Jennifer Wilck's Blog, page 19

Welcome, Claire Marti!

Claire is a writer friend of mine, and her stories are amazing. More than that, she's a fascinating person. She's also a yoga person and actually successfully convinced me to give it a try--if you know anything about me, you know how impossible the is! So here are some tips from her, which will definitely help you cope in today's crazy world:Yoga and Meditation Techniques to Stay Balanced and Healthy
When I’m not writing romance, I teach yoga and meditation. Yoga/Meditation is the practice of learning to feel happy despite what’s happening in the external world. We all need that, especially right now. Yoga is a three-pronged approach—Emotional, Mental, and Physical. These are all connected and one can’t exist without the other. I’ll share some simple tips and techniques to integrate into your day. 
Emotional Benefits of Yoga—Pranayama/Breath Control 
Pranayama or breath control is an essential part of yoga. The way we breathe impacts how we feel. For example, by extending your exhales, you can tap into your parasympathetic nervous system or relaxation response. You can also heat up, cool off, and energize yourself. Here’s a Pranayama practice to help you cope with anxiety and stress by soothing your nervous system and adrenals. 
*Breath for Relaxation:  Vishama Vritti or Uneven Breath:
It’s simple: Inhale for 4 counts and exhale for 8 counts. What’s challenging is extending the breath out evenly. Repeat for a minimum of 10 cycles and see how you feel! This technique also helps before bed.
Mental Benefits of Yoga/Meditation
Meditation teaches you how distracted you really are. We just don’t usually notice because we are so distracted. In yoga, we often refer to learning to “quiet the monkey mind.” The definition of yoga outlined in the Yoga Sutras, is to learn to direct the attention of your mind, to control the wanderings and focus on what you choose. Meditation helps you filter out distractions and focus. 
The benefits of meditation are well-documented—clear mind, better sleep, sharper focus, and a greater ability to manage stress. Here’s my favorite meditation technique. 
*Mantra meditation:
Take 3 cleansing breaths: Inhale, filling up your lungs all the way up to your collarbones. Exhale, empty out to the base of your spine. Repeat 2x.
Rest your hands comfortably in your lap. Sit tall. Don’t close your eyes yet—this is hard with no visuals! 
Our mantra is “So Hum” which means, “I am.”  This mantra is universal and said to aid in self-confidence. It’s simple…but not easy. We’ll use it with the breath.
As you inhale, silently say “So”As you exhale, silently say “Hum”
Now, close your eyes and repeat the mantra for 5 minutes. Feel free to do longer sessions as you progress. It’s better to do 5 minutes a day as opposed to 30 minutes once a week. Consistency is key. 
The PHYSICAL practice: Yoga is designed to strengthen and open up the body to enable you to sit still for prolonged periods of time to meditate without getting distracted by physical aches and pains. Physical yoga postures can also prepare us to sit still longer and focus on our writing to create the next NY Times bestseller! All physical yoga is housed under the umbrella term Hatha yoga. Many styles exist, like Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin, Restorative, and Hot. Find one that resonates with you.
In the Yoga Sutras, the seminal text on yoga, physical poses are guided by one primary principle: Yoga Sutra 2:46: Sthira Sukham Asanam All poses are a balance of “Sthira”—steadiness or strength and “Sukham”—comfortable or lightness or ease.In each asana, we seek to find a balance of steadiness and ease. We explore asanas with and through the steadiness and ease of the breath, continuously connecting the breath with the body-mind.  
Anytime yoga poses you can do at your desk: 
Here are a few poses to do from your chair
1. Scoot to the edge of your chair and place your feet flat on the floor. 
Inhale, sweeping your arms out to the sides and up overhead. Exhale, lower them back to your sides. Repeat 3x.

2. Sit tall. Place your left hand on the edge of the chair. 
Exhale and lift your right arm up and reach up and over toward your left. Reach out of your waist.
Release the right hand down and reach up and over with the left hand. Reach like there’s something you want just out of range.
Repeat 3-5 times each side.
3. A twist. Inhale, reach your arms up over head.
Exhale, twist to your left. Release the right fingertips toward the left knee and reach the left fingertips behind you toward the back corner of your chair. Inhale, reach your arms overhead and exhale to twist to your right. Release the left fingertips toward the right knee and the right fingertips toward the back corner.
Repeat 3-5 times. Make the range bigger or smaller.
Book Blurb:For a French soccer icon, and a gifted artist, a fake engagement is the perfect solution for their current dilemmas. But when last summer’s fling slips from lust to love, their pretend relationship becomes too hot to handle. Gabriel DuVernay is heir to one of the oldest wineries in France, but his passion is playing soccer, not tending vines. When he signs a multi-million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy, he’s able to postpone his unwelcome duties and help his younger sister convince their old-fashioned father she should be their family’s first female winemaker. Another bonus of moving to California is reuniting with the striking redhead who snuck out of his apartment after the hottest night of his life. Last summer, artist Dylan McNeill’s life on her family’s Southern California horse-breeding ranch was thrown into chaos and she escaped to Paris. One electrifying night with a gorgeous playboy athlete helped her forget her problems. She’s never forgotten Gabriel, but aspiring artists trying to break into the elite art world don’t have time for romance. She’s determined to get discovered without trading on her family’s famous name. When Gabriel suffers a career-shattering injury, he needs to buy some time to figure out how to remain in America and choose his own future. His influential mother can open important doors in the art world and help Dylan fulfill her dreams ––for a price. A fictitious engagement seems like the simple answer until living at Pacific Vista Ranch and pretending to be in love starts to feel real. Can last year’s one night stand and this year’s fake engagement turn into true love forever?Buy Links 
THE ENTIRE SERIES IS GOING UP ON KU ON APRIL 1!
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3a95T7lB&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-the-love-of-you-claire-marti/1136017914?
EXCERPT: 
Hands linked, they ascended a single flight of broad wrought iron stairs. When he opened the large door, her lips parted in wonder at his home’s simple classic beauty. Wide honey-colored plank flooring set off the soaring ceiling, stark white walls, and midnight navy couch and loveseat. Nothing distracted from the main attraction: enormous glass doors revealing the unobstructed view of the wide golden sand beach melting into the cobalt blue Pacific Ocean. “Wow. So I guess you signed on the dotted line the minute you saw this view?” Dylan drank in the beauty of the late afternoon sky.Gabriel’s laugh was a low purr in his throat. “Exactly. Come.” He slid the French doors open and led her out to an immense deck. Immediately, the warm, salty breeze caressed her skin and the shriek of seagulls filled the early twilight sky. Streaks of mauve and raspberry and tangerine turned the horizon into a watercolor tableau worthy of its own canvas. She leaned against the white wooden railing and sighed with pleasure. “This is amazing. When did you arrive and do you get to spend much time here?” The Major League Soccer season ran from March to December. Professional athletes didn’t get much downtime, even in the off-season.He was close enough that the clean fresh scent of soap and shampoo tickled her senses. His hair held a hint of curl and glints of chestnut and caramel. He angled his head toward her. “The transfer came through a few months ago, but I finished up my contract with Barcelona. I was at practice the morning after I arrived. So, no, I haven’t spent enough time here yet.”  “Thanks for sharing it with me.” He reached for her hand again, lacing their fingers together. “Let’s have some wine and choose something to order for dinner. What are you in the mood for?”“Italian or maybe French?” Her cheeks flamed. No innuendos there at all. Nope, not a one. He waggled his eyebrows. “That can be arranged.” Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms and lowered his head. He paused a few inches from her lips and slid one hand up her back to clasp her head. His minty breath mingled with hers and her lips parted in anticipation. His pupils dilated, his eyes black. With a growl, he captured her mouth and stroked and swirled his tongue with hers. She melted against him, her knees buckled, and only his powerful embrace saved her from sliding to the deck in a boneless heap. She wove her arms around him, gripping the thin material of his t-shirt.  “Get a room!” A shout from the boardwalk below doused them like a bucket of freezing water. Gabriel’s hold softened and Dylan stepped back.She exhaled a shaky breath and smoothed back her hair. Worked to slow her thundering heartbeat and gather some composure. When she’d agreed to come over to his house, she’d been anticipating flirtation and conversation, but nothing could have prepared her for experiencing the intensity of their chemistry again. They’d only spent one night together, but he’d left an indelible impression on her. Apparently, it was mutual.Gabriel flashed a cheeky grin. “I’ve got several rooms inside, care to join me?”“Aren’t you the clever one? Maybe we should slow things down and have that drink. And I am hungry.” Everything about him was seductive and she was inexorably drawn to him. If she didn’t at least gently tap the brakes, they’d be in bed before dinner. Or instead of dinner.

CLAIRE MARTI BIO:
Claire Marti started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress. Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga.
Her award winning debut novel, Second Chance in Laguna, was a Finalist for Best Contemporary Romance in the prestigious Stiletto Contest, won best unpublished contemporary romance in the Heart of the Molly and third place in the Maggie. Book two in the Finding Forever in Laguna series,  At Last in Laguna , and Book three, Sunset in Laguna, ​are available everywhere.  Sunset in Laguna  ​was a Golden Quill finalist.
 
Claire's exciting new Pacific Vista Ranch series set on a horse-breeding ranch in exclusive Rancho Santa Fe, California, launched in September 2019 and will be available on KU beginning April 1.
​
When Claire's not writing, she's teaching yoga. You can find her teaching at studios in sunny San Diego or enjoy fifty online classes on the international website www.yogadownload.com. A breast cancer survivor, Claire is a sought-after speaker on the power of yoga and meditation. She's been published in numerous magazines with articles on wellness and is the author of a memoir, ​Come Ride with Me Along the Big C, on her experience beating breast cancer. 
 
Claire is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Contemporary Romance Writers, and the San Diego Romance Writers.
WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Website:  www.clairemarti.comFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMartiAuthor/Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/clairepmartiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairepmartiGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8203678.Claire_MartiBookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/clair...  https://www.amazon.com/Claire-Marti/e/B01N9VOWLL

Welcome Jean Grant

I usually post on Mondays, but Jean has an audio book out and I thought you might like to take a listen.



Will Rise from AshesContemporary Women’s FictionRelease date: April 17, 2019, Audio Release date: March 16, 2020by Jean M. Grant
Social Media links:Website ~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~  The Wild Rose Press ~ Instagram


Bio:Jean’s background is in science and she draws from her interests in history, nature, and her family for inspiration. She writes historical and contemporary romances and women’s fiction. She also writes articles for family-oriented travel magazines and websites. When she’s not writing or chasing children, she enjoys tending to her flower gardens, hiking, and doing just about anything in the outdoors.

Tagline: Living is more than mere survival.


Blurb:Living is more than mere survival.Young widow AJ Sinclair has persevered through much heartache. Has she met her match when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, leaving her separated from her youngest son and her brother? Tens of thousands are dead or missing in a swath of massive destruction. She and her nine-year-old autistic son, Will, embark on a risky road trip from Maine to the epicenter to find her family. She can't lose another loved one.Along the way, they meet Reid Gregory, who travels his own road to perdition looking for his sister. Drawn together by AJ's fear of driving and Reid's military and local expertise, their journey to Colorado is fraught with the chaotic aftermath of the eruption. AJ's anxiety and faith in humanity are put to the test as she heals her past, accepts her family's present, and embraces uncertainty as Will and Reid show her a world she had almost forgotten.

The Writer’s JourneyWill Rise from Ashes was by far my hardest book to write. For many reasons, some personal, some technical. I’d been writing romances with HEAs for so long, shifting to women’s fiction with grittier topics took some getting used to. The romantic in me though, did toss in a romance subplot, and I am a sucker for a happ(ier) ending. A few more facts about this book: I began writing it in 2015, 5 years ago. The first draft took a year while working part-time and around kids’ busy schedules. Editing took a few more years…It underwent at least 8 full-length revisions before I submitted to my editor at The Wild Rose Press. I’ve also written/edited the entire manuscript at least 20 times.It’s my first book written in both first person (AJ, the mother) and third person (Will, the son). The dual narrators for the audio book did an amazing job.My villains are a volcano and humanity in the wake of this natural disaster.The book spans over a month of time and over 2,000 miles.My theme of heartache, healing, and hope dominates this book.It is the 7th book I’ve written, but 4th published. The story tackles topics of widowhood, anxiety, autism, addiction, and redemption.I threw everything but the kitchen sink at AJ. I love an emotional journey, but I do enjoy lots of external conflict and roadblocks (teehee, in this case, literal roadblocks).Its title was changed from the original. It took quite some convincing from my editor to change it. This book underwent the most “killing my darlings” (aka scene slicing) of all my books. All for the better, or course!

Welcome, Julie Howard

I spend a fair amount of time conjuring up ghosts and ways to kill people. Fictional people. As a mystery writer, it’s all in a day’s work. Creepy, I suppose. But consider this: There are thousands of mystery writers out there in the world doing the same thing! My latest book, House of Seven Spirits, releases today and includes the specter of murder and ghosts. The story is set in Australia’s Outback and I needed to imagine a mystery that would be unique to this setting.I sipped my morning coffee, recalled a recent trip to that incredible land down under, and began writing. As usual, the plot came to me all at once.Most of my books arrive fully formed in my mind and it’s just a matter of filling out the skeleton of plot. Because this was the second book in a series that revolves around ghost-blogger Jillian Winchester, I already had a main character. She travels the world to haunted locations and writes a hugely successful blog about her experiences. My experience in Australia brought home how different Australia is to my own home in the United States. Animals, plants, accents, and phrases were a constant reminder I was somewhere very far away. There are animals and plants in this country that are found naturally nowhere else on Earth. I wanted to showcase just a smidgeon of this in my story.As a non-Australian, I was also very cognizant I was a bit out of my element. I didn’t want to get it wrong. I have an Australian writer friend who read an early version of the book and gave me some tips. Most of the time, I followed her advice – and, in a couple of cases (minor ones), I didn’t. Writers do take creative license with the facts, after all. Like conjuring ghosts and a haunted sheep station in the vast Outback.I’m very proud of this book and it’s garnering wonderful early reviews. I hope you enjoy!

Blurb:
Some secrets are deadly, and ghost-blogger Jillian Winchester and her photographer boyfriend discover it's true when they set out to investigate an Australian family who disappeared without a trace in the 1880s. An abandoned sheep station rumored to be haunted by the long-dead Kinsley family is one challenge. The other is the beautiful but deadly Outback.
As Jillian probes deeper into the mystery, one thing becomes clear: She might not make it out of this quest alive.


Excerpt:
“Don’t go up there,” Mason warned. “The wood’s apt to be rotted in places. The floor may not be safe.” She glanced over her shoulder at him and hesitated. Her California beach home was eight thousand miles away—a fifteen-hour flight plus a day’s drive along bumpy bleak roads. She hadn’t come this far to only examine the structure’s exterior. Her work required total immersion. She put a foot on the first step and tested it with her weight. Mason strode around the car and halted just below the porch with arms crossed. “Jillian.” The last thing she needed was someone hovering, directing her on what she could and couldn’t do. When she worked, the “real” world faded in importance. His uneasy energy interrupted her focus. “I’m fine.”The stair was solid, at least. Not even a creak greeted her as she advanced onto the veranda. He cleared his throat as she took another step, but said nothing. Despite the heat, a sudden chill rippled up her bare arms, sending prickles all the way to her neck. For a split second, her world tilted and her senses were overwhelmed. The musty odor of freshly shorn sheep wool, clothes flapping on a line, young voices chattering, the sharp tang of blood. Just as quick, the images dissolved and all was still, dry and lifeless once more. She let go of a deep breath, and a feeling of exhilaration swept through her. Someone’s here. 

Bio:Julie Howard is the author of the Wild Crime and Spirited Quest series. She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. Now she edits an online anthology, Potato Soup Journal.
Author Links:
Website: http://juliemhoward.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/juliemhowardauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18116047.Julie_Howard
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07D6CS4NQ
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julie-howard?list=author_books
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JulieMHoward


Buy Links for House of Seven Spirits:
Amazon:  https://tinyurl.com/ubgz73p
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/house-of-seven-spirits/id1497768327
Nook:  https://bit.ly/39kJRgS

Our Corona World

Welcome to the world of social distancing! By now, we’ve all heard of it, and are hopefully following it—seriously, people, you need to do it. Move over. I’ll wait.
Thank you.
In all seriousness, my family has spent the past week and a half trying to get everyone home and now we are self-isolating just in case one of us brought it home. What does that mean?
Well, the Princess is home and is working on her online classes in a very different time zone. She’s recovering from jet lag, being followed around by me with a bottle of Lysol and a Chlorox wipe (and getting mighty sick of it) as she completes the rest of her coursework. 
Banana Girl is also home and completing her online classes online. Also being followed around by me. 
Neither one of them is particularly glad to be here and not be allowed to see their friends, not that any of their friends is allowed to see them either. They’ve discovered the joys of taking walks outside (6 feet away from everyone else) and sitting on the deck when it gets slightly warm. They’re bored, but managing.
The husband is working from home, holed up in his office with the door shut for a majority of the day. Which is better than when we were driving to pick up Banana Girl, and he was working in the car, the hotel, the dorm and anywhere else he could find WiFi. Especially because he is a very loud typist and talker.
I’m having my home space invaded by three people who aren’t usually here all at the same time. It’s lovely to see them and have them here, but I really, really, really need a door. I have no idea how to buy food for four anymore, or supplies. I’d mention toilet paper, but we’re okay for right now. In a week or two, who knows?
I know it sounds like I’m complaining, but not really. We’re fine, we’re healthy and we’re lucky. We’re lucky to be together, and we’re lucky we’re not in worse shape, like some others. For us, this is an inconvenience. But it’s essential to help others in this time of crisis. So, make sure you’re staying away from people, if not for you than for others. Stop buying more than you need. Donate to a food bank or a domestic violence shelter (seriously, can you imagine having to shelter in place with your abuser?). Put up with the inconvenience and remember it’s temporary. Nothing lasts forever and this will end. 
But feel free to find the funny. Because no matter what is happening, humor always helps.

Blogging Challenge

There’s a blogging challenge that a bunch of my writer friends are participating in this week, and while I’m not officially playing, the topic is one that interests me. What is one skill you wish you had, but don’t.
Well, I have always wanted to learn how to hot wire a car. Must be the inner rebel in me—I certainly don’t have an outwardly rebellious streak, but I know it hides inside somewhere—but I would LOVE to learn to do this. Every time I see someone do it on TV, I tell my husband I want to learn.
No, I have no desire to steal a car. In addition to not having an outwardly rebellious streak, I’m a hopeless rule-follower. If there’s a rule, show it to me and I’ll follow it. So the “Thou Shalt Not Steal” pretty much guarantees your car is safe from me. Well, that and the fact that I don’t know how to hot wire it.
Must be all the crime TV shows I watched as a kid—Magnum, Simon & Simon, CHIPs, etc. I know, everyone thought I was watching because of the cute guys (and it’s true in the case of Magnum), but what I was really doing was drooling over the hot wiring. Zip, zap and the car zoomed away.
I really want to know how to do that! 
So, who wants to teach me?

Packing

We’re getting ready to go on a big vacation, and I’m breaking one of my habits. I’m laying out clothes early.
I never do this. I scoff silently at those who do—sorry, but I’ve always wondered why this is necessary. Of course, we haven’t gone on any big vacations in a long time, so obviously I was scoffing out of ignorance.
Because we’ll be gone for two weeks and I have no idea how to pack, what to pack or how I’m going to fit anything into the suitcase.
Originally, I thought I could take the big suitcase, so I didn’t worry about it. An entire suitcase to myself? No problem. The weather will be warm, but there’s air conditioning, and potential rain and different outfits and shoes and stuff. But a huge suitcase to myself? Awesome.
Then I found out the big suitcase was too big for some of our air travel. We lent the perfect sized suitcases to the Princess for her world travels, leaving less than ideal ones for us. My husband showed me what he thought might work and I yelled. Because there was no way two weeks worth of clothing would fit in the small suitcase. 
He measured and figured and measured and borrowed and measured some more. He bought new suitcases to get me to be quiet and they’re still awfully small. There’s no way I can fit my clothes in them.
Then again, I can’t visualize worth anything. Just ask anyone whom I feed. I’m convinced we’ll need way more food than we actually do, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise I can’t visualize what will fit.
The Princess even asked me to help her pack for her travels, but when she saw how I was doing it, she asked me to sit in the corner and look pretty while she did the work (I might have slightly exaggerated my ineptitude in order to get her to do the work, but still...).
So I decided that maybe, perhaps, there might be a reason people who travel more often than we do start laying out clothes ahead of time.
There is. I did a first round laying out and I think there’s a chance I might be able to fit my clothes in the suitcase my husband is suggesting for me to use. Of course, I haven’t yet done shoes. Or toiletries. But we’re not camping, so I should be able to get anything I can’t bring with me. 
I still have two weeks to play around with things. But I might have learned my lesson.

Welcome Amber Daulton

The Creation of Lyrical Embrace, Audiobook
When my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, returned my audio rights to me last year, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I was hoping to go with them to get my latest release, Lyrical Embrace, into audio, but now that was a no-go. I procrastinated for months until I read a few posts on the TWRP forum about my fellow authors’ experiences in getting their books narrated. Everyone was using ACX, which is a subdivision of Amazon. After a bunch of research and chatting with those authors, I finally strapped on my big-girl panties and took the plunge.After getting an account through ACX, I posted a script and listed the audio project as Royalty Shares, which means my narrator and I will split the royalties 50/50. I didn’t have to pay anything upfront or later. A few weeks passed and I hadn’t received any auditions. Turns out, I made a classic newbie mistake. Narrators don’t typically browse for scripts to audition for; the author needs to research the thousands (yes, there’s that many) of narrators available, listen to their audio samples, and email them, requesting they audition. That sounds like a daunting task, but I was able to narrow the search parameters with key words. I ended up listening to about 30 narrators and contacted half that many. Of those, only six narrators auditioned.When I first heard Georgeann Haynes’s audition (she’s credited as Georgia Allens), I couldn’t stop smiling. She jumped right to the top of my list. I’m so glad she accepted my contract. It’s been wonderful working with her. For anyone who is interested in working with Georgeann, here’s her link: https://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A1ZH1M23SK7MERAnyway, the whole process of getting this story published into audio took about three months (from uploading my script to release day). ACX has given Georgeann and me 50 codes each, so we can give them out to listeners and reviewers.I also had to get an audiobook cover made since I couldn’t use the ebook cover. Thankfully, my publisher assured me that I could create a cover similar but not exact to the ebook version. Purchasing book covers can be expensive, so I bought the pictures I needed from Deposit Photos and plunged into graphic design research. I downloaded a free software called GIMP, which is similar to Photoshop, and created the cover myself (with the help of author friend CeeRee Fields, and various websites and YouTube videos). Once I figured out how to use GIMP, manipulating photos and creating my cover was a blast.Getting this book narrated and published wasn’t as stressful as I thought it would be. I’m proud to say Lyrical Embrace is now available in the big bad world of audio listeners.Thanks so much for reading. If you want to hear a sample, scroll on down.


Lyrical Embrace 
Series: Deerbourne Inn (book 4)Narrator: Georgia AllensAudiobook Release Date: January 23, 2020 Ebook Publisher: The Wild Rose PressEbook Release Date: February 11, 2019Genre: Romantic SuspenseLength: 40kHeat Rating: 3 Flames
Blurb 
Out-of-work violinist Erica Timberly decides enough is enough. She leaves her abusive boyfriend and flees the big city, but then her car breaks down in the middle of the night. Though wary of men, she accepts help from Dylan Haynes, a stranger driving by on the road, and soon recognizes him as the sexy former drummer of her favorite indie rock band. Maybe, just maybe, her run of bad luck is finally turning around.Music teacher Dylan Haynes knows Erica is in trouble, and her black eye is only the first clue. The stubborn yet vulnerable woman needs a friend, but he’s determined to give her everything she deserves. Will Erica listen to the music in her heart and trust Dylan, or will her past always threaten her future? Excerpt
Dylan deepened the kiss and lightly tugged on her bottom lip. Tears streaked his flushed cheeks as he smiled at her. “I’m so grateful I found you, baby. I heard you screaming. When I saw that bastard press a gun to your head, my heart nearly exploded. I thought I might lose you. I promise you, Erica, I will never control you as Phil did. You will always have the ability to choose. I just want to make you happy.”She gripped his hand and brushed her lips across his calloused knuckles. “I know. You do make me happy. You took a bullet for me.” A sob constricted her throat, but she pushed it down.A blast of noise rent the air. Fireworks filled the sky, visible in the alley from the narrow stretch of space between the buildings.Erica loved the bright colors and designs, but hardly cared about watching the spectacle. She dropped her gaze back to Dylan.A grin spread across his face. “It’s been one wild Fourth of July. Why don’t we do something more low-key next year? How about no guns and crazy exes? Just us, the creek, and a bottle of wine. Clothing optional.”She laughed softly, amazed he could make light of the situation. “That sounds perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
Want to hear a sample?


Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43225610-lyrical-embrace
Audio Buy Links (US)
Amazon – https://amzn.to/37zIyKxAudible – https://adbl.co/36q03LLiTunes – https://apple.co/2RlLmVH
Audio Buy Link (UK)
Amazon – https://amzn.to/38DbXUcAudible – https://adbl.co/2uxsN8g
Interested in the ebook instead? You can grab a copy here:
Books2Read – http://books2read.com/u/m0MYaV

About the Author
Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats. Amber lives in North Carolina with her husband and four demanding cats. Feel free to visit her at http://www.amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook Author Page – http://www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.authorTwitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1Street Team – https://www.facebook.com/groups/572204316296198/Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/ Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_DaultonAmazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZffInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/amberdaultonauthor/Book Bub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amber-daultonBook Gorilla – https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00ALQITWY/amber-daulton/kccSmashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/amberdaultonLinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/pub/amber-daulton/87/538/368Google Plus – https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AmberDaultonThe Wild Rose Press – https://www.thewildrosepress.com/authors/amber-daulton  

Keep On Keeping On

I’m pitching this week. That means I’m putting together query letters and synopses and sending them out in the hopes that someone likes something I’ve written.
I love my current publisher and definitely want to continue publishing with them. The Wild Rose Press is a phenomenal publisher, and they are extremely supportive of their writers. I’ve loved working with them. But in these times, it’s safest to make sure your writing career is diverse enough to withstand any changes. That means expanding your career and constantly looking for additional opportunities. So while I have every intention of continuing to publish with The Wild Rose Press for as long as they’ll have me, I need to make sure I also look out for my future and diversify. Kind of like financial planning, but on a smaller scale.
So I’m pitching. Think of it as dating. Getting all dressed up, putting your best foot forward, and hoping someone will like you enough to take a chance on you for a second date. And maybe a third. And then maybe, if you’re really lucky, they’ll ask you to marry them. Eventually. I mean, who wants to get married after three dates? Hmm, plot bunny...
In the publishing world, that means I send out a query letter with a brief summary of what I’ve written, along with a synopsis that has a longer summary of what I’ve written. And then I wait. If I’m lucky, they respond—yes, sometimes you don’t even get a negative response, and you’re left to wonder if anyone saw your letter or if it got lost in the email ether. But that’s the game, and if you want to publish, you play. 
Like I said, if I’m lucky, I’ll get a response that asks for a few sample chapters. If I’m really lucky, I’ll get a response that asks for the entire manuscript. And if I’m lottery-winner lucky, I’ll get an offer of publication/representation. 
So, I submit and check my email obsessively, knowing that it will be at least a month, if not three, before I hear anything. And in the meantime, I keep writing. Because I have a wonderful publisher who likes my writing and I want to submit things to them. And I have a deadline for a book I’m self-publishing. And if I sit around doing nothing, not only will I go crazy, but I’m stalling my career.
Until next time!

Valentine's Promo!!

Calling all romance readers! It’s more than candy hearts, chocolates and flowers at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Love and Romance Book Festival. 47 romance books featured plus a chance to win one of the following:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift CardEnter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift CardEnter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift CardEnter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift CardEnter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book,  [name of your book] ,   will be featured on  [date] . Wait until you read my romantic tip to enhance your love life. You won’t want to miss it.
Bookmark this festival and tell your friends:https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/bookpromos/categories/love-and-romance-book-festival

Welcome Ann Everett

Double Pen Names/Double TroubleBy Ann EverettHave you considered writing under more than one pen name? If so, what I have to say may help you.First, let’s talk about why you want to write under a penname, much less multiple pen names. It’s common practice to use different pennames for different genres as in Agatha Christie/Mary Westmacott, Anne Rice/Anne Rampling, J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith, and many more. Some well-known authors, like Dean Koontz, have written under numerous pennames. There are other reasons. Maybe you don’t want your family and friends to know you’re writing…in case you fail. Maybe your real name is too hard to spell or pronounce…or it’s too common. Or, perhaps, someone already has your name and you don’t want to be confused with them. Although, if my legal name was Nora Roberts, I think I’d use it. Reaping a few sales off her sway wouldn’t be a bad thing, and hey, since I write romance, some of her readers might like my work!Or, you might use my reason. I don’t have a pretty name. Pattie Ball sounds like something you’d order at a concession stand. “Give me a corn dog, a Frito pie, and a couple of Pattie balls.”Ann, (my middle name) and Everett, (my husband’s middle name) is a much prettier…IMO. I had no trouble choosing it. But once I decided to add an additional pen name, it was a much harder decision. I wanted to reverse the initials. Instead of AE, go with EA. So, I made a list of all the combinations I liked, then researched Amazon to make sure the names weren’t already in use. I decided on Emma Ames. That also reversed the syllables which I liked.Second, why did I want another name? Well, for many years, a couple of Christian fiction members from my local critique group, suggested I clean up my steamy romances and release them under a different pen name. They thought I could tap into a different market. The s-e-x scenes were the only thing keeping them from recommending my books to their readers.I started with a small-town humorous romantic mystery series I’d written back in 2006, but didn’t publish until 2011. Editing the books into a milder story wouldn’t be as difficult as some of my contemporary romances. The hardest part, which I’d not thought about, wasn’t re-writing the stories, but everything that came later. I’d been so focused on editing the books, deciding on new titles, and covers, rebranding never crossed my mind! Holy Moly!! What was I thinking?Emma needed social media accounts, an email address, a website or at least a page added to Ann Everett’s site. When you say all of that really fast it doesn’t sound like much, but it is!Because of the time I was putting in trying to ‘clean up’ Ann’s books so Emma could get them out into the world, I was already neglecting Ann’s social accounts along with her website. Up until 2019, I’d been consistent in blogging each week, but that fell by the wayside once Emma came on board.I’d vowed to have all of Emma’s 4 planned books in place by the time 2020 rolled around. I almost met that goal.  In 2019, I published 3 books for Emma and 1 for Ann. I’m currently working on the last of Emma’s books and should have it completed by March…fingers, eyes, legs crossed!I feel like I went about this in reverse. I really should have had Emma’s social media accounts, email, and website in advance of the books. If you’re planning to add an additional pen name to re-release some of your published books, my advice is:Set up social media (I’m still working on this) Get a website in place or at least add a page to one already in existence. If you have plans to add a site later, go ahead and purchase the URL, that way, you’ll have it in place.Add an email Order bookmarks, business cards, etc. If you only have two author names, you can order two-sided…one for each name. If you do book shows/fairs, consider your table set-up to separate the two genres. If you’re re-doing a series, you’ll need to change the series names. The steamy contemporary romance series I’m currently ‘scrubbing’ is Bluebird, Texas Romances, the clean versions are Sparrow, Texas Romances.Naturally, if you’re re-releasing a book, you’ll want to find a new cover. In my case, something that depicted the ‘sweetness’ of the story…no naked bodies!Start looking for blog opportunities early and have some in place by the time the book is ready for release.You’ll also need a new tag line, logo, bio, and headshot to brand your new name. If you already have an account set up with KDP, you’ll need to link your new name so that you just have one account. Both of my accounts are set up under my ‘real’ name. Easier for tax and royalty payments!When choosing a pen name, you might also consider where your book will be shelved. I didn’t think of that when choosing mine, but it so happens, Evanovich and Everett will be shelved close together. Emma Ames didn’t work out that well. No romance bestsellers near her…maybe she’ll be the first! Hey, I can dream.And, if you’re re-publishing a different version of a previously published book, be sure and add that as a disclaimer in the front of the book so readers know you’re not trying to pull a fast one…. because publishing the same story in two versions is anything but fast!
Ann’s Bio
Ten things about award-winning and Amazon bestselling author, Ann Everett.She’s married to her high school sweetheart.She loves shopping at thrift stores.She doesn’t remember her first kiss. She hates talking on the telephone.A really sharp pencil makes her happy.She secretly wants to get a tattoo. She’s thankful wrinkles aren’t painful.She thinks everyone should own a pair of cowboy boots.She sucks at math. 
Ann’s social media:Twitter     http://www.twitter.com/TalkinTwangWebsite   https://www.anneverett.comAmazon author page   http://www.amazon.com/author/ann.everettBookbub profile   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ann-everett




Swan, A Bluebird, Texas Romance
A small-town girl rising to fame.Swan Malone never imagined leaving Bluebird, Texas, but when her college cheerleading gig leads to fame, and her first film becomes the top-grossing movie of the year, she realizes dreams really do come true. However, not everything in her life is as good as a fairytale.A soldier barely hanging on.Nothing could have prepared Army Sergeant Teague Shanahan for what he endured while held hostage in enemy hands. Battered and scarred, he returns home hoping to put his life back together but finds he’s still a prisoner of his past—too broken to be fixed, even by the woman he loves.Welcome to Bluebird, TexasWhere a girl with stars in her eyes fights to save a man with demons in his soul.
Book links:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1689130423https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X1ZWDD5