J.C. Martin's Blog, page 15

FIVE YEARS TO LIVE Blog Tour: Tapping into Reader’s Emotions by Frank Zaccari

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

 

First off, I need to apologise to Frank Zaccari and Providence Book Promotions for posting this late. Blame my residual baby brain. In any case, Frank is here to promote his latest book, Five Years to Live, with a guest post on tapping into readers’ emotions.

Tapping into Reader’s Emotions
by Frank Zaccari

Emotions! We all have them. Some of us try to suppress our emotions, but they are always there lurking just below the surface. If we are lucky we may be able to control them. The bottom line is the vast majority of our decisions and actions are based upon emotions. The results of these decisions and actions are determined by how well or poorly we handle our emotions.

As a writer of family and relationship books that address life altering events, based on true stories, I try to transfer the emotions of each character to the reader. If done correctly, the reader relates so closely with the character that they are living the experience. They laugh and cry with the character. They feel the sorrow or joy, hopelessness or determination. I try to do this by telling the story as if I was speaking one-on-one to the reader.

For example, my first book When the Wife Cheats, deals with infidelity, betrayal, and abandonment.  These are very difficult emotions. Since fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, these emotions have to be addressed if one is going to survive. Very little is written about how the husband and children deal with the lies, deceit, betrayal and abandonment when the wife violates the marital vows. I try to follow one man’s journey as he and his two young daughters cope with the devastation that occurs When the Wife Cheats.

My third book Inside the Spaghetti Bowl, deals with the emotions associated with the death of a parent. This is a story that every person will have to face. With the first sentence, I try to draw the reader into the hospital room to meet and hopefully fall in love with this family.  It is a story about family and unconditional love. My goal is that the reader will see their own family and the memories make them smile.

My latest book Five Years to Live, addresses the powerful and overwhelming emotions of a loved one beset by a catastrophic injury. It starts with the phone call everyone prays they will never receive. The story exposes the trauma and the horror that ensues and the love and courage it takes to initially go on living and then ultimately triumph. I try to make the reader ask the questions, “Would I have the courage and fortitude to pick up the pieces after my life, my goals, my hopes and my dreams were instantly shattered, or would I succumb to despair and not even try?”

Emotions shape who we are and how we act or react to circumstances. Alexandre Dumas wrote, “Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes.”  I hope my books help my readers understand what they will do when that storm comes.

Thank you for the opportunity to work with you and your readers.

Frank Zaccari

—

About the Author

Frank Zaccari

Frank Zaccari is a native of western New York. He received his Bachelor’s in finance from California State University at Sacramento after serving as a military medic in the United States Air Force. He spent more than two decades in the technology industry, holding various positions from account representative to CEO. He also spent time specializing in turn-around management of companies under $100 million. Zaccari left the industry to provide primary care of his children, purchasing a small business that was more accommodating to his family. He presently owns an insurance agency in Sacramento, where he currently resides. Five Years to Live is not his only book for sale. He has also written When the Wife Cheats, From the Ashes: The Rise of the University of Washington Volleyball Program, and Inside the Spaghetti Bowl.

Contact: Website

Five Years to Live

Five Years to Live

It is the phone call every person lives in fear of receiving. There has been an accident and your loved one is paralyzed. A spinal cord injury is the single most devastating and life altering event. Based on a true story, Michael and Donna were young, successful, in love and planning their life together. That life was radically changed by a tragic car accident. Now a wheelchair user as a quadriplegic, with limited movement, constant infections and multiple surgeries, doctors projected Michael’s best case life expectancy to be five years. See how this young couple battles through his injury and spends his five years making a lasting impact on hundreds of people. It will make you realize what can be accomplished when a person does not let circumstances dictate their life.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Maternity Leave, Holiday Wishes & Other Housekeeping Issues

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Sorry!

I know I haven’t been replying to comments, visiting other blogs, or being very active on Facebook or Twitter recently.

This is why…

Baby Kyle Martin, born 7th December 2012 at 5lbs 1oz.

Kyle decided to arrive 6 weeks early, so as you can imagine, it was a bit of a surprise and shock! We spent a week in hospital for observations before finally being allowed home. Since then, little man has been keeping us busy with 2-hourly feeds all day and all night.

So yeah, I’ll be taking a break from blogging for a couple of months. But don’t go wandering off, as I have some awesome guest writers posting in my absence. And if you’d like to be one of them, I have posted some rough guidelines here, so give me a shout if you’re interested!

A couple of other housekeeping issues I need to address:

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop Results

Apologies to everyone who participated in the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop. I know it’s been a while since the hop ended, but I have still announce my winners, so here goes:

The winner of a book of their choice (up to the value of $15) is…

BeckeyW

And the winner of an e-book copy of Oracle is…

Natasha Areena

Congratulations, guys! I’ll be e-mailing you both shortly!

Blog of the Year 2012 Award

Next, I have been nominated for the Blog of the Year 2012 award. Now unlike other awards, this is one with a difference.

The ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect!

Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!

When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!

There are a total of 6 stars to collect.

Which means that you can check out your favourite blogs – and even if they have already been given the award by someone else – you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

Here are my nominees for Blog of the Year 2012 award:

Thriller writer Hunter Emkay @ Hunter’s Writings nominated me for this award, so I’m returning the favour and nominating her back for her second star.

Ninja captain Alex J. Cavanaugh is another obvious nomination choice.

Susanna Leonard Hill is an awesome picture book author with a great family friendly blog.

Eeleen Lee @ Unmanuscripted is another writer whose blog I regularly visit.

And finally, DL Hammons @ Cruising Altitude deserves a mention for being the genius behind WRiTE Club. I am so glad he decided to return from his blogging sabbatical!

Final Words … For Now!

Lastly, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and best wishes for the New Year!

(Image source: Free Digital Photos)

See you all in 2013!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

MAKE BELIEVE Blog Tour: Interview with Lynda R. Young

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Make Believe, the fantasy anthology compiled by J. Taylor Publishing, released December 3rd. I hope you’ve all been enjoying the series of interviews I’ve been conducting with the contributing authors all week. Today features our final author:

Lynda R. Young

Lynda R. Young

Lynda lives in Sydney, Australia, with her sweetheart of a husband who is her rock, and a cat who believes world domination starts in the home. Lynda has an adventurous spirit and has traveled the world.

As a chaser of dreams, she found success as a digital artist and an animator, and now as a writer of speculative short stories. She currently writes novels for young adults.

In her spare time she also dabbles in photography and all things creative.

Contact: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

The Interview

W hat is the inspiration behind your Make Believe story (apart from the picture prompt, of course!)?

I wish I could tell you the inspiration for Birthright came as a blinding flash the moment I saw the picture prompt. Alas, I had to work for the inspiration, and that meant writing up copious notes for the main character and giving her a back story. Also, being the rebel that I am, I wanted the set the story in a place that had the opposite environment to the picture prompt. I chose Florida, so that meant research. Once I knew my main character and the setting, the story slowly evolved — after more notes.

What other works have you got published? (Feel free to include links)

I’ve had a few speculative short stories published in small magazines in Australia, along with some published online with AntipodeanSF. One was even narrated on their radio show. I also had a piece published in an Aussie anthology called Short and Twisted 2012 released by Celapene Press. I’m currently throwing most of my energy into polishing a novel for the young adult market.

Who is your literary idol?

I don’t have an idol as such, but I do love the works of Tolkien and Anne McCaffrey’s wonderfully creative universe of Pern. On a more modern note, I also love the writing style of Laini Taylor who wrote Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

What is your personal catchphrase?

Thar’s jam in them thar hills!

What’s your party trick?

If I concentrate, I can move one eye on its own. Freaky, huh?

What song always makes you teary-eyed?

This is going to sound cheesy, but Celine Dion’s song, ‘My Heart Will Go On’, featured in the movie, Titanic, brings a little tear to my eye. That song was popular at the time when my hubby and I first got together. Memory of those early romance days makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

What is one piece of advice you would give a fellow writer?

Remember why you write and try not to get too caught up in the stresses that come with publication.

—

Thank you, Lynda!

Here’s more information about Lynda’s story in the anthology:

Birthright

Christa can mask the pain and hide the scars, but running from a birthright is impossible.

She’s tried to escape her grief by fleeing to a small town in Florida. Much to her frustration, the locals think they recognize her even though she’s never been there before. To make things worse, a man named Jack spouts outrageous theories about her.

Both spur Christa to bolt, to start fresh yet again, but there’s something about Jack that intrigues her enough to stay. The only problem? Someone else wants her to leave, and they won’t stop until she’s dead.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

MAKE BELIEVE Blog Tour: Interview with Kelly Said

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Make Believe, the fantasy anthology compiled by J. Taylor Publishing, released December 3rd. Here’s another interview with one of the six contributing authors to the anthology:

Kelly Said

Kelly Said

Kelly enjoys life near the foothills of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, in a city a mile closer to the sun than most. When she’s not hanging out with her Mr. S, binge reading on the weekends, or being pressed for playtime by the wet nose of her beefy bull terrier, she can be found tucked away in a quiet spot, huddled over her laptop, writing stories for young adults.

Contact: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

The Interview

W hat is the inspiration behind your Make Believe story (apart from the picture prompt, of course!)?

I was inspired by the image, for sure, but I also was inspired by the relationship between people and nature and the consequences of tipping the scales of fate in your favor.

What other works have you got published? (Feel free to include links)

I’ve been published in a young adult vampire anthology called Fangtales by Wyvern Publications as well as the Tidal Whispers anthology by J.Taylor Publishing.

Who is your literary idol?

Who is your literary idol? I have actually have two authors whose books are automatic reads for me, Stephen King and L.J. Smith. I like Stephen King’s stories like The Shining or The Mist where extraordinarily horrifying things happen to everyday people and L.J. Smith, author of the young adult series The Vampire Diaries (among other titles) satisfies my cravings for supernatural worlds.

What is your personal catchphrase?

“It’s gonna be a great day!”

What’s your party trick?

I have the power of invisibility at parties, this unique skill of blending in to the wall…

What song always makes you teary-eyed?

Black by Pearl Jam.

What is one piece of advice you would give a fellow writer?

Believe in yourself, always.

—

Thank you, Kelly!

Here’s more information about Kelly’s story in the anthology:

Petrified

A mysterious storm has replaced summer with winter, devastating crops and smothering Castle lands in snow. Prince Sterling August stands alone as a leader, lost in personal grief as well as a desire to help his people but with an inability to do either.

The answers he needs await him, but without Lochlyn, a woman who’s just as isolated as Sterling, he’ll never see what stands before him, cloaked in illusion.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Stop by tomorrow for another the final anthology author interview!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

MAKE BELIEVE Blog Tour: Interview with Jennifer M. Eaton & G1veaway

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Make Believe, the fantasy anthology compiled by J. Taylor Publishing, released December 3rd. Here’s another interview with one of the six contributing authors to the anthology:

***Read on to find out how you could win e-book copies of anthologies Make Believe or For the Love of Christmas!***

Jennifer M. Eaton

Jennifer M. Eaton

Jennifer Eaton lives on the East Coast USA with her husband, three boys, and a pepped up poodle. She hosts an interactive website www.jennifermeaton.com aimed at making all writers the best they can be.

Her Dystopian novelette Last Winter Red is available as part of the Make Believe anthology from J. Taylor Publishing. Her Christmas Romance Connect the Dots is available as part of Still Moments Publishing’s For the Love of Christmas anthology. Both are available in e-book format from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

The Interview

W hat is the inspiration behind your Make Believe story (apart from the picture prompt, of course!)?

The inspiration for Last Winter Red was actually completely the picture prompt. For some reason when I first saw the picture I couldn’t think of a story to mold around it. What I ended up doing was taking the character in the picture and I had her take a step. Once I got that girl and a red dress moving in the snow the story just formed around her.

What other works have you got published? (Feel free to include links)

For the Love of Christmas

My story Connect the Dots is actually coming out this December as well. It will be part of Still Moments’s For the Love of Christmas anthology. It’s a great story about finding love in an unexpected place during Christmas. Its sequel, A Test of Faith, will be available in January 2013, also from Still Moments as a stand-alone single.

Who is your literary idol?

I guess I would have to say Robert Jordan. He created an incredible world that so many people are able to enjoy. His Wheel of Time series is actually the first set of books I ever read because I wanted to read them, rather than being forced to read something in school.

What is your personal catchphrase?

I’m known to run around saying “It’s all good.” It drives my husband crazy.

Hubby: “We’re out of gas!”

Me: “It’s all good, we can stay an extra day.”

Hubby:  “I burned dinner.”

Me:  “It’s all good, we’ll get take out.”

What’s your party trick?

Party trick? People have party tricks? Ummm, I’ve made my dog jump through hoops or run up a ladder, does that count? AAAAAAAAAAh, I have to admit I’m usually the straight girl in the group. I sit back and giggle while everyone else makes fools of themselves.

What song always makes you teary-eyed?

A song? Really? Hmmm. I guess I’ll have to go with that Christmas song about the kid buying shoes for his mom who is dying. So sad. I can’t think of a song that’s sadder than that one, and I don’t know of any that are so happy they would make me cry.

What is one piece of advice you would give a fellow writer?

Make friends. I was writing in my own little hole for years. It was when I dug myself out of that hole and started meeting people (through a local writers group, and the internet) that things really started happening for me. Writing buddies help keep you focused. They can also read for you when you need that always important second-opinion.

—

Thank you, Jennifer!

Here’s more information about Jennifer’s story in the anthology:

Last Winter Red

Emily is a Red, a woman whose sole purpose in life is to produce offspring. When her husband dies and leaves her childless, she risks her life and forsakes the safety of Terra — a disease-free city born after the nuclear holocaust. Beyond its boundaries, she knows, survives a man with whom she can be properly paired.

The Outside, though, holds secrets the government struggles to keep, and what Emily discovers on her quest for a mate will change her life forever.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Giveaway!

Jennifer is giving away e-book copies of Make Believe as well as For the Love of Christmas to random commenters through this tour.

All you have to do to be in the running is to leave a comment below. For extra chances to win, you could also fill in the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveawayGood luck!

Stop by tomorrow for another awesome author interview!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

MAKE BELIEVE Blog Tour: Interview with J.A. Belfield

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Make Believe, the fantasy anthology compiled by J. Taylor Publishing, released December 3rd. I’m halfway through my interview with all six contributing authors to the anthology, grilling one author per day with the same batch of seven questions.

Today’s interviewee is a most welcome returning guest to my blog, and the feature author of the anthology:

J.A. Belfield

J.A. Belfield

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.

One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.

J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

The Interview

W hat is the inspiration behind your Make Believe story (apart from the picture prompt, of course!)?

Would you believe I hadn’t even seen the picture prompt when the idea for Escort to Insanity struck and I began writing? The initial idea came to me because I’d read a story where a woman goes on a date through a supernatural dating agency and finds out she’s not who she thinks she is and ends up with her soul mate — and I sat there thinking how much more fun it would have been if everything on the date had gone wrong instead. So I ended up with my initial what-if and took it from there.

What other works have you got published? (Feel free to include links)

I’m mostly known for my titles in the Holloway Pack series. Titles already published or very soon to be published are:

Darkness & Light (July 2011)

Fated Encounter (September 2011)

Marked – a short story in the Into the Unknown anthology (December 2011)

Instinct (January 2012)

Eternal (July 2012)

Blue Moon (December 2012)

And Resonance and Caged are due to release April and August 2013.

Who is your literary idol?

Gargh! I dunno. I’m so fickle depending on who’s blowing me away at the time. It used to be the likes of Val McDermid and Jeffrey Deaver when I went through my crime reading phase, but my mind’s always changing. I think the kind of authors I admire the most are the ones who can churn out story after story in a seemingly tireless fashion, yet still have a decent quality to their writing. I also admire any author who perseveres even after receiving what feels like a million rejections — because those rejections hit hard and keeping going takes emotional stamina and balls. So I guess the likes of J.K. Rowling might fall into that category.

What is your personal catchphrase?

You mean during my day to day life? Or in my writing? I went through a pretty annoying phase of responding with “How rude” to most things. Though now I tend to spout stuff at my kids like: “Quit complaining about what you don’t have and be happy with the things you have.” Or: “You should always treat others how you’d wish to be treated yourself.”

Yeah, I can get fairly irritating.

What’s your party trick?

Whatcha talkin’ ‘bout, Willis? O_O

Okay, I think the most impressive thing I can boast is being able to still to cartwheels at age 40. Does that count?

What song always makes you teary-eyed?

Ed Sheeran’s Bump.

What is one piece of advice you would give a fellow writer?

Write until your eyes bleed. And learn where the keys are so you can then write some more.

Oh, and never give up.

—

Thank you, Julie!

Here’s more information about Julie’s story in the anthology:

Escort to Insanity

From a charity auction, to a stroll in the park, to the craziest night of her life. Nicole Harrington can’t help but wonder how a simple event went so drastically wrong.

Of course, the male escort she booked is wholly to blame. Not only charming but shrewdly intelligent, Benjamin Godl drags Nicole into a platoon o f unimaginable problems — ones from which she’ll have to find the courage just to survive.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Stop by tomorrow for another awesome author interview!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

MAKE BELIEVE Blog Tour: Interview with J. Keller Ford

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Make Believe, the fantasy anthology compiled by J. Taylor Publishing, released December 3rd. This week, I’ll be interviewing the six contributing authors to the anthology, grilling one author per day with the same batch of seven questions.

Today my willing victim subject is…

J. Keller Ford

J. Keller Ford

J. Keller Ford is a quirky mother of four, grandmother and scribbler of young adult fantasy tales. She has an insatiable appetite for magic, dragons, knights and faeries, and weaves at least one into every story she conceives. Her muse is a cranky old meadow gnome that follows her everywhere she goes and talks incessantly, feeding her ideas for stories 24/7.

When she’s not writing or blogging, the former Corporate Paralegal enjoys listening to smooth jazz, collecting seashells, swimming, bowling, riding roller coasters and reading. Jenny lives minutes from the beaches of the west coast of Florida with her husband of twenty years, her two sons and a pair of wacky cats and three silly dogs. The pets have trained her well.

Contact: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

The Interview

W hat is the inspiration behind your Make Believe story (apart from the picture prompt, of course!)?

I wanted to write a story of love and what we go through when we surrender to it. So many people think that being in love is all happy and flighty and googly eyes. In reality, love is tragic. It is steeped in an array of human emotions, some not so good, like jealousy. True love is about spiritual, emotional and physical surrenders, the kind that are void of anger, regret or selfishness. That sort of unconditional love was what I wanted to focus on when I wrote The Amulet of Ormisez.

What other works have you got published? (Feel free to include links)

The Amulet of Ormisez is my first published piece by a publisher. A paranormal short story, The Passing of Millie Hudson, appeared a couple of years ago in an anthology published by a writer’s group I was a member of. As I never relinquished my rights to it, I am seeking a publisher who would be willing to take it on. I do have several novels in the works as well as some other short stories heading out for submission soon.

Who is your literary idol?

Oh, my, I have so many. As for the classic writers: Dickens, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway. More recent authors: Cassandra Clare, J. K. Rowling, Raymond Feist, and John Green.

What is your personal catchphrase?

Breathing life into characters … one story at a time.

What’s your party trick?

Umm, does moving my nose up and down and flaring my nostrils count as a party trick? What about snapping a bottle top across a room with two fingers?

What song always makes you teary-eyed?

Taps. They played it at my dad’s funeral, and every time I hear it, it chokes me up.

What is one piece of advice you would give a fellow writer?

Write and read, read and write. Never stop doing either. The two together will eventually get you a publishing contract as long as you don’t give up.

—

Thank you, Jenny! And here’s more information about Jenny’s story in the anthology:

The Amulet of Ormisez

There is only one way to save Elton Fletcher’s brother from an insanity-ridden death.

After years away from home, fighting for his people, Elton returns to discover his only sibling, Cayden, possessed by greed and malice, and responsible for malicious, unthinkable deeds. Cayden, though, isn’t the only one afflicted by the Amulet of Ormisez, and Elton finds himself in yet another battle, where the price of failure could be his own life.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Stop by tomorrow for another awesome author interview!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

MAKE BELIEVE Blog Tour: Interview with Terri Rochenski & G1veaway

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Make Believe, the fantasy anthology compiled by J. Taylor Publishing, released December 3rd. This week, I’ll be interviewing the six contributing authors to the anthology, grilling one author per day with the same batch of questions.

***Read on to find out how you could win a signed Make Believe cover or signed bookmarks from the author!***

I’ll be starting with…

Terri Rochenski

Terri Rochenski

Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with the fantasy genre.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her two young daughters allow. When not potty training or kissing boo-boos, she can be found on her back patio in the boondocks of New Hampshire, book or pencil in hand.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

The Interview

W hat is the inspiration behind your Make Believe story (apart from the picture prompt, of course!)?

The picture gave me the original idea, but the actual inspiration came from my mom. I told her about the pic and my idea. The first thing that came to her mind was a Bible story if you can believe that! It’s found in Judges 11 if anyone is interested.

What other works have you got published? (Feel free to include links)

I’ve had 4 fantasy flash fiction pieces with ezines and another short (historical romance) came out this month with Still Moments Publishing in their Christmas Magic Anthology.

The list of my works can be found here on my website.

Who is your literary idol?

In the fantasy genre I have two – Terry Goodkind & Robert Jordan. In the romance genre I’d have to go with Lisa Kleypas.

What is your personal catchphrase?

Hrmmmm. Not sure I actually have one. Does calling myself a moron count? I say ‘blah’ and ‘ugh’ a lot too.

What’s your party trick?

Sitting quietly in a corner and laughing at others’ jokes and antics.

What song always makes you teary-eyed?

There are 2 that get me every time – David Phelps’ version of ‘No More Night’ (gospel) and Bryan Adams’ ‘I’m Ready’.

What is one piece of advice you would give a fellow writer?

Learn to love the editing process. Personally this is my least favorite to say the least and I struggle with it EVERY time. Just stick to it. Put blinders on and get to work. You’ll feel 10x better once it’s done!

—

Thank you, Terri! And here’s more information about Terri’s story in the anthology:

Sacrificial Oath

An impetuous act unwittingly makes Alesuela the fulfillment of the Sovereign’s Blood Oath to their Goddess. In five days, she’ll be forced to make the greatest choice of her life: become the virginal sacrifice already promised, or force the man she loves most to die in her place.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Stop by tomorrow for victim no. 2!

Giveaway!

Terri is giving away a signed Make Believe cover and a couple of signed bookmarks. To be in the running, all you have to do is to fill in the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

FINDING CLAIRE FLETCHER Blog Tour: Persevering Through Rejection by Lisa Regan + G1veaway

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

I am so happy for fellow crime writer and critique partner Lisa Regan, who just released her debut novel, Finding Claire Fletcher! Now I’ve had the good fortune to review an ARC of the book, and I can tell you it’s one gripping read (Keep an eye out for a written review soon)!

Well done, honey, it has been a long time in coming!

Now I know that it took many, many attempts before finally finding an agent (for a small sample of her rejection letters, see her post here), and even after that, it took a year and a half before Finding Claire Fletcher found a publisher. So, I asked her how she managed to keep plugging away in the face of so many rejections.

***Read on for more information about Lisa’s giveaway, and how you could be in the running for prizes including an Amazon gift card, an e-book copy of Finding Claire Fletcher, or a signed paperback copy!***

Take it away, Lisa!

Persevering in the Face of Multiple Rejections
by Lisa Regan

It took me 2 books, 4 and a half years and 238 rejections before I landed my agent. Then I was on submissions for 18 months. More rejections. Lots of them.

Rejection is hard. After almost 6 years it became somewhat routine but still, it wasn’t all that fun.

Rejection: painful, but almost all writers have to face it.
(image source: Free Digital Photos)

When I first researched the road to publication, everything I read indicated that I should expect multiple rejections. At every level. Everywhere I turned there were notices, disclaimers, signs, warnings, cautions saying: YOU WILL BE REJECTED. EXPECT REJECTION. REJECTION LIES AHEAD. It was almost comical. Once I started, it felt a lot like trying to get into a building that has 1,000 doors and only one of them is unlocked. You just keep trying doors until you get to the one that’s not locked.

So what have I learned about rejection? First and foremost: YOU WILL BE REJECTED. EXPECT REJECTION. REJECTION LIES AHEAD. Get ready for it. Your dream is not going to come true overnight. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I hope you’re the exception, but if you’re not, prepare for rejection.

And when it comes, keep going.

My father has this piece of advice that he repeats all the time:  LET THEM TELL YOU NO.

In other words, try. Put yourself out there. No matter how many rejections you get, no matter how many things go wrong, you never really know what’s going to happen. Never assume that you’re going to be told no, never assume that you’re going to fail. Get out there and try and see what happens.

There was a time during my agent search that I was ready to give up altogether. But I looked at my daughter and realized that I don’t want to set that kind of example for her. I don’t want her to grow up and look at me and see an almost. I don’t want to be someone who almost did something with my writing. Someone who almost pursued my dream.

I don’t want to be an almost.

If you’ve stolen enough time from your hectic life and worked hard enough to write a good book, if you’ve honored the unspoiled part of yourself that still believes in having a dream, then this part of the journey — the agent search, submissions, the rejections — all your hard work will be worth it the day that something amazing happens.  Because amazing things can and do happen.  You just have to be committed enough and maybe even crazy enough to keep going.

So just keep doing it. And keep writing because you get better the more you write. Keep honing your craft. Keep putting yourself out there.

A marathon. Not a sprint. Let ‘em tell you no.

—

About the Author

Lisa Regan

Lisa Regan is a suspense novelist. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member Sisters In Crime. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Her second novel, Aberration, is due out 6/6/13.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

And here’s more information about Lisa’s debut novel, Finding Claire Fletcher:

Finding Claire Fletcher

Finding Claire Fletcher

Down on his luck, Detective Connor Parks takes solace in the arms of a woman he meets at a local bar, but in the morning, Claire Fletcher is gone, leaving behind clues to a decade-old mystery. Abducted at age fifteen, no one has heard from Claire Fletcher in ten years.  Until now.  Driven by an unsettling need to see Claire again, Connor sets out to solve the mystery of her disappearance once and for all.

Purchase Links

E-book: Amazon US | Amazon UK | J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

OVER THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK Blog Tour: Excerpt & G1veaway

%Úte%% | J.C. Martin

Today I am participating in a read-along blog tour for Marie Astor’s YA fantasy adventure novel, Over the Mountain and Back.

***Read on to find out how you could be in on a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card!***

Over the Mountain and Back

Over the Mountain and Back

With his father gone missing and his mother losing her grip on reality, Peter Bailey’s life is no picnic. Peter’s gray existence changes unexpectedly after he takes his new snowboard for a ride in the mountains of Colorado and is stunned to find himself in Transadonia – a hidden world that coexists alongside with the Earth.

Lara Grover never listened to her elders, so warnings like “do not talk to strangers” mean nothing to her. When a boy from an unknown world saves her from an avalanche with the aid of a snow dragon, Lara is not stunned in the least. Instead, she joins Peter on his quest to help him realize the purpose behind his arrival to Transadonia.

Together, Lara and Peter embark on an adventure filled with perils, trickery, betrayals, and unexpected alliances.

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Here is an excerpt from the book — enjoy!

With the clouds gone and the air cleared, Peter was able to see the ground beneath them more clearly. The landscape had changed dramatically. In a matter of the few brief moments that Peter had spent on Ragarok’s back, the previously serene snow adorning the mountaintops had swelled into overripe, bulging gobs that were beginning to ooze menacingly. Slow at first, the dribbling snow tufts gained momentum, transforming into larger and larger clumps that plummeted down with unstoppable force.

“An avalanche!” called Ragarok. “I did not think we’d get one this year with so little snow, but I guess I was wrong!”

Even so high up in the air, Peter could feel the ground vibrate underneath them as the snow began tumbling down. Suddenly he saw something lurking between the cliffs below them. He had to squint to make sure that his eyes were not deceiving him, but there it was — an outline of a girl trying hectically to ski away from a gigantic snow wave that was getting ominously closer to her at every turn.

“Ragarok! Look, there is a girl down there — we have to help her! Can you lift her up?”

“I see her. Hold on tight! We are going to zoom down and fly back up. It will get bumpy!”

Ragarok flew down in one giant swoop, and he was just in time. The girl had taken a sharp turn and had hit a hidden rock with her ski. She was getting up, unhurt, but her ski was broken, and it would have been impossible for her to escape the impending snow wave on her own. Ragarok scooped her up in his front paws and jetted off into the sky, just as the snow cascade plummeted down the mountain underneath them.

“It’s all right!” shouted Peter as reassuringly as he could. “Don’t be afraid. We are here to help!”

But the girl was not afraid at all. “You are a snow dragon, aren’t you?” she asked Ragarok once they were safely up in the sky, and Ragarok resumed his steady speed.

“Indeed I am. My name is Ragarok.”

“I am Lara. Thank you, Ragarok. My grandfather used to tell me stories about snow dragons when I was little. I am ashamed to say that I thought they were just fairy tales, but now I know that you are real.”

“I should like to think so!” replied Ragarok with a deep, hearty laugh.

Ragarok was beating his wings in a steady, measured sequence, carrying Lara in his front paws, with Peter straddling his back. Peter thought that flying on Ragarok’s back was by far better than any of the adventure rides he had ever been on.

“We are going to descend soon,” announced Ragarok as he began to slow down.

Finally, he came to a stop and the children slid onto the ground.

“Whew,” sighed the dragon, stretching his back. “It sure is tougher to fly when carrying passengers.” He winked at Lara and Peter.

“Thank you, Ragarok!” Lara hugged the snow dragon affectionately.

“You are most welcome, Lara. But I must say good-bye now. The air here is far too rich for me, and it’s becoming difficult to breathe. I prefer it higher up in the mountains.”

“Goodbye, Ragarok! Thank you for saving us!” said Peter.

“Goodbye, children,” Ragarok’s deep voice roared from the sky as he disappeared from sight, the white of his fur merging with the white of the clouds.

To read the next part of the excerpt, or to catch up on earlier excerpts, visit the other tour stops here.

About the Author

Marie Astor

Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels This Tangled Thing Called Love, On the Rim of Love, Lucky Charm, romantic suspense novel, To Catch a Bad Guy, and a short story collection, A Dress in a Window. Marie is also the author of young adult fantasy adventure novel, Over the Mountain and Back.

In addition to being a writer, Marie is an avid hiker, an excellent swimmer, a good skier, and a capable badminton player.

Contact: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway!

Marie is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. All you have to do to be in the running is to leave a comment below. And do drop by and visit the other tour stops; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning!

 

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer