L.R. Wright's Blog, page 3

BLOGGER BOOK FAIR: Meet Emma Calin

Hey Peeps!  It’s been a pleasure to meet so many wonderful authors in this journey.  And my guest for today is one of them.  Let’s welcome Emma Calin!
Hi Leslie – thanks so much for letting me post here for the Blogger Book Fair. 



My name is Emma Calin and I am an author of hot steamy romance and gritty short stories and novellas.  My theme for the Book Fair has been 'Three Sentence Seduction' - where writers give me three sentences from one of their books to seduce the reader.  A character, a location and a favourite final scene sentence. Leslie has done hers on my blog today if you fancy going for a look.
I have just launched a collection – a 'boxed set' of five of my novelettes and short stories.  It is called the 'Love in a Hopeless Place Collection'.  I would like to share my 'Three Sentence Seduction' across the stories from the set.   Since my sentences tend to be short, I am going to cheat and allow myself the luxury of two or more sentences for each.  It is my show after all!

A character (Alan from Escape to Love): He must have been about 6’4”, a foot taller than her. His broad shoulders almost filled the doorway as he stepped out of the shadows. She let him pass, he smelled of man sweat, mud and wet clothes.
A location (Sub-Prime): Even the snow wasn’t real snow. At first it sparkled like tinsel, giving the grubby old town that X-Factor moment of fame before the gods laughed you off. Now grey slush soaked into Mike’s cheap trainers as he walked from the job centre.
A scene-ending sentence (from Love in a Hopeless Place): Things had gone out of control, but I was where I was. Now, there was no going back.
The five titles in the collection are all novelettes or short stories.  They stand alone in their own right but are linked by a common theme:  the universal quest for survival, love, passion and respect against the gritty backdrop of working class life. 
Sub-Prime  - a gritty short storyThe Chosen  - a short story with a twistEscape To Love – a novelette, a suspense romance with a twistAngela  - a short storyLove in a Hopeless Place  - a novelette, a romance.




To celebrate the Blogger Book Fair ALL of my books are reduced to 99c/76p/89€
In addition, during July and August 'ANGELA' the short story from the collection is FREE – so you can even try one before you buy the set!

Thanks for having me Penelope, regular readers of this blog can visit Penelope's post on my blog here: http://www.emmacalin.blogspot.com
Author LinksFor more books by Emma Calin:  http://www.viewAuthor.at/EmmaCalinEmma Calin Blog: http://www.emmacalin.blogspot.comEmma Calin Website: http://www.emmacalin.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/emma.calinFacebook Page for book: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaCalinBoxedSetTwitter:@Emma CalinPinterest: http://pinterest.com/emmacalin/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4915751.Emma_Calin


For my next stop on the Blogger Book Fair, see below, there will be more excerpts from my books.

22ndJuly         Caitlyn Nicholas http://www.caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com                        Jamie Campbell http://jamiecampbell.com.au/blog/
23rd July           Emily Tippets http://www.emtippetts.com/search/label/Blog                        Penelope Reece http://penelopereece.blogspot.co.uk/
24th July           Leslie R. Wright http://thebasementlevelfive.blogspot.co.uk/
25th July           Aria Glazki http://ariaglazki.blogspot.co.uk/                        Barbara Billig http://www.thenuclearcatastrophe.blogspot.com/
26th July           Don Wooldridge http://www.donwooldridge.com

Thanks for stopping by Emma!  It’s been so much fun!

Meet Julie Flanders!

Hi all!  I'm participating in the Blogger Book Fair this week!  Don't miss out on all the giveaways, Freebies, and more.  Check here for more information.

My first guest for the week is Julie Flanders, Author of Polar Night.

Hi Julie, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and I work as a librarian when I’m not writing. I am an animal lover and I share my home with my dog and my cat.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
I’m a big fan of Elizabeth George and her Thomas Lynley mystery series because I like that she makes her stories about her characters and has them grow and change through her novels. I tried to go by that approach with my Polar Night story; it’s more about the characters than it is about the crime or mystery. In recent years I’ve become a huge fan of George R.R. Martin and I’m obsessed with his A Song of Ice and Fire series. I love dark stories and admire how fearless he is when it comes to taking dark turns with his characters.
What are you reading?
Right now I’m reading Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade by Susan Flett Swiderski. She’s a friend of mine who I met through blogging and I love her work. She’s a very funny and charming lady.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I love to read and I watch way too much television. I’m also a big sports fan and love the Cincinnati Reds and the Ohio State Buckeyes. I enjoy walking and taking my dog with me to the parks and walking trails in our area.
When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I got started writing relatively late in life – I was around 40 when I first started taking my writing seriously. I always loved concocting stories in my head but for most of my life I told myself I wasn’t creative enough to write them down. I finished my first book Polar Night in 2012 and was fortunate to sign a publishing contract later that year.
Where do you get your ideas?
The idea for Polar Night came from a dream. I’ve had other ideas that started out as dreams and some just come to me while I’m out walking with my dog. There is a park near my house that is very quiet in the morning and I often get ideas when we are walking there in the morning hours. The idea for my upcoming novel The Ghosts of Aquinnah came when I was looking at a webcam of Martha’s Vineyard before going there on vacation.
Are you a pantser?  Or do you outline?
A little of both. I jot down ideas and try to plan out the story somewhat but I don’t do a formal outline. I like to have an idea of what I’m working towards but I make changes constantly while I’m writing.
Can you tell us the challenges in getting your first book published?
My biggest challenge was that I had no idea what I was doing! I was totally new to the publishing world and had no idea what to expect. I definitely learned as I went along and I still feel like I have a great deal to learn.
Tell us about your novel.
Polar Night is a supernatural thriller that takes place in Alaska during the dead of winter. Danny Fitzpatrick is a detective in Fairbanks who is working on cases involving missing women and stumbles upon some ominous connections. His investigation leads him to the Arctic town of Coldfoot and a hotel proprietor named Aleksei Nechayev. The truth about Nechayev and the missing women shakes Danny to his core and changes his whole view of the world and what’s in it.
How did you come up with the title?
The title refers to the phenomenon of 24-hour darkness in the Arctic regions during the winter months.
Who designed the cover?
An artist named George Cotronis
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The editing and the revising, no doubt.
If you had it to do all over again, would you change anything about your latest book?
I don’t think so, I’m very happy with the book and the characters.
What project are you working on now?
I’m going through final edits and revisions for my upcoming novel The Ghosts of Aquinnah.
Any new books coming out? 
The Ghosts of Aquinnah will be published by Ink Smith Publishing in December of 2013.
Awesome!  Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Only that it’s never too late to start writing! I wish I had started earlier but I’m glad I finally did and the writing has been a gift to my life in ways I never could have expected.
Rapid Fire Questions:
Favorite Song? One by U2
Favorite Movie? The Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Season? Fall
Favorite Food? Anything Mexican
Favorite Quote? “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
Any parting words? Thank you for interviewing
Thank you!  It's been a pleasure having you visit the basement!  Folks, if you haven't checked out Polar Night, be sure to get your copy!





Book Blurb:

When Detective Danny Fitzpatrick leaves his hometown of Chicago and moves to Fairbanks, Alaska he wants nothing more than to escape the violence and heartbreak that left his life in pieces. Numbed by alcohol and the frozen temperatures of an Alaskan winter, Danny is content with a dead-end job investigating Fairbanks' cold cases. That all changes when a pretty blond woman goes missing on the winter solstice, and Danny stumbles upon some surprising connections between her disappearance and that of another Fairbanks woman three years earlier. Forced out of his lethargy, Danny sets out to both find the missing woman and solve his own cold case.

The investigation points Danny towards Aleksei Nechayev, the handsome and charming proprietor of an old asylum turned haunted tourist attraction in the Arctic town of Coldfoot. As he tries to find a link between Nechayev and his case, Danny's instinct tells him that Nechayev is much more than what he seems.

Danny has no idea that Nechayev is hiding a secret that is much more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined. As his obsession with finding the missing women grows, Danny finds his own life in danger. And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same. 

Purchase Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Amazon UK 
Smashwords  Kobo




About the Author:

Julie Flanders is a novelist and a freelance writer. Her debut novel, the supernatural thriller Polar Night, is now available from Ink Smith Publishing. When not writing fiction, she loves writing about animals and animal-related issues and she runs the animal rescue blog Cincinnati Tails. Find Julie online at http://julieflanders.blogspot.com.

Giveaway Alert: Let's Welcome Tiffany Back to the US

Hey all! I'm participating, along with many awesome writers, publishers, bloggers, in the

Welcome Back to American Tiffany Talks Books GIVEAWAY. 


ALL genres will be represented.  Visit here and enter to win.  Good luck!

Enjoy your 4th of July!!!

A to Z Song Challenge: Z is for Zoom

Well, this is it.  The final song in the A to Z Song Challenge.  I had a blast.  I hope you enjoyed my picks.  I'm such a song/music person, I could go on for years sharing songs that have touched my heart. 

My pick for Z was easy.  The lyrics, the music, the memories make this an all-time favorite of mine.  Hope you enjoy!





is for Zoom by The Commodores!!!!!

A to Z Song Challenge: Y is for You're Still the One

We're almost at the end and, as usual, I'm torn.  But I'm not going to cheat this time.  I picked ONE song.  And I'll get right to it. This song is such a beautiful song.  Love it.





is for You're Still the One by Shania Twain









Check out Nana's pick, here.

A to Z Song Challenge: X is for Xr2

Soooo... X sucks.  I decided to go another way. The song I chose is not a favorite song of mine.  BUT it is the song that goes to one of my favorite hustles (urban line dance).  I love to dance.  And I used to go to Hustle classes every Wednesday (First Family in the house!!).  I absolutely LOVE the B2H Hustle!  And that is the reason I chose this song. 





is for Xr2 by M.I.A.  and the B2H Hustle.







Check it out and try it at home.  Trust me, it's fun.


Check out Nana's "X" here.

A to Z Challenge: W is for Whenever You're Around

So, I have another tie.  I just couldn't narrow it down.  I'll get right down to it. 


is for Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi AND Whenever You're Around by the incomparable Jill Scott




I love Jill Scott.  Love her.  She's a great storyteller and I can relate to her music on a personal level.  And Wanted Dead or Alive is my hubby's favorite and his birthday is tomorrow. I love the song too, but it's more a tribute to him. :)

A to Z Song Challenge: V is for Voyage to Atlantis

Anyone who knows me would know beyond a shadow of a doubt this song.  Not only is it my favorite "V" song, it's my FAVORITE song of all time.  My cousin even used it as my own special ring tone. 

I remember when I was a child and I heard this song for the first time.  There was something about it that made me sit up and listen.  It was love at fist listen.  But what I found that warm, summer day wasn't just the song, but the band.  The Isley Brothers is my all-time FAVORITE band.  I saw them in concert so many years ago, but it only cemented my love.  And when Ron Isley started this song... my friend could've knocked me over with a feather.  Love.  It.

So...............





is for Voyage to Atlantis by The Isley Brothers







 

A to Z Song Challenge: U is for Under the Bridge

There was no struggle with this letter.  I knew right away which song I'd choose.  So I'll just get right too it. 





is for Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers







Enjoy!

A to Z Song Challenge: T is for Teach U A Lesson

I give up.  T was hard too.  So I got to thinking... what song inspired me the most to write smut. LOL 

So...





is for Teach U A Lesson by Robin Thicke. And he's HOT!