Samantha March's Blog, page 16
August 6, 2013
CLP Blog Tours Interview and Excerpt: Between Friends by Amanda Cowen
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
Ever since I was a kid, I always had vivid dreams and I loved telling stories. I have been writing since I was about twelve, but I never really ever finished a novel until about three years ago. I always knew writing was in me and I loved doing it. There were times when I stopped and focused on other things, but during those times I was miserable and needed my creative outlet. Writing would always find me no matter what.
How would you describe your books?
My writing/books are influenced by the world around me and I secretly use people I know to create my characters (which make my friends/family both nervous and honored). My writing is light and easy and I can promise no matter what, there will always be a HEA.
Why was Between Friends a book you wanted to write?
I love light and fluffy romances and I knew I wanted my first book to be just that. I write what I love to read and that is exactly what I created when I wrote BETWEEN FRIENDS.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Plotting out my story and deciding where I want it to go. I am a person who questions and overthinks everything, which is good and bad, but it is also really time consuming and sometimes can even discourage me from moving forward on an idea.
What are your favorite genres to read?
I love to read Chick-lit, Contemporary Romances, YA and New Adult Fiction.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I want readers to walk away from my story with a laugh, a smile and knowing that real Happily Ever After’s do exist.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
So important! Without it, BETWEEN FRIENDS would not have had such an overwhelming success and I wouldn’t be here today interviewing on your blog!
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Write what you want to write and be passionate about your writing. Remember, you own your work and nobody can take that away from you!!!
**Excerpt**
Ben firmly places his keys into the ignition. He switches the car into reverse, and checks the rear-view mirror. He drapes his muscular arm across the back of my seat and glances over his shoulder before he starts to back up. I feel a tingling sensation spread all over my body, and I can’t resist him anymore. I am totally turned on by his shy and uncertain behavior and it makes me want him more than ever.
“Stop the car.” I shout.
Ben slams on the breaks.
“What is it?” he asks turning white.
“Park the car and turn it off.” I command.
Ben does exactly what I say, when something inside me snaps and climbs across the seat to straddle him. Both his hands find my hips as I passionately kiss him, smelling his intoxicatingly natural scent, mixed in with what I am guessing to be an SPF15. Ben moans and kisses me back running his hands up my sides, and massaging his fingers through my hair.
“You scared me.” Ben pants pulling me into him, and kissing down my neck.
I groan, “I’m sorry. I just need you inside me right now.”
He lets out a chuckle and grabs onto my chin, forcing his lips back onto mine, “You can have me any way you want, Megs.”
And even though we are completely cramped and my back is pressed up against the steering wheel, I don’t care. Right now, I can’t get enough of him. He reaches around behind me and unclips my bra then yanks its out from under my shirt. His sucks on my bottom lip and whispers “Get in the back. Now.” and waits for me to scurry off his erection pressing through his shorts. Seconds later, we are like two high school kids making out in the back seat of a car that doesn’t belong to either of us.
**Everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Between Friends before August 19 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn’t trapped on her computer writing stories and delighting her imagination. She has been writing since the ripe age of twelve about ponies and princesses in brightly colored duo-tangs with metallic pens. Thankfully, she now has a Mac with a keyboard where she can write about love, sex and relationships. She is an “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.
Amanda loves to hear from her readers! You can contact her via her website, www. amandacowen.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Goodreads, or visit her blog.
Buy the Book!
http://www.amazon.com/Between-Friends-ebook/dp/B00BZAAY5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374976030&sr=8-1&keywords=amanda+cowen
August 2, 2013
Book 3 Update: Cover and Title, Oh My!
I’ve had some down time lately…well, with my book that is! The wedding plans are still in full swing as we approach the one month mark and Marching Ink is working on a new release as well, but when it comes to book # 3, that is currently in the hands of a proofreader so I can stop worrying about it. Um…yeah right. While my proofreader is proofing her little heart out, I’ve been having heart attacks every night about the title and cover. Why? Because I have ZERO figured out. I can’t decide what in the world would make a good cover, and I can only seem to think of one possible title and I’m not sure I even like it all that much. It seems like every day I’m looking at stock photos trying to find something that jumps out at me, but to no avail yet. And the title…I’ve actually started hoping that if I find a cover image maybe the title will just magically fall into place. Sad, huh? With my first book I actually thought of the title in a dream one night, so now my trusty notebook and pen are back on my nightstand just in case the rest of the details come to me in a dream 
Anyone else go through this? With my first two books it took me some time to figure it all out, but I at least had some direction that I wanted to go, not just this blank…nothingness! Oi, the stress.
July 31, 2013
CLP Blog Tours Interview and Excerpt: The Legacy of the Key by S.L. Morgan
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
I really didn’t accept that writing was for me until I published this book and the reviews started rolling in. After that, I realized, “hey, I’m telling stories and there are readers out there who are enjoying them.” It was definitely a great motivation to continue on with the series.
How would you describe your books?
They’re definitely a different spin from everything that’s out there. The unique part is that they don’t necessarily fall into one genre. In my novel series, you have fantasy, adventure, classic romance, and historical romance, paranormal, sci-fi — all rolled up into one! It’s like a melting pot of different genres of writing all mixed up together, and the exciting part is that the readers are finding it enjoyable.
Why was The Legacy of the Key a book you wanted to write?
It was a different concept and something that I hadn’t seen done before. I love the chivalry, honor, and humor the characters bring to the book. Knowing the plot and the dimension I was creating for this book series, I was excited about escaping reality and getting lost in an enchanting dimension.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Editing! Editing! Editing! I wish I could snap my fingers and it all would be done. I find myself complaining about editing a lot, but honestly, it’s because I am an extremely impatient person. Editing and revising is the most critical part of writing and I have noticed that some of my best scenes in the book come from the revising process.
What are your favorite genres to read?
I love fantasy and historical romance. It’s quite interesting that I was able to bring those two genres together and create my book. I love the aspect of fantasy because there is no limit to where the author gets to take the readers. I love books that test my imagination. Historical romances captivate me because I love reading about the chivalry and honor of those time periods.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
When I wrote this book, I really wanted to remind people of some of the virtues that are almost non-existent these days – chivalry, charity, and being an honorable person in general. Trusting that someone will do what they say, or that they will give you the shirt off their back if you needed it is such a rarity, yet it is so endearing. We live in a world that doesn’t promote those things, and we’re too busy to notice half of the time. It was nice to create a world where the people are born to do for others, and they appreciate every moment.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
I think it’s extremely important. There are so many websites that can help authors get their book marketed to its target audience. I was certainly amazed with blog tours and how different bloggers are willing to help authors spread the word about their book.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
The biggest bit of advice I can give – because it was the best decision I ever made – is hire a professional editor. I searched for my editor on this website: http://pred-ed.com/ It is an excellent source designed to protect authors from getting scammed in any way.
Whether you are submitting to an agent or self-publishing, you must have an editor look over your work and give you advice about making your novel more polished.
**Excerpt**
Levi hustled Reece into the front seat, and got in the back seat, behind his cousin. Instantly, the car was in gear, and they were moving. The car went from a dead stop, to what seemed to be the speed of light; yet, it felt like they weren’t moving at all. The trees they were passing, a complete blur in her vision, were the only thing that gave relevance to the fact that they were moving. None of it made sense. Is this even a car? She looked at the driver, wondering how he was managing to keep the car on the road. He didn’t slow the car once, not even to take a sharp turn.
The driver looked over at Reece, his eyes were piercing in their light silver-blue color. “I’m Harrison, by the way. Relax, Miss Bryant—I drive rather well.” He looked out at the snow; it had gone from a light flakes to heavy clumps hitting the car. “Sorry we had to interrupt your lovely morning in the park.”
Reece nodded. Harrison was as superbly dressed as Levi. She questioned who these men really were. “Do you guys work for the government or something?”
Harrison glanced over at her and subtly grinned. “I suppose you could say that, yes.”
She looked back at Levi; he was intently focused on a transparent object in his hand. “Where are we going?”
Levi didn’t answer. Instead, Harrison responded. “We’re taking you to a safer place, Reece. I’m sure my cousin hasn’t explained much. Unfortunately, explanations take time. I can give you the lighter version of facts; however, I need you to promise you will not do anything crazy, like jump out of our car.”
Reece looked at him quizzically. Her anxiety soared, but she hoped her expression didn’t show it. “I won’t be jumping out of any cars; I understand basic physics, thanks.”
He chuckled. “We’ll see about that!” They were leaving the city and going into the more rural areas. “Tell me something, Reece; have you ever considered the existence of other worlds, apart from your own?”
Reece swallowed hard. “You mean, like Mars? Not really, why?”
“The man in your room—you thought he was a ghost, correct? Or possibly a bad dream?”
“I’ll admit, I’ve considered both options.”
He chuckled and glanced at her with a mischievous grin on his face. “Reece, he was neither. He was not of your world.”
Reece stared at him in shock.
“Maybe a little too much information?” He smiled sympathetically. “You should relax. Where you are going will be much more welcoming than where you were about to be taken.”
He looked into the rear view mirror. “Levi, we’re almost to the vortex. Make sure Javian has sent for Areion and Saracen. We should get Reece to Pasidian quickly.”
Did he just speak in a different language? Reece rubbed her forehead disbelievingly. The car grew silent, except for the low purr of the engine. The road they were traveling on was long, winding, and very narrow. Considering the high speed they were driving, combined with the sharp turns, Reece expected to have her body weight thrown all over the inside of the car; yet, gravity had no effect on her.
Even so, she started to feel sick to her stomach. She didn’t really trust the two men, but she’d burned her bridges. She decided to stop asking questions. The answers she was receiving were more than she could cope with right now.
The road curved around a hill, and as she watched, the car left the road effortlessly, heading straight for the hillside. It appeared as if they would crash directly into it. Reece took a quick breath, and was blinded by a bright flash of light.
The paved road they traveled on now was shiny black, and lined with trees unlike any Reece had ever seen. Their trunks were white, with vivid red leaves beaming on their incandescent white branches. She looked deep into the dense forest of these peculiar trees and noticed that they appeared to be glowing in the darkness. The bright, lime green grass that carpeted the grounds of the forest, took on a glowing quality as well. It was strange; it was as though the radiant grass and leaves illuminated on their own, in total darkness.
It appeared as if everything was glowing in color. A drop of water on the windshield sparkled like crystal. The sky had a sapphire quality to it. She felt as if her vision had changed entirely. What is this place? All she saw was the illumination of the nature all about her, and none of it seemed real. Wherever they were now, the skies were vivid, bright and sunny; a far cry from the snowy streets of Philadelphia.
She looked at Harrison, then back at Levi, to see if their appearances had also changed. Nothing was unusual about the two men. She held her hand up and examined her skin. Normal. It was very odd; it was only the nature around them that had shown this interesting radiance.
When she turned her attention back to the road, she saw a large, shimmering gate ahead. It was fashioned with beautiful patterns, circling throughout. She could see that there was no longer a road on the other side of it, and they would most likely have to stop. She wondered how they would manage to bring the car through, or if they would? As soon as she questioned the thought, Harrison turned the car into a dark area, which seemed to be a cave or something of that nature. As he parked the car, she noticed that the area they were parked in was filled with sleek black motorcycles, and other cars like the one she was in.
When the car shut off at Harrison’s vocalized command, Reece reached over to his arm to stop him from stepping out of the vehicle.Time for answers.
He looked back at her with concern. “Reece, we’re almost to our destination. I know a million questions are probably swirling around in your head, but you need to try to be patient.”
“Fine,” She took a deep breath. “But before we go any farther, I really need to know who you guys are. You should understand my apprehension about going any farther with you two. We should have crashed into that mountain a moment ago, and now I’m seeing trees and grass that seem to sparkle and glow. I’m sure you both know that I was well aware of what happened that day on the airplane, too. I know you both had something to do with it. I want answers before I concede to go anywhere else with you.”
Harrison sighed. “Levi and I are from another dimension known as Pemdas. For many years, our people have protected those on Earth, and many other dimensions as well.”
**Everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a copy of the book! Two US winners will win an autographed print copy, and two bonus winners will win an eBook copy!** 
Author Bio:
S.L. Morgan was born and raised in California. After 29 years of
living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains there, she and her husband began their journeys of moving throughout the United States. She currently lives in Texas, where she and her husband are raising their three children.
In October of 2011, S.L. Morgan became inspired to write her new
novel series, “Ancient Guardians.” With her passion and love for Jane Austen and other classic romance novels, she was motivated to write a novel series of her
own. The Legacy of the Key is the first book in her novel series, taking readers not only into a new magical dimension—but giving them a feeling that they have been transported back in time—into England’s seventeenth century.
With her second novel in this series nearing its release date
late this summer, S.L. Morgan is currently writing in the third novel of the
Ancient Guardians series, and excited to bring her readers on more adventures
and journeys with these characters.
Links:
Website/Contact Link: www.slmorganauthor.com
Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Guardians-Legacy-Guardian-Book/dp/0615736742/ref=la_B00ARXKAL4_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358357978&sr=1-1
Barnes & Noble Buy link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ancie...
Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17161768-ancient-guardians-the-legacy-of-the-key
Book Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/AncientGuardiansLegacyOfTheKey
Author Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/slmorganautho...
Email: ancientguardians2012@gmail.com
Twitter: slmorgan1
Book Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2DdKCL3Bjs
January 23, 2013
Interview and Excerpt: Becoming Mrs. Walsh by Jessica Gordon
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
I always loved to write even if it was detailed diary entries. Something about sitting down and just writing is very relaxing. I find if I have a pen and paper in hand I can usually start creating something. Then when I went to college and realized I can actually major in writing, it was very exciting! With writing, you really can't ever be bored because there is always something new to write about and many directions your ideas can go in.
How would you describe your books?I really love to both read and write in the chick lit genre. I think light-hearted, entertaining books are a great escape. It allows you to get lost in a story for a while. For my books I really focus on making sure the story is fast-paced. I do not want readers to feel bogged down in pointless prose. I feel that if you are writing a chick lit or a summer read people expect it to be fun and easy and I want to deliver on that. I also really love to play with characters. Characters that are well drawn, relatable and interesting are definitely a priority in my books.
Why was Becoming Mrs. Walsh a book you wanted to write?I thought it would be neat to have a book that included many different aspects of married life. The actual engagement period, marrying into another family, in-laws, but also have this element of romance and wealth. I think individually these topics are interesting, but putting them together in one place was really fun. I think the story is relatable and the inspiration came from when I married my husband. He is the youngest of three boys, so I learned first hand what it is like to enter a big family and have many older brothers and sisters-in-law. But the rest of course is fiction.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?Making the book actually feel like a complete story from beginning to end. I can write vivid scenes and strong characters, but the challenge is putting it together in a seamless, readable way.
What are your favorite genres to read?Chick lit, Women's fiction, Contemporary fiction
What do you want readers to take away from your story?I want the story to spark other ideas and thoughts about readers' own lives or help them relate to issues that they are going through. I love books where you can really understand a character's decision and perhaps that could help inform your own life. I would also love it if readers wonder about the story and its characters after they've finished reading the book. I would love if the characters stay with them.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?Very important, especially with e-books. People can download a book with one easy click. Information on the book and authors should be just as accessible. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, websites, readers either have these accounts or are following people with these accounts, so it is important you are part of that and are accessible. Word of mouth and 'word of link, click, and websites' are how people are going to find out about your book.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?Write, write, write. As a writer you must be writing. Even if the first draft is frustrating or not as good as you would like, keep going. The more you write, the easier it will become. Don't be self-conscious when writing or caught up with making it perfect. Just get down the ideas and let it flow. Edits and sorting out come later.
**Excerpt**
“Drew, why didn’t you wake me?” Shoshana asked as she looked at her bedside clock. It was 9:45 a.m. and she had to be ready in 15 minutes.“I figured you’d want to sleep as long as you could before the alarm,” Drew said.“My alarm! Did it even go off? I didn’t hear anything.”“I kept hitting snooze; you like to sleep late on Saturdays.”She glared at her fiancé. “Yes, normally! But not when I have to be with your family all day!”“It’s just the girls,” Drew said.“Please, your sisters-in-law are not like normal ‘girls;’ it’s like a beauty pageant slash couture fashion show,” Shoshana said as she sprung up from bed.She sped walked into the bathroom and began brushing her teeth with fervor.“I guess you’d better get your crown ready,” Drew said and winked at her.“I don’t even think I have enough time to shower!” Shoshana protested between mouthfuls of toothpaste foam.“Why do you have to shower?”Shoshana spit into the sink. “Are you serious?” She marched out of the bathroom and looked at him incredulously.“Yeah, your hair looks fine, you don’t seem dirty,” Drew said with a shrug.“Drew! Your sisters-in-law have perfect hair.”“Stop, you’re making yourself crazy.” Drew walked into the bathroom to shave.“Forget it, there’s no time to shower,” Shoshana yelled after him.“Sounds good,” Drew said barely listening.Shoshana rummaged through her closet. She threw on a black cotton dress and black flip-flops. She figured black was a chic-enough color and it would hide any sweat marks. It was August in Washington, D.C., which meant, it was hot.“I’ll wear black and then I’ll fit in—”“Why do they bother you so much?” Drew asked as Shoshana emerged from the closet.Shoshana stopped and looked at him. “It’s not that they bother me.”“What is it then?”“I can’t really describe it.”“They’re nice, they mean well, I really don’t get it,” Drew said as he buttoned his shirt.“You wouldn’t get it, you’re a guy. They’re gorgeous and they’re well-dressed, always. And by the way—I’ve never seen them without makeup. They’re not human.”
**Giveaway!**
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Jessica's tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Becoming Mrs. Walsh before February 11 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Jessica Gordon is a Johns Hopkins University alumna for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She received her bachelor's degree in liberal arts from the Writing Seminars program and her master's degree in communications.
After working in the corporate world for several years, Jessica decided to return to her first love: creative writing. Jessica takes her readers to the prominent Washington, D.C. area where her characters navigate through the complex world of family, in-laws, and love.
Jessica lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband. This is her first novel.
For more information on the book, check out www.jessica-gordon.com. Jessica can be reached at any time: jessica@jessica-gordon.com.
Connect with Jessica!
www.jessica-gordon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaGordonBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16077397-becoming-mrs-walsh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessicabgordon Buy the Book!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Mrs-Walsh-ebook/dp/B009O3NO9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357616042&sr=8-1&keywords=becoming+mrs+walshBarnes & Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/becoming-mrs-walsh-jessica-gordon/1113576054?ean=2940044984059Apple: Available in iBookstore accessed through iPad and iPhone Smashwords includes (Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/243474
January 21, 2013
Interview and Excerpt: Battle-Born Love by Lynda Bailey
**Interview**
I’d like to thank Samantha March for hosting me today.When did you know writing was for you?
I’ve always made up stories in my head and even had a bit of flair for creative writing in high school. In college, however, creative writing gave way to essay writing. (Yuck) The writing “bug” bit me hard about twenty years ago. Since then writing has been a central focus in my life.
How would you describe your books?Sexy, hot romance stories that end in the ever important Happily Ever After.
Why was Battle-Born Love a book you wanted to write?I like to write stories where the heroines don’t really fit into preordained social circles. The Ugly Duckling theme is common in my stories. In Battle-Born Love, Rory has an alcoholic father whom she has the destructive habit of enabling. I wanted to explore the emotion burden—the failure, so to speak—that children can sometimes feel toward their parents. It’s usually the parents who feel like they’ve failed their kids. For Rory, the opposite was true.
How were you able to stretch your imagination for the plot concept of this book? I am fascinated by it! By drinking lots of wine! (Kidding. <g>) I truly don’t feel that I stretched my imagination nearly as much as a steampunk or paranormal author does. At least not where the plot concept is concerned. The stretch for me comes in digging as deep as I dare into my own emotions so I can translate that into my stories.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?It’s all challenging, IMO. The plot, the characters, the conflict. To say one is harder than another is like saying breaking your leg hurts worse than breaking your arm. It’s all painful, and immeasurably rewarding.
What are your favorite genres to read?I love contemporary romances. The hotter, the better. J I also enjoy historical as well as paranormal romances.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?I want the reader to go away with a sense of satisfaction that I entertained them for a period of time, no matter how long or how short.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?Oy! Social media is a horrible necessity for any author today, whether you’re traditionally or independently published. If an author doesn’t have a website, they need to get one. Don’t do FaceBook or Twitter? You need to start doing one or the other, but preferably both. While it’s much easier for writers to publish on their own, it’s not easy at all to stand out from the crowd.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?Two words: Don’t stop. Whatever obstacles are in your way, whether personal or professional, don’t stop. Whatever negative critiques or awful contest results you get, don’t stop. If writing is your passion, if it brings you joy to create characters in faraway, pretend places, then don’t ever, ever, ever stop.
**Excerpt**
Chapter One Rory Dawson charged through the door ready for a fight.Too bad the only person in the tiny office was Eldon James, the fifty-year-old Paiute Indian who was as much a part of Dawson Repo as the battered tow truck parked outside.Eldon looked up from his scarred desk, concern on his face. “I take it things didn’t go well in court.”Rory stomped to the other desk as best she could in the low heeled sandals that pinched her feet to a smaller size. She plopped into the swivel chair with the torn vinyl and pulled off the torturous foot garb. Shedding her panty hose and denim skirt also held great appeal, but she figured waltzing around in her skivvies at eleven in the morning, even with the late March temperature nearing an unseasonable ninety degrees, probably wasn’t a good idea. She leaned her head against the back of the chair and closed her eyes.God, she hated her life.Seconds later, Eldon’s chair creaked then her desk moaned as he perched on the edge. “Wanna talk?”No, she didn’t want to talk. Tears burned her eyes, but she battled them away. Breaking down wouldn’t help anything. The silence stretched out long and thin.“How much to bail him out this time?”God bless Eldon and his ability to cut to the meat of a matter. She forced herself to meet his gaze. “Ten grand.”He shook his head with a heavy sigh. “Guess that Reno judge isn’t gonna give him any leeway this time, huh?”“Not in the least.” She rubbed at the ache spanning her forehead. “With all his priors, we should be grateful his case didn’t get booted up to Federal Court.”“How’d he look?”“Pale. Scared. Old.”“Where you gonna get that kind of money?”Biting her lower lip to stop any trembling, Rory lifted her shoulders in a short, helpless shrug.“I’ve got a couple thousand you can borrow.”She snapped upright in her chair. “I’m not borrowing money from you. You and Ellie just bought that house. Your money needs to go to curtains or landscaping or whatever else Ellie thinks of. Besides, I sign your paycheck. If you’ve got that much money, I must be paying you too much.”Eldon grinned, his teeth a brilliant white against his dark skin. “We both know that ain’t the case.”She forced her mouth into a pitiful semblance of a grin. “Then no more talk about borrowing money. He’s my old man. I’ll take care of business. Somehow.” She straightened her shoulders, shoving her helplessness aside. “Is the ‘Vette outside the one we got the repo order on yesterday?”“Yep. Parked pretty as you please at the mall.”“Keys?”Eldon shook his head and headed for the back door. “Maybe I can jimmy the lock.”“No doubt it’s an electronic system.”“I’ll try anyway.” He paused in the doorway to look at her. “You should go home, boss. You look beat.”Left alone, Rory lost the battle to keep her head up. Fatigue crumbled her forward until her desk became a pillow.She looked beat because she was beat. She wished she’d been smart enough to remember a change of clothes before going to court. A worn pair of jeans, an old T-shirt and ratty tennis shoes would make her feel better, physically at least.In a burst of determination, she sat up and reached for her Rolodex. Maybe she could borrow Pop’s bail money. Her heart wailed at each blank card she turned. Ten thousand dollars! Where in the world would she get that kind of money?Jail time might do him good, she thought bitterly. Prove to him that his actions had consequences. She barked a laugh. The hollow sound echoed off the bare walls. Right. Consequences. For her.Rory pressed the heels of her hands to her temples. The headache she’d picked up after her father had gotten arrested three days ago threatened to leak out her ears.She couldn’t leave Pop in jail. She’d taken care of him ever since turning thirteen, when her mom split. She couldn’t stop now. No matter what, he was family.The only family she had left.She stood, hoping Eldon had aspirin in his desk, when the door burst open.And into her office strode a commanding masculine presence.He wore authority better than his charcoal gray, tailored suit. Tattered jeans and a tank top would be a better fit with his bronze complexion and sun-streaked brown hair which brushed the top of his suit collar.Recognizing the controlled look of indignation, the tight-fisted stance, she pulled back her shoulders. No longer a distraught daughter, she was now a businesswoman.She dealt daily with people enraged that their property had been repossessed, through no fault of their own, of course. Pricey suit or not, she knew exactly who she was dealing with. Still, when his acorn brown eyes honed in on her, she was glad she wore her best, if only, skirt.“Who’s in charge here?”His demanding tone failed to intimidate her. But a hot shiver of anticipation did skate down her spine at his silky baritone voice. She curved her lips into a smile. “How can I help you?”“You can help,” he enunciated each syllable as though she were a child, “by telling me where your boss is.”Her smile vanished. What a patronizing, chauvinistic jerk. Before she could set this guy straight, Eldon came through the back door and the stranger shifted his attention to him.“Are you in charge here?”When Eldon shook his head, Mr. Personality drew a hand down his face with a long-suffering sigh. “Could one of you please tell me who is in charge here?”Eldon hiked his thumb in her direction. “She is.”
**Giveaway!**
**Giveaway! Comment on Lynda's tour page or on any of the participating blogs January 21-24 to be entered to win a $5 Amazon gift card. Do the same January 25-28 (comment below or on a participating blog) and be entered to win a $5 Amazon gift card. Everyone who comments below or on a participating blog will be entered to win the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Battle-Born Love before January 28 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
I’ve always loved stories, especially romances. For me the only thing better than reading a romance is writing one. That and drinking red wine while eating dark chocolate. My manuscripts have been finalists in major writing contests, including the 2010 RWA Golden Heart®.I live in Reno with my husband of thirty years and our two pampered pooches. Please visit me at www.lyndabailey.net. Or drop me an email Lynda@lyndabailey.net.Happy Reading!
Buy the Book! Amazon:
http://amzn.con/B00A51NP42
January 16, 2013
Interview and Excerpt: Baby! Baby? Baby!? by Holly Kerr
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you? I always enjoyed writing as a child but it wasn't until I was in high school that my creative writing teacher noticed what I was doing and really started to encourage me. It was then I started to think maybe this was something I could be good at.
How would you describe your books? I like to say I write light and fluffy books - they're fun, entertaining with stories and characters you want to keep reading about. Good beach books, or on a cold winter's day curled up by the fire. Excellent with a glass of wine.
Why was Baby! Baby? Baby?! a book you wanted to write? I wanted to write Baby because at the time I had just had a baby, which had changed my outlook on things. I knew it would include romance but since I was so caught up in my baby, I wanted to include my pregnancy experiences as well.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you? Editing is by far the hardest part of the writing process for me! My grammar is atrocious, plus I like to use fractured sentences which doesn't flow very well. A lot got fixed up during the editing which isn't the most enjoyable but I think the readers would thank me for it! So editing, and finding the time to work on my book is the hardest part for me. There's always something or someone who wants my attention and it's too easy to push writing aside. I try to make it a habit to work on my book first thing every day, which usually means getting up very early before my kids are awake!
What are your favorite genres to read? I'll read anything. I can't really pick a genre either, so I'll go with authors. I went down to take a look at my bookshelf - it's pretty varied. I've got a lot of Phillippa Gregory and Carolley Erricson and Robin Maxwell in the historical fiction side. Brad Thor and Steve Berry and J.D Robb. Hilary Mantel and Deborah Harkness books, along with Stephen King's latest. I like MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series. I love the Hunger Games books, and because of those, picked up a couple other YA books. I love Jilly Cooper and Jane Austen and the Harry Potter books, and the Star Wars novels. So, really, I'll read anything!
What do you want readers to take away from your story? I want them to be entertained. I want them to laugh and not want to put the book down. I want them to fall in love with Casey and Cooper and J.B. and the rest of my characters and care about what happens to them as much as I do
How important do you think social media is for authors these days? I think social media is incredibly important for authors these days. Word of mouth is the best way to get your name out there and the social media is the place to do it. Visit my facebook page - www.facebook.com/hollykerrauthor- I love it when people 'like' me!
What would be your advice to aspiring writers? Write and keep writing. If it's something you love to do then make the time for it. It may be difficult but it's worth the effort.
**Excerpt**
Chapter One
A woman’s prime period of fertility occurs between the years of twenty-two and twenty-eight, with each year decreasing the chance of a happy and healthy conception. After the age of thirty-seven, a woman should not attempt to conceive.
A Young Woman’s Guide to the Joy of Impending MotherhoodDr. Francine Pascal Reid (1941)
Bullshit, I know. But for some reason that passage has stuck with me for years. You know what it’s like to have one of those repetitive songs stuck in your head? A couple of summers ago, it was that “Umbrella” song—not that it was a bad song; in fact it was a pretty good song for a while, but at the end of August when I was still silently singing “ella, ella,” it got a little tiring. If you think having a song stuck in your head is bad, imagine silently repeating to yourself again and again, “After the age of thirty-seven, a woman should not attempt to conceive.” Most of me will agree I’m being silly in taking the words of a long-dead doctor to heart, but an itty-bitty part of me is still listening and using my fingers to count the months on the calendar until I hit the De-Fertility Zone. Silly, I know, but I can’t seem to help it. Yes, I am fully aware that in this day and age there are countless women over thirty-seven who conceive and successfully deliver happy and healthy babies. I know that. You can’t pick up an issue of People magazine without knowing that. But for me, thirty-seven has been something of a deadline, and it’s looming ever closer these days. Here I am already at thirty-five, pushing headlong into thirty-six, which will inevitably lead to thirty-seven, the age when Dr. Francine Pascal Reid tells me I shouldn’t attempt to conceive. So how am I supposed to have a baby? Going to a wedding yesterday certainly didn’t help.Yesterday marked the seventeenth wedding I’ve been to in the last five years, and the ninth in which I’ve played the role of a bridesmaid. I remember reading something long ago, some old wives’ tale about three times a bridesmaid, never a bride. I guess I’m screwed three times over then. To make things worse, it turned out that the entire bridal party—other than me, that is—were all pregnant. Of course, being basically a nice person, I was sincerely happy for them, but can you imagine how my own desire to have a baby might make me a tad resentful? The anticipation I had felt toward being part of the wedding dimmed a little as I was forced to listen to all the little baby comments and pregnancy stories, not to mention names and dates and crib styles. I had had just about enough when Darcy’s aunt Fran popped her head into the room where the five of us had just finished getting into our dresses (horrible green with, yes, a big butt bow). Once she’d cooed over us all, Aunt Fran announced that she thought it was just hilarioushow Darcy had picked an entire bridal party of pregnant girls, assuming I was as pregnant as the others.
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Holly's tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Baby! Baby? Baby?! before February 4 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
I live in Toronto with my husband, 3 amazing kids, and cat Sebastian, who has a supporting role in every book I write. Since Baby! Baby? Baby?! has been published, I’ve focused on writing more and have started two blogs; one about my views on books, writing and other stuff, and one on my observations of Bethany, a small town in Ontario. I’ve been busy working on a new chick lit novel and hope to see it published by the spring. I also volunteer at my children’s school by helping put out their newspaper and encouraging kids to write has become one of my favourite pastimes! I also love hanging out Connect with Holly! Visit me at www.hollykerr.ca or www.facebook.com/HollyKerrAuthor
January 10, 2013
Interview and Excerpt: Death Turns a Trick by Julie Smith
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?It was a matter of desperation—though usually that comes a little later than seven, and that’s when the writing bug hit me. There was a talent show at school and, realizing just how inadequate my singing and dancing skills were, I whined to my mother, who gave me a deer-in-the-headlights, then suddenly, hitting upon the germ of an idea, managed to stammer, “Well, I think you have…ah…ummm…a flair for … hmm…writing! Yeah, Writing! That’s it.” My second grade essays must have been amazing. But wait—there weren’t any second grade essays. I knew that. I wasn’t fooled. Still, I knew it was write or be a bag lady. How would you describe your books? Something for everyone! I’m not bragging, I’ve just written so many different kinds of books it may well be accurate—there’s hard-boiled and broody, atmospheric, amateur detective, P.I., police procedural, and those with a warm, very female-oriented sensibility. The Rebecca Schwartz series, of which DEATH TURNS A TRICK is the first, falls into that category. It’s very definitely a chick-lit mystery with a whole lot of heart and humor. Great little plot too. (She said modestly.) Why was Death Turns a Trick a book you wanted to write? I wanted to write a funny, contemporary mystery about a competent professional woman who didn’t have to be rescued by a man. I really really wanted that! I think I should mention here that this is vintage female sleuth—it was first published in 1982 (the same year Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky were first published) and is only now being released digitally. It’s almost a joke when you get a bunch of writers of my vintage into a room—Sue, Sara, Nancy Pickard, Linda Barnes, Susan Dunlap, Lia Matera—how almost, to a woman, they all say that same thing. Why? Because we were sick and tired of the female sleuth having to be snatched from the hands of the villain by some dude at the last minute. Why didn’t those earlier babes just pack a little heat? Or use the brains they were born with? A surprising number of us—me, Pickard, Dunlap—also say the same thing about wanting our heroes to work with available materials rather than conventional weapons. Over the course of the series, Rebecca uses a curling iron, her ever-handy knee, a frying pan, a few Seconal caps, and aways, always her wits. I just read the series over to get it online and, honestly, it didn’t seem a bit dated to me. Except for the lack of cell phones.What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?Starting. Oh, I’m just kidding, sometimes I’m chomping at the bit. The hardest part, honestly, has always been and always will be the same thing—to realize my dream for the book. To close the gap between ability and ambition. I just read the book I’ve been waiting all my life to write—but unfortunately it was written by another author! If you haven’t read Gillian Flynn’s GONE GIRL, hurry on down. She gets into the heads of her very disturbed, in fact quite psychotic characters in a way I’ve never seen a writer do. I wanna do that! I wanna be Leo Tolstoy too! So trying, striving, grabbing for depth and perfection in character revelation, yet always missing my goal in my own mind is the hardest part of writing by far. What are your favorite genres to read? Well, let’s start with large categories—fiction, fiction, fiction! I have a really hard time forcing myself to read non-fiction unless it’s a how-to book, so okay, there’s a genre—how-to books of a certain sort. Usually about writing or publishing. And mysteries! I adore mysteries! Hard-boiled, funny, police procedural, you name it, I’ll read it. Chick lit if it’s funny and original. Mainstream. Oh, and Indian! Don’t ask why, but I love books set in India and I find Indian writers great storytellers—like Southern writers. Hey, wait! I almost forgot one of my favorites—YA. Love YA, especially if it’s about girls who can do anything with available materials, like Katniss. Or sweet, brilliant boys who can do magic. Like you-know-who.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?I want them to be happy. I want them to think, now there was a well-told tale that made me laugh and kind of warmed my heart. (But I sure don’t aim for heartwarming in a cheesy way—please! Their hearts should be warmed when Rebecca kicks villain ass, not when she does something sweet for her boy friend.) They should be feeling, “Yessss! You go, girl! You do it for the rest of us.” Because I think that is what we want our heroes to do—to make us feel that if it were us out there in that tight-to-impossible situation, we’d perform as well as they did. And I definitely want readers to have a bunch of laughs along the way. How important do you think social media is for authors these days? It’s essential, for better or worse. We’ve all got to blog and have FaceBook pages and tweet. But it isn’t important enough to turn it into a second career. And it sure isn’t make or break. It’s just that it’s kind of unprofessional not to do this stuff today—it’s as much part of the job as book tours used to be. Boy, would J.D. Salinger not fit in if he came on the scene today! What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Don’t get me started! I used to teach writing and have enough advice for a library of books on writing. (Actually, not true—I said everything I have to say in the one I actually did write.) Here are Aunt Julie’s Top Five bits of writing advice:1. Don’t be arrogant, don’t be proud, and above all do not imagine that because you speak English you can write a novel. Take writing courses, read books on writing, join a critique group, listen, learn and always be humble.2. Pay more attention to your first chapter than the entire rest of the book. (I probably rewrite mine nine or ten times.) Make it sparkle, make it perfect, and here’s how: make it do the two things it’s supposed to do really well and confine it to those two things only. ONLY THOSE TWO THINGS, which are starting the action and getting the reader to fall in love with your protagonist.3. Toward that end, whatever you do, don’t start in the viewpoint of someone other than your protagonist. Be very clear in your head who your protagonist is! (Don’t laugh—I’ve looked at a lot of manuscripts that went wrong on this one.)4. Within that first chapter, permit no digressions, no flashbacks, and no exposition. None. Okay, maybe a tiny, tiny bit of exposition, but please no info dumps. (Except in your first draft—spew then, clean it up later.)5. Never listen to Prose Nazis who tell you
**Excerpt**
Chapter OneThe argument was getting loud, so I played loud to drown it out. I was looking at the keyboard, I guess, or maybe staring into space, I don’t know which. Anyway, I didn’t see two uniformed cops come in the door with guns drawn. I just heard a hush and then some screams. That made me look up. I saw them and stopped playing. People in the foyer were crowding back toward the stairs. Elena Mooney was backing toward the fireplace.“Awright, everybody quiet,” said one of the cops. “This is a raid.” Those very words.It’s funny how you react in a situation like that. I should have been terrified. I should have had visions of lurid headlines: “Lawyer Caught in Bordello Raid.” I should have despaired of my Martindale-Hubbell rating and started planning how I was going to explain to my mother. But I didn’t. I was looking down the barrel of a gun and hearing someone say “This is a raid”—a thing I’d done a million times in movie theaters. I gripped the piano so I wouldn’t holler, “Cheezit, the cops!”Then the lights went out. I don’t mean I fainted; I mean it got dark. A hand closed over my forearm, jerked me to my feet and started pulling. People started screaming again, and one of the cops fired. I didn’t know if anybody was hit or not, but the reality of the situation dawned on me and I offered whoever was pulling me no resistance. We bumped into a lot of people getting through the saloon room, but it took about two seconds, I guess. I vaguely heard things like “Don’t panic” and “Be quiet,” which I suppose came from the cops, and I heard two more shots and a lot more screaming.My rescuer pulled the kitchen door open and me through it. The kitchen window had cafe curtains, and there was a little light from outside, enough to see that I was with Elena. She dropped my arm, grabbed a flashlight from the top of the refrigerator, and opened a door that I imagined led to a pantry. But I was wrong. Elena shone the light on steps descending to a basement.She gestured for me to go first, then followed, locking the door behind us. There was a tiny landing at the bottom of the stairway and, on the right, a doorway to the basement itself. You couldn’t see into it from the stairs.When I got to the landing, I waited for Elena to join me with the light, but she turned it off as soon as she got there. I noticed a faint glow coming from the doorway to the basement. Elena put a finger to her lips and squeezed past me into the room. I followed.The room was unfinished, but the plasterboard was painted. The light came from a silver candelabrum on the floor, with all its black candles lighted. Attached to two beams on the far wall were manacles at ankle and shoulder level. Some scary-looking hoists and pulleys hung from ceiling beams, but I can’t say I was in a mood to examine them too closely. In fact, it’s a miracle I noticed them at all, considering what else was in the room—a brass bed with a naked man lying face up, spread-eagled on it.His wrists were tied to the headboard and his ankles to the footboards. Even without his customary conservative suit, I recognized him. He was State Senator Calvin Handley. That same week I’d seen him on TV holding a press conference about the bill he’d just introduced to legalize prostitution. At least he wasn’t a hypocrite.
Author Bio:
New Orleans author Julie smith is a former journalist and the author of some 20 mysteries, including two series set in San Francisco and two in New Orleans. Her 1990 mystery, NEW ORLEANS MOURNING, won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. DEATH TURN A TRICK is the first book in the Rebecca Schwartz series.
Connect with Julie!
www.casamysterioso.comwww.booksbnimble.com
Buy the Book!
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Rebecca-Schwartz-Mystery-ebook/dp/B008S695AO/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356904885&sr=1-1&keywords=death+turns+a+trick
January 9, 2013
Interview and Excerpt: The Darling Girls by Emma Burstall
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
From a very young age – when I used to sit for hours at my parents’ kitchen table writing long rambling stories about fairies and princesses and mermaids. I’m sure the stories were terrible but my mother was incredibly encouraging! Much later, I went into journalism because I knew I wanted a career that involved writing but didn’t feel I had enough experience yet to try my hand at novels.
How would you describe your books?
I’d say they’re commercial women’s fiction, written in an easy-to-read, accessible style with lots of twists and turns, complex characters and, I hope, thought-provoking psychological insight.
Why was The Darling Girls a book you wanted to write?
I’d been fascinated for quite some time with the idea of three women in love with the same man. I used to vaguely know someone in that situation and always wondered why she put up with it and what the man must be like to hold these three intelligent women in his thrall. The Darling Girls was an opportunity to explore these issues and really try to understand the feelings involved.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The first draft – definitely – because at that stage you’re facing blank pages day after day that need to be filled. Once I’ve written my first draft I’m in heaven! I love polishing and re-polishing to make my book as good as I possibly can.
What are your favorite genres to read?
I like reading lots of things – from classics by authors such as Charles Dickens and Henry James to spine-tingling thrillers and romances. I’m really not fussy, so long as the writing is good and the story keeps me wanting to turn those pages.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I hope it will make them think about the Kindertransport rescue mission, when nearly 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were sent without their parents to foster homes in Britain in the nine months prior to the outbreak of World War II. It must have been so frightening for them and it’s amazing that so many did so well in later life. I also hope readers will think about the unlikely bonds that can be forged between women in difficult circumstances and how, underneath it all, we’re really pretty similar, with the same hopes, fears, dreams and insecurities.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Crucial. Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, writers’ and readers’ websites. They all help to spread the word and ensure good books don’t get lost.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Write! It sounds so obvious, but it took me a long time to get going. I knew for ages that I wanted to write a novel but I kept putting obstacles in the way – work, raising my children etc. I think the truth is I was nervous of failure. In the end I realized the only way I was ever going to know if I could write novels was just to get going. So I sat at my computer and wrote my first paragraph, then my second. Soon I had several thousand words and felt I was off at last!
**Excerpt**
Cat slid to the ground and rested her back against the hard knobbly bark, burying her head in her arms. Her tears soaked right through to the skin and she didn’t care that the grass was cold and damp. She was interrupted by a voice close by, which made her jump. ‘Are you all right?’ Someone touched her lightly on the shoulder. Cat looked up and saw, through her tears, a middle-aged woman. She had big kind grey eyes that were rimmed with red, and hair that was thick and wiry with a few silvery streaks of grey. It was tied up but messy wiggly strands fell around her face. She was wearing silver dangly earrings and a black jacket. Cat gave a start of recognition: Victoria. This was Leo’s ‘long-term partner’, the woman he’d been with for twenty years. She stood up quickly and nodded, her eyes fixed firmly on the ground, aware of being closely observed. ‘Fine,’ she mumbled, wiping away the tears with her sleeve. This was weird, freaky. She was way out of her comfort zone. She started to push past Victoria, who stopped her. ‘You’re Cat, aren’t you?’ Cat’s heart missed a beat. ‘It’s all right,’ Victoria said, sounding weary. ‘I know all about you. Leo told me. He told me everything.’ Cat’s head started to thump and she could feel the blood pounding in her temples. She was thinking fast. ‘Did he?’ She gave a tight little smile, not wanting to give anything away. ‘I’m sorry you’re upset.’ Victoria’s voice was so gentle that she sounded like a mother comforting her child. Cat felt her defences weaken. She didn’t want to look at the other woman but couldn’t stop herself; it was obvious that Victoria was taking the mickey but Cat needed to check. Her eyes, though, were big pools of sugary compassion. Cat couldn’t handle this; it was worse than being mocked or screamed at. ‘I’m going,’ she said, intending to push past Victoria who still stood in the way. Cat realised for the first time how tall the other woman was. She must be getting on for six feet - and broad with it. Cat stared at her defiantly, experiencing a surge of new-found energy. If Victoria wanted a slanging match or fisticuffs, so be it. Cat might be shorter but she was tough; she’d give as good as she got. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, straightening her shoulders. Victoria didn’t seem to hear or even sense Cat’s hostility. ‘He was a great man,’ the older woman said quietly, seeming to stare at something in the distance. ‘We’re going to miss him so much.’ She paused while Cat, fists clenched, wondered what was coming next. ‘Would you like to come to the reception? I know he was fond of you. It’s right that you should-’ Cat felt her face go hot. ‘Fond? He wasn’t fond of me, he loved me.’ Victoria shook her head and there were tears in her eyes. ‘Did he tell you that? Poor girl. That wasn’t fair, he shouldn’t have said that.’
**Giveaway!**
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Emma's tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of The Darling Girls before January 28 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Emma has written extensively for national newspapers and women’s magazines including the Guardian , Independent on Sunday , Red , Good Housekeeping , Woman & Home and Woman .
She read English at Cambridge University and began her career as a cub reporter on the Western Morning News in Plymouth, later becoming features editor of Woman and Family Circle.
She gets by in French and Spanish and works out – occasionally – at her local gym. After walking her youngest to school, you might also spot her jogging in Richmond Park with some friends. Slowly.
Emma lives in South West London with her husband, the political commentator Kevin Maguire, and their three children, aged 25, 20 and 10.
She’s currently working on her fourth novel.
Connect with Emma!
Website
January 2, 2013
Interview and Excerpt: A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr
[image error] **Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?I knew I had found my calling in writing when it occurred to me that regardless of my mood at the start of a writing session, I was happy to the point of giddy by the time I finished. It’s sort of how I feel after a long run, only instead of runner’s high, it is writer’s high. I can’t live without it. I was in a funk recently, just not in a good mood. I returned to editing my third novel and the gray cloud over my head disappeared almost immediately. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
How would you describe your books? I like to think of my books as “real chick lit for real women.” Nothing in my books is so over-the-top that it couldn’t possibly happen to someone. My characters are neither perfect nor fatally flawed and I have been told time and time again by readers that my characters are so relatable. I just like to write stories about struggles many women have but in a humorous way.
Why was A State of Jane a book you wanted to write?Before I started writing A State of Jane, I was single but dating pretty heavily and at one point, three guys in a row suddenly disappeared without any warning or explanation. Several of my friends shared similar experiences with me. It frustrated me to no end and I wished for some sort of revenge on these flakes. Since I lacked the nerve to actually put my ideas into action, I thought it would make a fun book, although the plot changed somewhat during the writing process. Knowing how many of my friends shared my frustration, I figured the book would be relatable to many women.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?The hardest part of the “writing” process is description, mostly describing facial expressions and physical movements of my characters. How many times can I possibly write, “He smiled” and “I shrugged”? I am finding it easier and easier though with each book which goes to show that practice does make perfect. The most difficult part of the publishing process, besides waiting for my contract, is marketing and promotion. I am not comfortable asking people to read my books but if I don’t do it, I’m kind of screwed, right?
What are your favorite genres to read?Chick lit (of course) and YA Dystopian/paranormal
What do you want readers to take away from your story?If my reader is single and struggling with finding the one, I want her to find the humor in her situation and know she is not alone. If my reader is blessed to have found her partner in life and love, I want her to appreciate him and perhaps put herself in her single sister’s shoes and not say things like, “You’re too picky” because that is usually not the reason! But most importantly, I want people to laugh.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?Imperative! I cannot imagine how I would spread the word about my books without Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc. I also would not have had the opportunity to become friendly with so many other authors and bloggers without it. The writing community is such a supportive one but without social media, I don’t think I would have found it.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?Write the story you want to tell and not just what you think is “hot.” If you don’t find the writing process fun and are only doing it hoping for fame and fortune and that elusive movie deal, you might as well give up now. Writing, publishing and marketing take blood (paper cuts from reading and rewriting drafts), sweat (from waiting for contracts and when things invariably go wrong) and tears (rejections, bad reviews and, of course, tears of happiness) and so you might as well have fun doing it!
[image error] **Excerpt**
As I embraced him, I looked at Trish to gauge her reaction to seeing her new live-in boyfriend with his arms around his ex-girlfriend of nine years. She was smiling and although I looked really hard, I saw no jealousy or insecurity behind her beady eyes. When Bob and I separated, Trish jumped up and down. Clapping her hands excitedly, she came barging at me, squeezing me with full force. Although her mouth was eye-level to my neck, I was able to make out her muddled version of, "I'm so happy to finally meet you!" Taken aback, and somewhat frightened, if truth be told, I pulled away and straightened the top of my scoop neck sweater. Offering my hand, I forced a smile and said, "Hi. I'm Jane." Jumping up and down again, Trish squealed, "I know! Bob's told me so much about you. And I've seen all of Arlene's photo albums. Love the ones from the high school prom." Winking at Bob, she said, "He looked so cute in his tux." I glanced at Bob, hoping he'd roll his eyes and we'd share a silent laugh, but he had his hand on Trish's shoulder and was beaming as brightly as she. While I counted the number of tiny freckles on her nose, Trish continued, "Looking at the pictures, part of me wished I knew Bob back then. But you were such a great girlfriend to him. Thanks to you, I got him un-jaded. Unlike some of these other NYC guys." When I heard a cough in the background, I remembered Todd was next to me. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I said. Gesturing towards Todd, I said, "This is Todd. My, uh, my -" Interrupting my eloquent introduction, Todd nodded at Bob. "Todd. Jane's lucky date. Nice to meet you. Jane baked this potato soufflé for you guys." Taking the platter from him, Trish said, “Thanks so much! Bob said you were a really good cook. Me, not so much!” Her eyes dilating in interest, she looked from me to Todd and asked, "How'd you guys meet?" I started to explain. "Todd's a lawyer and my friend Marissa's sister thought we'd ..." "At a party," Todd cut in. "Cute! When was the party?" Trish asked. Wanting to keep the duration of my relationship with Todd vague, I started to answer, "I don't really remember…" "Last Saturday," Todd said. "Jane liked my Red Sox hat." "That's funny since Jane has zero interest in sports," Bob said, laughing. "Yeah, Bob told me about the time his boss got tickets to a Ranger's game and you fell asleep in the second half." After she said this, Trish covered her mouth with her hand. I wasn't sure if she was regretful for embarrassing me or just trying to contain her laughter. The former would mean she was nice so I hoped for the latter. But I guessed the former. I shrugged. "Yeah, well. It was a week-night game. Long day of work." Patting my back like a child would a pony, Todd said, "Aw, she's a good sport. Watched basketball with me this week and even accompanied me to my firm's bowling tournament. And we've only been dating a week." Feeling busted, I reluctantly met Bob's glance. His eyebrows raised, he nodded, "Yup. A great sport indeed." "I'm gonna get another beer. Anyone want anything?” Todd asked. In unison, all three of us replied, "No, thanks." After Todd was out of ear shot, Trish said happily, "He seems nice! There are too many people here tonight for us to really talk, but you guys should come over for dinner sometime. Bob speaks so highly of you. I would truly like us to be friends." I examined Trish's face again for some sign that she secretly hated my attendance at her party. Some indication that late at night when Bob was asleep, she stuck needles in a Jane-inspired voodoo doll wishing that my existence would be removed from Bob's memory and that all pictures of me would magically disappear from Mrs. Krauss's photo albums. But what stood before me was a truly nice person who was neither fat nor ugly and seemingly not fatally flawed in any way. Trish was sincere. She was not threatened by me. She was not jealous. She was not insecure. She was in love, she was happy, and she wanted me to be happy too. And she actually wanted to be friends. My whole charade was failing miserably. It was obvious Todd and I were not on our way to cohabitated bliss like Bob and Trish, and worse, pretending to be right behind her in the line to romantic happiness was pointless and would only serve to make me look even more pathetic than I already did. I had to change directions and fast. I leaned in toward Bob and Trish and motioned with my finger for them to close the space between us. When they moved in, I confided, "If you must know, I don't think Todd is the one." Bob laughed. "Oh really?" Trish frowned. "That's too bad." "Nah! As you know, I had the same boyfriend for nine years. My first and only boyfriend, if you know what I mean." I gave Trish a knowing look but she stared back at me blankly. "Bob was a good lover and all, but I've got serious oats to sow before I settle down." I did a 360 of the room as if making sure no one could overhear my next words. "All the guys I'm dating now? Using them," I whispered. "For sex."
Giveaway!
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Meredith's tour page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of A State of Jane before January 21 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
A born and bred New Yorker, Meredith Schorr discovered her passion for writing when she began to enjoy drafting work-related emails way more than she was probably supposed to, and was famous among her friends for writing witty birthday cards. After dabbling in children’s stories and blogging her personal experiences, Meredith found her calling writing “real chick lit for real chicks." When Meredith is not hard at work on her current work in progress, she spends her days as a trademark paralegal at a law firm in New York City. Meredith is a loyal New York Yankees fan and an avid runner. She also loves to read and is always on the lookout for her new favorite author. A State of Jane is her second novel.
Connect with Meredith!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/MeredithSchorrAuthorhttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4355520.Meredith_Schorr
Buy the Book!
Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/A-State-of-Jane-ebook/dp/B009CDVZ64/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356195015&sr=1-1&keywords=a state of janeB&N :http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-state-of-jane-meredith-schorr/1112799844?ean=9781935961697iTunes :https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-state-of-jane/id562887940?mt=11
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January 1, 2013
Interview and Excerpt: Mad World: Epidemic by Samaire Provost
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
I used to write stories when I was a teenager, beginning around age 13. I always loved to write. I also loved books, more than anything. So I think back then was when I knew, deep down inside, that writing was for me.
How would you describe your books?
I would describe my books as odd stories. I love reading odd stories the most, and so that is what I write. Odd things happen in them. They are often paranormal, and since I feel most in tuned with my the YA readers, that is whom I write for. So, if I were to allow myself to be pegged into one label, I would say my books are Paranormal stories geared toward Young Adult.
Why was Mad World: Epidemic a book you wanted to write?
I have a lot of stories in various states of completion. I deeply wanted to dip my toes into the YA genre, and I thought I should tackle zombies first. I had a lot of opinions on what a good zombie story would be like, so I went ahead and wrote it :)
Did you know you would have a sequel when you started writing Epidemic?
Actually, no. I began the story not knowing where it would end up. It kind of unraveled ahead of me, and as it turned out, the story wasn't finished at the end of EPIDEMIC. There was still more to tell. So SANCTUARY got written. And now DESPERATION.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Interestingly enough, and in spite of the fact that I utterly hate clichés, the hardest part of the problem is discipline. Getting started every day. You could say I don't ever have writer's block, but I do have an awful lot of get-to-the-desk block. I understand this is a huge problem for quite a lot of writers.
What are your favorite genres to read?
Anything Paranormal. From Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" to Rowling's "Harry Potter" series. Anything with other-than-normal aspects, those really appeal to me. And also, I hate being bored reading a book, so it must hook my attention and be fast paced. I do not hesitate to toss a book aside if it does not hold and keep my attention.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
How important and incredible it is to have friends so close to you they become family, and to have them by your side helping you and watching your back.And also, that I am an exciting author to read, to keep looking for my latest novel out :)
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
I think it's very important. I love it when authors and artists make a personal connection with me. I remember how I almost fell out of my chair when Neil Gaiman answered my tweet directly and then got into a short discussion with me on Twitter. It was incredible. And I see how my fans love it when I connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. I think it will be a huge part of connecting with readers in my future.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Read. Read a lot. Write even more. Never lose hope.
**Excerpt**
Author Bio:
Born naked. Clothed and fed shortly thereafter by adoring parents who looked on in bemusement as their daughter became a reading, writing, free-spirited, feral, animal loving, bleeding-heart chocolate lover who laughs easily. Samaire Provost is a California writer of Young Adult novels. Her love of paranormal stories, odd plots, and unique tales as well as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, E.A.Poe, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Stephen King has deeply influenced her writing.
Connect with Samaire!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/samairep
Twitter - https://twitter.com/samaireherselfGoodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6453849.Samaire_ProvostAmazon author page - http://www.amazon.com/Samaire-Provost/e/B008PVTXMWAmazon book page - http://www.amazon.com/Mad-World-Epidemic-1-ebook/dp/B008PO969O/Blog - http://samaireprovost.tumblr.com/ Author Bio: Born naked. Clothed and fed shortly thereafter by adoring parents who looked on in bemusement as their daughter became a reading, writing, free-spirited, feral, animal loving, bleeding-heart chocolate lover who laughs easily. Samaire Provost is a California writer of Young Adult novels. Her love of paranormal stories, odd plots, and unique tales as well as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, E.A.Poe, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Stephen King has deeply influenced her writing. Connect with Samaire! Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/samairep Twitter - https://twitter.com/samaireherself Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... Amazon author page - http://www.amazon.com/Samaire-Provost... Amazon book page - http://www.amazon.com/Mad-World-Epide... Blog - http://samaireprovost.tumblr.com/
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