Samantha Combs's Blog, page 2

Author Nicole Zoltack Introduces Her Newest Novel

Continuing in this bloggy's tradition of introducing and promoting independent authors, I have a new one for you all.  Please meet Astraea Press author, Nicole Zoltack.  Her newest book, Starving for Love, releases tomorrow.  http://www.amazon.com/Starving-Love-Nicole-Zoltack-ebook/dp/B00J2HZXAY/

Blurb:
Sirena never thought a trip to the surface would change her life forever until she meets Kristian. The sea might hold her body, but Kristian now holds her heart. Their love can never be, however, for she is a mermaid and he a human.

Rushing to steal some time with him, Sirena swims as if sharks are after her only to find Kristian's lifeless body in the sea. Heartbroken, she turns to a sea dragon witch. With the promise to bring Kristian back to life at the mere cost of Sirena's memories of him, the sea witch works her magic. Only, Sirena isn't specific enough with her request, and her love returns as a zombie who threatens the mortal world.

Longing to fill the emptiness inside, Sirena swims to the surface and discovers a distraught child crying about a monster eating his family. Appalled at the notion, she promises to slay the monster, not knowing she is seeking to destroy the man she loves.    


BIO:Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially romance, whether fantasy, paranormal, or regency. When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes, or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her current favorite TV show is The Walking Dead. To learn more about Nicole and her writing, visit http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com.Nicole Zoltackwww.NicoleZoltack.com~Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight~Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy: Woman of Honor, Knight of Glory, & Champion of ValorNew Release: BLACK HELLEBORE - Perfect for any superhero fan
Newest Release: MASKED LOVE - A heartwarming Christmas Regency novella
Available from DBP ~ Amazon ~ ARe ~ B&N                

Lunch with Lovers with Lindsay Downs

Hey all!  In another installment of my feature, Lunch with Lovers, I am thrilled to have on the bloggy today, Regency and Mystery Author Lindsay Downs.  A wonderful friend and prolific writer, Lindsay had a chance to chat with two characters from the recently released The Masked Lady and the Murder (A Markson Regency Mystery) at a recent time-traveling sit-down.  What? You'll understand soon.  *grin*  Enjoy!

Character interview for Samantha Combs
     Samantha, thank you for allowing me to stop by with an interview I’ve had with one of my characters. I’d planned on talking with Jessica Sales but unfortunately she’s currently in a hospital in southern France in critical condition.
     So, with her unavailable I queried Lord and Lady Markson if I might impose on their valuable time. The only problem, well for me at least, is I’ve got to travel back in time to 1814 London. As an author of regency romantic mysteries nothing’s impossible, I hope. If you’ll give me a few minute I need to change into appropriate attire so I may call on the Viscount and Viscountess of Hampshire.
     Now properly dressed in a deep blue jacket over a cream coloured linen shirt with a cravat tied to perfection I felt ready. My valet had also suggested buckskin britches tucked into polished well-worn riding boots to set the proper image of a country gentleman to which I agreed. Then again, as a regency author I knew what to wear but this was the first time I had to dress the part.
     With a deep, calming breath I climbed the marble stairs leading to the most impressive polished oak door I’d ever seen, let alone written. With a kid gloved hand I raised the solid brass knocker and let it fall against its plate and waited. Within moments an elderly, but familiar man swung the door open.
“Bing, is it. I’m Mr. Lindsay Downs. I’ve an appointment with Lord and Lady Markson.”
“Yes, please come in,” he said as I watched him swing to door wide and step aside so I can enter.With a nod I stepped into the massive marble floored entranceway.
“Sir, as I was informed you’re interrogating them as what how they solved the murders of the late viscount and Lord Markson’s older brother.”
“Yes. As I understand it there were several interesting events which happened during the investigation and wish my readers to learn more about them,” I replied, handing over my gloves and great coat, for London can be a bit chilly in late fall.
“Sir, won’t your reader learn about them by reading the book, The Masked Lady and The Murder. Don’t you think they’d like to learn more about what you didn’t write, meaning no disrespect.”

Mid-stride I halted, pondering his words only to realize he might be correct.
“Bing, if I understand you correctly you’re suggesting I speak with you, Evan, Mrs Stoneworth and Amanda.”
“Yes sir. For example, do you know why Evan showed up in Hyde Park right after m’ lord was shot? Or how Mrs Stoneworth was able to get her sister ensconced as housekeeper in Mr Markson’s house in India. Or how I knew the Well’s butler would aid in protecting m’ lord and m’ lady?”
“And why Evan and Amanda weren’t caught kissing but she did present evidence of such an event when they found Lord and Lady Markson in an embrace before marriage vows were exchanged?”
Stay tuned for more of this interesting and unique interview!
Buy The Masked lady and the Murder: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%...
And Check out all the Lindsay Downs regencies:


  

Author Laurie White, Introduces Without A Trace

Since I am always excited to introduce a new author, or at least an author new to me, today will be no different.  I am pleased to bring a new friend and author onto the bloggy.  Please help me welcome Laurie White, the author of two novels at Secret Cravings Publishing, and her upcoming third one, Without a Trace.  Enjoy!
BLURB:
Magazine journalist Rachel Bennett has a reputation for getting to the heart of a story. However, when her sister disappears and is suspected of embezzling from her employer, the story has suddenly become personal. The last thing Rachel wants right now is the distraction of Matt Romero, the detective assigned to the case. She wants no involvement with this rough-and-tumble cop...or so she thinks.
Matt accepts the risk that goes with his job. Two years ago, his wife was murdered, a tragedy he blames himself for. He's vowed to protect his family and friends because he doesn't want to go through the pain of loss again. However, the lovely journalist soon begins breaking through the icy wall around his heart.
As Rachel and Matt search for answers in order to find her sister, they uncover a corruption that puts them both in danger – and a passion that puts both their hearts at risk.

EXCERPT:
Something wasn't right. Rachel Bennett felt uneasy from the moment she'd set foot in her sister's apartment. A bead of perspiration trickled between her shoulder blades. She'd been unable to reach her younger sister Paige for the past three days. She hadn't even shown up at work. Rachel cut short a long-awaited Palm Springs vacation out of concern for her. The three-hour drive back to Los Angeles this morning was a blur. “Paige?” Something made her almost whisper the word. She paused outside Paige's half-open bedroom door before peering into the sun-splashed room. A hint of Paige's signature scent, Ed Hardy, hung in the air. The bed, normally covered with a cheerful floral comforter, sat unmade in the messy room. Unusual for her neatnik sister. She would never just take off like this. At least not willingly. What's happened to my sister? Rachel noticed several black smudges on the wall by the window. A nervous feeling gnawed at her. Slowly, she stepped into the bedroom, toward the telephone. She needed to call for help. “Police! Stop right there.” The resonant male voice was strong and authoritative. Rachel froze, confused, blood pounding in her head. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. “I'm Rachel Bennett. My sister, Paige Bennett, lives here. I have a key.” “Okay. Turn around.” In slow, careful movements, Rachel complied. Her pulse thrummed even harder as she came face-to-face with the most overwhelming man she'd ever laid eyes on. His features were rugged and darkly handsome, his hair black as sin. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she'd been holding. A twinge of wariness assailed Rachel as her gaze took in the man. All in all, he made a dangerously sexy package despite his ordinary dark gray suit and tie. He looked like no cop she'd ever seen, but his open-legged stance and the familiarity with which he held his pistol—aimed at her—seemed to show years of experience on the force. Or simply a lot of practice using a gun. Certainly he won't shoot, she told herself, heart crashing hard against her chest. “Can I see your ID?” The man's steely dark eyes never left hers as he unclipped the gold badge from his belt and held it out to her. “Matt Romero, LAPD Detective Support and Vice,” he said. Rachel studied the badge. In her work as a writer for Southland Life magazine, she'd seen enough cop badges to know this was the real thing. What sort of trouble could Paige be in? “How did you…?” “The apartment manager let us in. We had a search warrant.” He lowered his gun, then clipped his badge back onto his belt. “Search warrant? Has something happened to Paige?” A cold knot formed in the pit of her stomach. Although a part of her didn't want to know, her reporter's instinct demanded answers. Skepticism flickered across Romero's face, but as he studied her he seemed to relax. He holstered his weapon. “I saw a photo on the desk over there of you with your sister. You resemble each other very much. Why don't we sit down?” He motioned toward the living room. Rachel trudged down the hallway, struggling to prepare herself for whatever this man was about to tell her. Horrifying possibilities whirled in her mind. Had Paige been arrested for some reason? Worse yet, badly hurt or even—no, she couldn't allow herself to think about that last one. A shudder rippled through her. Then she felt one of the detective's large hands on the center of her back. The guiding gesture, although gentle, unnerved her. The heat from his palm burned through the thin fabric of her blouse. She walked a bit faster. In the living room, Rachel sank into Paige's comfortable powder blue sofa. She took a deep breath to calm herself, but her stomach knotted up when Romero settled into the chair beside the sofa, right next to her. “Why are you here, Detective? Where is Paige?” “That's what my partner and I are trying to find out, Ms. Bennett.” “What do you mean?” she asked, managing to sound a lot less anxious—and a lot less aware of the man across from her—than she really was. He looked her dead in the eye. “Your sister is missing, Ms. Bennett.”

BIO:
Laurie White is the author of two romantic suspense novels from Sweet Cravings Publishing. Her latest novel, WITHOUT A TRACE, was released January 30, 2014 from Secret Cravings Publishing. Laurie is a member of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers. Aside from writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with family, traveling, and watching movies. She is the proud mama of four adorable cats and lives in the hills of Tennessee.
PUBLISHED NOVELS:WITHOUT A TRACETWIST OF FATE
DESERT HEAT

Want to Win a Nook Simple Touch AND a Gift Card to Fill It?

My publisher, esKape Press, is announcing a new contest that starts tonight.  To promote my most recent novel, and first release with them, we are doing a giveaway!

Simply read WINGSPAN, post a review and add the link to the rafflecopter here:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f655e57/

And that's it!  You will be entered to win a brand new Nook Simple Touch ereader and that's not all.  You will also get a $20 egift card to start loading your new best friend!  You can enter once a day and the contest will run for a whole week.

To remind you, this is WINGSPAN:

Chessa Dawning never thought she’d be the kind of girl who’d be on the run.  Yet, here she was, having left the only home she’s ever known, staying two steps ahead of the men chasing her and falling for a resourceful ex-criminal with colorful friends. And that was just this week.
Most of the time, Charlotte Lake can’t believe her life.  The reluctant leader of a rebel faction called the Ginger Nation, Charlie’s days are filled with planning surveillance, rescuing detainees, and exposing government conspiracy.  Surrounded by loyal friends and soldiers, she knows she can never reveal the true nature of her quest: finding her real father.
When a sudden twist in both their lives brings these two girls together, revelations about their past will make them rethink where they came from, and define their future in ways they never could have imagined.  
Not every scientific breakthrough is a gift.

Does Your Character Speak to You?

Today, I got to have this really great conversation with a fellow writer I got to know through my writer's group, the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles.  And of course, it motivated me to write a post about it.  Thanks, Kate!

So, we were in the middle of talking about our characters and their voices.  My writer friend had recently agreed to read and review my latest book, Wingspan, and we were chatting about how she enjoyed it.  She was quite complimentary, and I won't bore you here, but she did say that the characters were believable and she enjoyed the dialogue.

After the smile stopped threatening to break my face, I admitted something to her.  Initially, one of the man characters had a different name.  I wrote him and thought the personality was developing as I was going along.  When I would re-read the sections, there was something wrong  and I couldn't put my finger on it.  This has happened to me before and I have one sure-fired way to fix it.  I change the character's name.

Patrick, who appeared fleshed-out became Mickey.  He stopped being a skeleton. The moment I did that, I realized what was wrong with the previous name.  It's a great name, but not for him.  The problem was that when he was Patrick, I couldn't see him.  And i have to be able to "see" my babies in order to understand them.  And when I understand them, I can write them.  I can write the hell out of them.

When Patrick became Mickey, he morphed into a living, breathing person.  In my mind, it was almost as if a stick figure I had created suddenly filled out, with organs, and blood vessels, and flesh.  I could see what he looked like, how he related to others, and how he spoke.  He became the protector, the loyal friend, the sidekick for my protag. And then he became a protag himself.  With his new name, he became more than a secondary.  He was a primary.  And he demanded equal billing!

I went back and rewrote him and his dialogue.  His clipped way of speaking, the tell-you-only-what-you-need-to-know way of giving you information, it all flowed effortlessly.  All because I changed the name.

So, I wanted to share with you this little trick that helps me. Hope it helps you. And interesting side note:  when I was seven, I decided I wanted to change my name.  I love my first name now, but then, I thought it was awful.  I changed it to Jessica.  It didn't last, and I got my old name back, but I remember when I was Jessica, I had an epiphany.  As her, I could change anything and reinvent myself into anything I wanted.  The power was overwhelming and made me giddy. Maybe your characters feel that way too? *grin*

Happy writing.

Five Habits of the Rich...and How They Apply to Writers

So, like the rest of the free TV-watching world, I am watching the Olympics.  There are some amazing stories and some even more shows of excellence.  I am also amazed at the mind-boggling money spent on the event and the even more that simple families came up with to send one, two, three, four, and more family members to watch loved ones compete.  Like always, my frugal scrutinizing wasn't far behind.

Like how do you even afford a ticket to a place halfway across the world?  Of course my answer is you have to be rich.  Then my brain goes to work.  Why are rich people rich?  How do they get there and better question: how do they stay there?

In my travels I came across an article giving me the five
traits of the world's wealthiest people,
They aren't what you think.


They eat less junk foodThey exercise regularlyThey don't procrastinateThey keep learningThey nurture relationshipsSimple rules, but I always have to know how to live them as a writer.  So I came up with my own list, after studying the most prolific or successful writers of my and past generations.
1.  Eat less junk food.  Okay, most of us exist on coffee and cheese puffs (or fill in your own favorite go-go juice and snack)  For me as a writer, this means ice tea and tangerines.  Or Sprite and trail mix.  The idea is to make the snack an actual snack.  Oftentimes the lure of good food keeps me off the laptop.  So I make sure my snacks are not filling and don't weigh me down.  Oh, BTW, ice cream does not count.  Ice cream is approved for any situation any day of the week. But, I digress.  (And there is none in the house right now.  Whatever.  Move on.
2.  Exercise regularly.  As one who eschews any kind of formal anything, I don't do jumping jacks or the like.  I exercise my brain.  The internet is my vice of choice and I am on it constantly.  I make sure I am subscribed to thought-provoking sites as well as TMZ.  A girls gotta have her gossip, mmkay?
3. Don't procrastinate.  Well, duh.  I have an appointment to have that tattooed across my body. But, maybe I'll do that later.  If you don't write it today, it will be gone tmrw.  Even if you jot down a note, today's thought will NEVER be the same the next day.
4. Keep learning.  Even the greats like Stephen King and James Patterson say they learn something new every day.  As early an adopter as Mr. King is, he is always willing to take on a new challenge. And Mr. Patterson, with the easy way he collaborates with, well, anyone, proves that you are never too old to learn a new trick.  And by old, I mean experienced.  And by trick, I mean multi-million dollar making novel.
5.  Nurture relationships.  Like those authors I named, they are always making new friends, meeting new people and nurturing the right relationships.  The proofer you use for your very first book may become the editor-in-chief at the most sought-after publisher.  And that freelance editor? She may just become The SuperAgent of the future.  *wink*  You never know.
I would keep these five reasons handy.  I actually typed mine up and am laminating it tmrw.  But don't tell anyone.  I have a rep to protect.  *giggle*

Vicky Locey Takes Her Characters to Lunch!

I have a wonderful new author friend to introduce you to.  Vicky Locey, one of the insightful authors at Secret Cravings Press with me, has agreed to share something really cool.....a sit-down with her protags!  It's a great concept, one I am keen on recreating.  So join me in welcoming Vicky and her brain children, Alain and Vivian!             Lunch with Lovers by Author Vicky Locey
            Thank you Sam for having me here!
            There are few things more enjoyable than sitting down with friends. I got to do just that recently with the stars of my erotic sports romance, Pink Pucks & Power Plays, the first book in the To Love a Wildcat series. Given that Alain has a rather severe dislike of the press and/or interviews, I wasn`t sure he would agree, but my gal Viv finagled the handsome young D-man into meeting me.             We arranged for the interview to take place at The Black Boar Bar & Grill, a popular eatery and sports bar a few blocks from The Houseman Arena where the Philadelphia Wildcats play. Alain is one of several `Cats who own a share of the trendy meeting place. I picked the table by the small stage in the large dining area. Rumor has it Philly sports stars perform here on occasion, but I`ve yet to see it. Maybe someday I`ll catch a performance by a Wildcat or two.
             The hot spot was rather quiet, as it was after the lunch crush. There were televisions filling every available inch of wall space that wasn`t covered with sports memorabilia. As a friendly young waiter dressed as a referee delivered my decaf, I saw the couple arriving.             "Alain!" the few lingering patrons shouted as if we were at Cheers. Lessard smiled at his fans, slapping backs as well as shaking hands as he followed Viviana to the table. I smiled at the woman. She was, as she always is, vibrant. Her clothes were sexy, colorful and playful, accenting her legs and her breasts, for she knows how much her lover admires them. Viv and I bussed cheeks. We`re the same height and possess the same curvy form so seem to feel an affinity for each other. Alain enveloped me in a brotherly hug. My eyes grew wide. I peeked at Viviana. She smiled. Alain released me to pull the chair out for his lady love.             "Thank you for doing this, Alain," I said as he hurried to push my chair in for me.             "It is my pleasure," the Quebecer said as he dropped his well made frame into his seat. I could easily see what Viv saw in Alain. Six foot two, one hundred and ninety pounds, black curly hair, hazel eyes, athletic build, and a mouth that begs to be kissed. I`d be drawn like a moth to a flame as well! "This is not like a regular interview."            "See, not all interviews are bad," the sassy brunette said as she ran her eyes over the menu. Alain rolled those pretty hazel eyes playfully. His hand rested on the back of Viviana`s chair possessively. "Let`s get a fish dinner then split it." Viviana looked at me with eyes the color of white grapes. Her eyes always amaze me. I nodded at the suggestion. After the order was placed and Viv and Alain`s drinks were brought out, we started chatting.            "So, how does it feel to be the stars of your own book?" I asked the couple.             "I`m tickled to be the first of the Wildcats women`s story that you told," Viviana said then sipped at her raspberry flavored water.             "It is very nice," Alain answered tactfully.             "He`s not always so tight-fisted with his words," Viviana pointed out as our appetizers arrived.             "Oh, I`m well aware of how he can talk once he`s comfortable," I replied with a wink for the hockey star. His mouth curled into a shy smile. "Although you do seem to have the lion`s share of the dialog in the book, Viv."            "Yes, see, chaton, I don`t talk much because you are doing all the talking for us both," Alain joked. "I cannot fit the words in edge like."            "Oh pooh on both of you." Viviana dipped a mozzarella stick into some red sauce then offered the first bite to Alain, her left hand cupped under the dripping stick. "It`s hot," she warned. Probably so he didn`t burn those lips of his she is so keen on kissing.             "Speaking of sex," I said as I dipped my own stick. Both my characters eyes widened with surprise. "Were you two pleased with the amount of it in your book?"            "Is there such a thing as too muchsex?" Viviana asked with a impish gleam in her eye.             "It was very nice," Alain responded. I suspected that was his stock reply whenever he felt the matter was too personal to discuss. It was better than being told it was none of my business.            "The sex was wonderful," Viv interjected as she fed Alain the rest of the cheese stick. "I do love a juicy read, and this story certainly is that!"            "But there was more than the sex, no?" Alain said after dabbing sauce off his mouth with his napkin."The sex, it was great, but the lesson my Viviana learned, that was big importance too, was it not?"            I looked pointedly at the woman trying to decide which mozzarella stick to chose for herself. "Was it, Viviana?" I asked directly. Her eyes flicked to me then returned to the basket holding our appetizers. The patrons hooted at an old replay of a Stanley Cup game on one of the TV sets.             "Can we talk about the sex instead?" Viv inquired.             "No, we are talking about all the book, not just the steamy sex scenes," Alain hurried to say. I leaned back into my seat, nibbling the scalding hot stick carefully, my napkin held under my chin. "So, did you learn a lesson, Viviana?"            "Yes, I learned a lesson! Does that make you both happy?! For goodness sake, one would think I was Dr. Doom or something!" she huffed as she made a grab for a stick in the bright red plastic basket. Alain grabbed her hand, raised it to his lips and then laid it on the table beside Viviana`s plate. Then he chose a stick to feed her. I shifted around in my chair, suddenly quite uncomfortable. It felt as if I were watching the lovers in their bedroom. I smiled at a man eating his lunch behind us.             "What did you learn?" I asked when the sensual stick feeding was over with. "And for the record, we all adore you Viviana," I added, for it was the truth. Sure, Viv could be rather brusque at times, but her heart was most generally in the right place.             "I learned that we should talk about one of the other ladies in the series. Let`s chat about the rest of the books! I`m sure your readers would like to know a bit about those instead of hearing more about the poor choices silly old me has made."            I let her have that victory. She was far too clever to wrangle into such a private confession. She had been a reporter after all. Viviana Land had lots of pride, and chutzpah. I didn`t wish to push either her or Alain too far.             "Alright, let me see. The next book will be A Most Unlikely Countess."            "Look at that dreamy look," Alain teased. I felt the heat creeping into my face. "Ah poor V. L., she does so love goalies."            "Okay, yes, I do have a thing for goalies. Everyone knows that." I hurried to grab my coffee to hide behind. Viviana patted my arm while laughing at my discomfort.             "It`s fine, " Viv assured me. "A woman would have to be dead and buried not to be swept off her feet by Veikko Aho. He is perhaps one of the most classically handsome men I have ever laid eyes on."            "Ahem!" We both looked at Alain with his arms now folded over a tee that read 'Old Time Hockey' and featured the Hanson Brothers from the movie, Slapshot.            "Aside from you of course, darling." Viviana patted his muscular bicep.             I hurried to carry on lest more male ego was trampled. "After A Most Unlikely Countess will be O Captain! My Captain!, Reality Check,and Language of Love. I`m also toying with a few ideas for other Wildcat books, but we`ll see how things hatch with the planned five before I count chickens."            "I for one hope they do well. If women knew just how sexy hockey players are, they`d flock to grab those books." Viviana leaned back to give the server room to place her half a fish dinner. My mouth watered when my plate of flaky flounder, thick steak fries, and a side of coleslaw was set in front of me. Alain was eating rare steak with a fat baked potato that was topped with sour cream and chives. I guess the players get tired of chicken.             "I can`t argue that point," I said then waggled an eyebrow. Alain smiled self-consciously.            "He does humble well," Viviana whispered as she passed the ketchup bottle to me. The meal progressed pleasantly. We chatted about small things. Alain seemed to relax completely by the time dessert was brought out. We each had a small dish of ice cream. Mine was vanilla, Alain`s fudge ripple, and Viviana`s black raspberry.             "So, can I ask a question?" Alain said as we enjoyed our frozen treats. I nodded. "How do the Wildcats do in our quest for Lord Stanley`s cup?"            "Oh no you don`t!" I shook my spoon at the charmer, "You`re not wheedling that information out of me. No way and no how!"            "I could send a certain goalie over to persuade that information out of you," he teased, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. I stared at him over the table. Viviana slapped his arm.             "Would you stop tormenting the poor woman so! If you wish to know if the `Cats win it all, or if any of our friends find love, buy the books."            "But Viviana, how do I find time to read when I am working to keep you happy?" Alain asked with utmost sincerity.             "Oh, he`s good," I muttered under my breath.             "Yes he is," Viviana purred, leaning over to steal a kiss from her Wildcat. It didn`t take the couple long to finish their ice cream, snap up the check, and wave goodbye. I sat back with a contented smile. One Wildcat happy ever after, four more to go!
*~*~*

Blurb:Viviana Land just can`t seem to say no to her younger sister. Somehow, the curvaceous society page reporter gets lassoed into serving as her niece`s Busy Bee scout leader. One overheated engine later, Viviana and her girls find themselves in the Green Hills Ice Rink. Enter Alain Lessard, the charmingly handsome defenseman for the Philadelphia Wildcats, who is donating his summer to coaching the youth league.When our intrepid reporter is given the opportunity to write the break-out story of her career, Viviana leaps at the chance. Thinking it would be easy to flirt and tease some juicy tidbits out of Alain, Viviana soon finds herself falling for the sensual, younger, kind-hearted man. Will she put aside her virtual pen for a chance to stay at her new paramour`s side? Or will Viviana finally get away from those mundane bakery opening articles by using the man she may possibly be in love with? 

You can find Pink Pucks & Power Playsat the Secret Cravings Store as well as all other major retailers:
Secret Cravings Publishing
Amazon
All Romance eBooks
B&N
            V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, belly laughs, anything romantic, Greek mythology, New York Rangers hockey,  comic books and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a steer named after a famous N.H.L. goalie, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.             V.L. is a self-published and conventionally published author. She is a proud Torquere Press and Secret Cravings Publishing author. When not writing romantic tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand, writing, or cheering on her beloved New York Rangers. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads.
I love to meet new friends and fans! You can find me at-
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452Twitter- https://twitter.com/vlloceyGoodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_LoceyMy blog- http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/  

Introducing....Lauren Frederick

I have a new author friend.  She was an aspiring writer and now she is about to be a published one! I asked her if she wanted to share how it all began for her and she agreed.  I love when I can feature a new author before she becomes big and famous.  So, please welcome with me, Lauren Frederick.
Writing Journey
Honestly, I’m the worst person to talk about a journey that happened at such a young age. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been conjuring up my own worlds and putting them on paper. It started in early elementary school while I was bored in class. At the time, I thought my drawing skills were prodigious, and I’d make my own little loose leaf-bound graphic novels. It didn’t take me long to realize that my talent really sparkled in the little speech bubbles next to my horrendous drawings of talking dogs and cats. Reading definitely fueled my passion for writing lengthier pieces. I wasn’t born a book worm; I actually started reading because I was in competition with a close friend (she wasn’t about to finish Harry Potter before me!) It was a struggle at first, but it wasn’t long before I started reading books as quickly as my mother could get to the book store. Immersing myself into other fantasy worlds opened my imagination to the potential of creating my own stories. I started making my own characters to plug into stories, filling numerous notebooks with embarrassing fan fictions, and eventually creating my own first short story. It was for a 6th grade creative writing assignment, and I went 20 pages over the requirement. Completing my first manuscript came years later. I was on the verge of graduating college with no clue what I wanted to do afterwards. Taking a gap year during the rough economy wasn’t unheard of, and I decided to do some serious soul searching in that year. How did I cope? I wrote. I came up with my idea for my forthcoming debut novel, Lucid in college, and I really wanted to do my characters justice by finishing the story. Eighty-five thousand words later, I had this manuscript. I remember sighing with relief, pouring myself a glass of wine, and saying , “I did it. I started a multi-million dollar career. I’m going to be on the New York Times Bestseller list by the end of this year.”I was a very naïve 22 year-old. Getting my first rejection letters was a real blow to my ego. I was used to getting everything for which I applied. Scholarships, poetry contests, school play roles, honors societies, you name it. Having someone tell me that she’s not interested in my work, my world I’d created over the span of 5 years, was a pretty tough pill to swallow. I took a break from writing, applied to grad schools (for writing, because I obviously needed help,) and only faced more disappointment. (How was I supposed to know MFAs were competitive, and my BS in psychology didn’t help my case?!) My virgin writing eyes were opened that year, and it took a lot of self-loathing and reflection to realize something important.I didn’t need an agent or a publisher to tell me that my work was good in order to keep writing. Did I write my dog stories and fan fiction because I wanted to be rich? Of course not! They made me happy, and I enjoyed writing things even if no one else would ever read them. While having this revelation, I was a middle school substitute teacher, and I realized that my middle school students were always looking for cool things to read. I started talking about my own stories, and soon enough, I had a little audience eager to hear about Devon and his adventures into a dangerous dream world. I realized that writing was the reward, whether the story was heard or not. The fact that my story brought joy to my students was a huge plus that fueled my continuing to query agents and publishers. I still am naïve to the writing world, but I’m learning as I go on. Forty query letters and a year and a half later, I’ve secured a publishing contract for Lucid. Again, I thought that was going to be the end of it. All I had to do was sign the contract, and the rest would fall into place. I laugh at myself (only months ago,) but I find it’s not a bad lesson. The path to success is not easy, and it shouldn’t be. Even CEOs have to start in a cubicle, and famous actors got their starts in mediocre plays off-Broadway or in sketchy LA comedy clubs. Determination to find one’s path to happiness is everything. If attending the gym weekly has taught me anything, it’s that hard work pays off in both mind and body. In order to be the best version of yourself, you can never quit. You may not walk the premeditative path you had planned out for yourself, but it’s all right. If you work hard, never give up, and believe you will find happiness, you’ll end up right where you need to be. I just started my journey, and it’s not without its stress and setbacks, but I know there’s no use in complaining. If I keep trucking along, and remember that writing is the work and the reward, everything will be fine.  You will, too.

How Can Google Alerts Work For You?

We all know the value of facebook and Twitter for marketing our books.  Social media has been a boon for the self-made and independent entrepreneur.  With all the various apps out there, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and probably a million others, it is not only in our best interest we avail ourselves of them as writers, it is damn near imperative.

Also, as indie authors, or even aspiring indie authors, we write posts for friendly blogs, articles for publication, and give interviews when we can.  Have you often wondered how to keep up with all the internet footprinting you must be doing?  I have and was given a wonderful tip that pays me back every day....google alerts.

Never heard of them?  They are great.  You input a search item, be it a word, a phrase, or like in my case, my book titles, and every single time that word or phrase shows up on the internet anywhere, you get an email advising you about it. This is a handy trick if you don't want to spend your whole day surfing the web.  Even every time someone posts a review of one of my books, I get the alert, even if I wasn't even aware of the review.  It's a nice way to keep track of who is reading your work, and which bloggers are in your camp.

Setting up the alert is easy and painless (way different than writing, huh?)  You simply plug in this web address:  http://www.google.com/alerts

You get a page that looks like this:
Search query:Result type:Everything How often:Once a day How many:Only the best results Deliver to:Samanthacombswrites@gmail.com Manage your alerts




Identify your search item, decide how often you want to be alerted, than add in your own information for the email address.  Press the big red button and off you go!
I am the author of ten published books (as of yesterday!), so I have 11 alerts; one for each book title and one for my name alone.

Great luck to you discovering your own digital footprint!

Wingspan Spreads it's Wings

As of this moment, Wingspan is now available on Amazon and Smashwords, so far.  I am pretty stoked.  I have some reviews already done and I'm looking forward them to be posted.  Please take a gander at the sneak-peak at the book.  I'll post one every couple days until you can't stand it anymore and simply HAVE to get the book.  Thats how it works, at least in my mind.  And and one other thing.....thanks for continuing to support this grateful independent author.

WINGSPAN

Sneak Peak:

Chessa refused to meet his gaze.  Maybe if she kept her face straight, Ryan wouldn’t see the flush creeping its way across her skin.  “Shouldn’t you keep your eyes on the road?”Ryan chuckled.  “Wow.  Not used to compliments is my guess.  What?  Never had a boyfriend before?”“I’ve had my share.”“Is that so?  You ask me, I’d have guessed never.”“Whatever.  You don’t know anything about me.”“Whoa.  I know more about you than most.  I know about your wings-and-things there, don’t I?”“So what?  I have no idea what possessed my Dad to let you take me anywhere.”“Hell, I can drop you anywhere you like.  This is a favor I’m doing you.  But, you just say the word and I’ll take this truck to the shoulder and offload you quicker than a longshoreman.”“Fine.”  Take me to the nearest bus station.”Ryan spread his arms wide.  “In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re not exactly in the big city anymore, girl.  There’s no bus station within 300 miles of here.”Chessa glanced out the window.  She had been so involved in their conversation, she had not noticed that they had left the city limits long ago.“Where are we?”Ryan drummed the steering wheel.  “We’re on the way to Shan-gri-la, baby.  Just like Daddy Dearest requested.  Why?  Still want that bus station detour?”Chessa settled back into the seat.  Might as well just get to the cabin and make some more plans once there.  She sighed.  “No.  Let’s just get to the cabin.”  She checked the speedometer.  “Think you can do that without killing us?”
“That’s my specialty.”