s confused, overwhelmed, and almost dies at one point, but he still manages to step up to the plate in the end and deal with the Big Bad. I love Ian because he has tremendous heart — he’s brave as hell, incredibly loyal, very tenacious, and isn’t afraid to defend the people he loves even though they sometimes drive him up the wall.
Do(es) your book(s) have a soundtrack?
A lot of Florence + The Machine’s “Ceremonials” was used in the making of this book, as well as the BBC Sherlock soundtracks.
August 23, 2013
Q & A with Danielle Taylor
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What would your bio say?
When it comes to talking about myself, I’m impossibly shy. One thing I will admit to is being an open minded person. I believe that people everywhere deserve to be happy, healthy, and free (unless you’re a crazy murderer or something…). I’d like to make it clear that, although my opinions are my own, I won’t tolerate hate of any kind.
When did you start writing and why?
I began as a child and my love for the craft grew from there.
If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?
I don’t think it does – I’ve got a pen and a notebook that I carry round with me. If inspiration strikes, I jot my idea down or even a few paragraphs, and type them out later.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Ohhhh only one? Okay, J.R.R. Tolkien. Why? Have you READ The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings?
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
At the very least, I hope to give someone a few hours of enjoyment. Mostly, I’d like to help shape the way people see the world around them – as a whole, rather than fractured pieces.
Traditional or Self publishing? Why?
For my adult works, self-publishing. They’re novellas and I didn’t feel they were long enough for traditional. My young adult stuff, I’ve been signed by REUTS under the pseudonym Ellie Carstens.
Tell us about your book (s)
Captive at Christmas (Book I in the Captive Hearts Series)
It doesn’t need to be Christmas to read this steamy novella…
When her life seems to be falling to pieces, Hannah Magnus decides to spend Christmas away from her Vancouver home. She crosses 
the border into Washington State and locates the idyllic cabin that will serve as her home for the next two weeks.
Mackenzie Dunlop is a man of action and reaction. A creation of his past and his profession. When he travels to the cabin he’ll be in until the repairs on his house are complete, there’s a surprise waiting…and Mac loathes surprises.
Thrown together in the least likely of circumstances, Mac and Hannah find solace in each other after a harrowing event. But once they leave, will they be able to get on with their lives apart?
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Intimate Strangers (Book II – Captive Hearts Series)
With evil lurking on every corner, can two veritable strangers survive on love alone?
Chelsea Reid shares one sinful night with a delicious stranger and she winds up pregnant. Disowned by her parents and forced to leave university, she accepts an offer from her boss, Hannah Magnus-Dunlop, to stay with her and her family.
Christiaan ‘Tiaan’ Carstens had everything going for him. In the blink of an eye, he lost it all, including most of his mind, tortured in an American run facility, tortured because he didn’t die when a rogue politician wanted him to. His former colleague Mackenzie Dunlop extended an open invitation to come back and visit him in Vancouver. The very last thing Tiaan expects to see up north is sweet Chelsea – and his infant son.
The memories of that one magical night they spent together acting as the glue that holds him together, Tiaan attempts to string the rest of the pieces of his life into some form of semblance, while trying to figure out if Chelsea even wants him in her life.
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Falling for You (free serial novella available on Goodreads and my blog)
Julia Beals can’t remember a day in her life when she didn’t have to work. So the ad in the paper sounded perfect to her – even if she did have to marry a complete stranger.
Nicholas Steele isn’t used to being around people since the accident that disfigured him. Having a permanent house guest isn’t his idea of fun, however, the press would have a field day if they found he and his new wife weren’t residing together.
On paper, their ‘fake’ marriage fits both their needs. In reality, every moment Nicholas and Julia spend together brings them closer to falling for each other.
What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?
The Captive Hearts Series contains military personnel, people who have been through hell and back to protect and serve the countries they love – or at least, used to. I delve deep into the psyche of a traumatized soldier who’s been through more than he needed to and because of what he’s done, feels undeserving of love. I try to give people the perspectives of both the man who thinks he’s ruined and the woman who wants to love him and have his love in return.
I had a friend who felt this way (he was in the SAS) and unfortunately, he passed before I could convince him that he was wrong. These stories are sort of my way of attempting to let others know the same thing. Everyone who wants love should go after it.
Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?
In Captive at Christmas, many people (mostly men lol) don’t like Mac. I think you should love him because, despite what he’s done, what he did for his government, he’s loyal, deeply caring (even if he doesn’t show it), and stronger than he gives himself credit for.
I think most people will fall in love with Hannah straight away. She’s got so much love to give and she genuinely cares about people.
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Thanks so much Danielle for spending some time with us! You can follow her on her blog and find her books on Amazon!
August 18, 2013
Blog Highlight: John B. Rosenman
John blogs about works of other authors and his own!
A bit about Mr. Rosenman;
I’m an English professor at Norfolk State University, and I have published about 350 stories and twenty books in the SF/F/Horror areas.
You can find his blog here: http://www.johnrosenman.blogspot.ca
August 16, 2013
Q & A with Ashley Torbeck
This week we have the lovely but completely insane professional daydreamer Ashley Torbeck! Please give her a warm welcome!
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What would your bio say?
Well, I have a couple of bios up, between my Amazon page, my website, my Facebook page, and a few others. But one of the more prominent facts is that I’m completely insane, and I embrace that insanity. Lol! Basically I’m an avid reader and writer, sarcasm specialist, professional daydreamer, and part-time mommy to three fur-babies.
When did you start writing and why?
I think I started writing in the womb…kidding, but I’ve always loved writing. From the moment I first learned to write my name I have loved the art of the written word. I wrote a few things in school, and of course I always did well in English classes, but my biggest fear was letting other people read my work. When I finally decided it was time to publish, I had to get over that fear quick, and now, I love hearing people critique my work. It doesn’t hurt my feelings for someone to tell me I did something wrong or part of the story needs improvement, because otherwise, I’ll never grow. Of course, I love the positive comments too!
If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?
My kids have fur, tails, and walk on all fours, so I guess it hasn’t affected my writing or habits too much. Except for when we first got our Husky pup, he was very demanding and I had to take him out to potty once an hour for several months to get him housebroken…that made writing a little difficult, to say the least. Oh, and every now and then I have to remember to feed them. Usually the cats paw at my face until I get off my butt and get them food, though.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Stephen King. I know, I know, not very insightful, this is someone everyone knows and a lot of people claim to want to be, but I don’t think I want to BE him, just meet him. Pick his brain. He teeters on a level of insanity I can only hope to one day achieve.
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
Honestly, I write because I love it, and because I want to give people something to enjoy. I don’t expect to become rich and famous, I’m most likely not going to touch the lives of anyone, I’ll probably never make the headlines of a national or global newspaper, and I’ll never own a beach house in Malibu. Though it would be nice to be able to pay all the bills with writing, so my husband doesn’t have to 
work quite so much and we can still live comfortably.
Traditional or Self publishing? Why?
I decided on self-publishing, not because I didn’t think my work was good enough for traditional publishers, but because I was far too impatient to stress over a query, send it off, wait 6-8 months, get a no, then repeat the process dozens more times. It’s not as common to get a yes from an agency or publisher right away, and in my short experience, it took far too long to be declined before I could pursue more options. So I decided on self-publishing, and I’m incredibly happy with it. That’s not to say that in the future, I won’t consider traditional publishing, because I probably will. But on the flip side, I’m so grateful to have gained the experience of being an indie author and joining the indie community, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing.
Well, not much more to tell that I haven’t already babbled on about, really, lol! I had written my first book, Daughters of Night: Sanctuary, in around a year, and I waited a while before making the decision to publish it. After playing the waiting game and spending several weeks I finally got my first declination letter, and realized it was taking too long. A friend gave me some information on publishing via createspace.com and KDP, as well as a few ideas to help boost sales, and within 3 days of making the decision to self-publish, I was a published author. I’ve since published a second book, Daughters of Night: Possession, and am working on the third in the series, Daughters of Night: Tribulation.
Tell us about your book (s)
Daughters of Night is currently a 3 book series, following Carmen, your typical teenage girl, and Gaviyn, your atypically undead heartthrob. Gaviyn saves Carmen from another horrible death by changing her into a vampire. Suddenly, she’s thrown into this world of vampires that she never knew existed, and to make matters worse, she’s a witch. Now armed with witchcraft and vampire powers, she’s the most powerful creature on Earth. And in more danger than ever before. The series follows her as she is forced into impossible situations, bloody battles, and a nightmarish possession by a powerful demon, all while trying to protect those she loves. An interesting twist in Possession complicates matters as she’s forced to fight for the life of the only being now more powerful than her-her son. The third book is gruesome as Carmen races to save not only her son but her soul mate too, and this time, not everyone makes it out alive.
What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?
Someone wiser than I am once said you should write about what you know. Well, for me, that happens to be a wide variety of Young Adult Paranormal books. And some Stephen King, but I’ll take that challenge when I’ve honed my craft a bit more. I love reading Young Adult books, I love anything Paranormal, and it just made sense that I would write what I love.
Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?
There are really two main characters, but Carmen is the one in the spotlight. Carmen is someone most girls can relate to at some point, she was an average girl who overnight became this stunning goddess-like woman with powers a lot of girls wouldn’t mind. Like the power of seduction, using sexuality and compulsion to force your will and make things go your way. Then as we follow her through the story, the reader feels the need to cheer her on, pulling for her to win the battles and save her family, and do it all while still having morals and self-respect. What’s not to love?
Do(es) your book(s) have a soundtrack?
Haha, a soundtrack…well, I had a bit of a soundtrack for the characters in Possession. They each had their own theme song, in a way, a song that when I wrote the story from their perspective or when I wrote about them, it would make me feel like the character and put me in the mood that I would imagine them in. For the rest of the books, it’s more of a compilation of some of my favorite songs that stay on repeat and shuffle. I do have a few play lists that are for a specific mood or genre, like Rock Songs, “Breakup/Sad Songs,” “Feel-Good Music,” and others of the like.
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Thanks so much for joining us Ashley! You can follow her on website and her blog!
You can pick up a copy of her books at any one of these fine retailers!
CreateSpace:
Sanctuary: https://www.createspace.com/3977798
Possession: https://www.createspace.com/4043609
Amazon:
Sanctuary US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009372F4K
Possession US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ASBZ0JM
Sanctuary UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009372F4K
Possession UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ASBZ0JM
Barnes & Noble (Nook):
