Tawdra Kandle's Blog, page 51
January 29, 2014
Monday Musings: Book Memories
In case you don’t follow me on Facebook or twitter. . .and why don’t you, really, I’m lots of fun and occasionally amusing. . .I finished my latest book UNDENIABLE last week.
UNDENIABLE is Rafe’s story; it’s a spin-off from my very first books, the YA quartet The King Series. And since I don’t have a mind like a steel trap all the time, and since I was a) writing about a character whose identity was firmly established in both BREATHLESS and RESTLESS and b) writing a book that took place concurrent with ENDLESS, I ended up having to check facts and look up passages in those books while I was writing.
That’s a dangerous thing for a writer. With very few exceptions, I’ve noticed that most writers only grow and improve the longer they keep publishing books, so glancing back at earlier releases might be a little frightening. Let’s face it: given the opportunity, most of us would just keep making the book better, no matter how many edits it takes or how much our formatter hates us.
I definitely found a few things I would have changed in those books. However, what struck me even more (and is probably telling about WHY I would make those changes) were the self-snapshots I found within those pages.
Whether we like it or not, our current lives, circumstances, emotions and mindset affect what and how we write. So when I look back at FEARLESS, I remember the exhilaration and excitement of writing my very first full-length novel. I’m taken back to baseball practices for my son (who was 8 at the time and is now 13–if you’re a mom of sons, you understand the vast difference!), to orthodontist appointments for my now-18 year old daughter, to hours at the Borders in Ocoee (now closed), because those are where FEARLESS was mostly written.
I remember who I was in 2008. I was still dealing with the new and fresh loss of both of my parents at a young age. My husband had just begun seminary, and my oldest daughter was dating someone seriously for the first time. All of those experiences are in those pages in one way or another.
Each book has a piece of me, and not only that, it holds a piece of me as I was when it was written. That makes them my stories, as much as they are the characters’.
Someday I’ll look back at UNDENIABLE and smile, thinking of who I was and what I was doing in 2014.
Because that’s just what writers do.
January 28, 2014
Literary Addicts Wednesday Meme: My Favorite Book of 2013
My favorite book of 2013. . .hmmm. . .that’s not going to be easy.
So you’re going to have to have a list, in no particular order.
First, because I know what’s what, every single book released by Hayson Publishing was an amazing book.
And then. . .some of these might not have been released in 2013, but I read them last year.
–Slammed by Colleen Hoover (I liked it better than Hopeless.)
–Embracing The Wolf by Stephanie Nelson. (The last one is coming soon. . .I hope. . .)
–The Impact of You by Kendall Ryan (GOOD stuff here)
–Rebel by Elle Casey (The third one is late being released and I am about to stalk Elle. . .)
–For Real by Chelsea Cameron (Funny and romantic, it’s an awesome read)
–Arcadia’s Curse by Jesi Lea Ryan (I’ve made no secret of my love for these books. And for Cane.)
–Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer (Because everyone could use a little Amish in her life.)
–Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming (I love these mystery/romances, but there is SO much time between releases, it kills me.)
–The Losing It books by Cora Carmack (If you haven’t read these, get them. Tremendous characterization.)
Now. . go forth and read with exceeding great joy. And hop around to check out everyone else’s favorite reads. You might find some new gems. I’m sure I will!
January 26, 2014
BFF Series Cover Reveal! See it here. . .
Release dates:
Liar, Liar: Feb 3
Knocked Up: Feb 4
Mall Rats: Feb 5
Terms of Endearment: Feb 6
Cruel Intentions: Feb 7
I Love You, Man: March 7
The 40 Year Old Virgin: April 4
Role Models: May 2
Risky Business: June 6
Join the Facebook release party here: https://www.facebook.com/events/231890296990363/?notif_t=plan_user_joined
Rafflecopter: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Dawn Pendleton is a new adult author who began her writing journey in New England with her husband and their pup, though she recently moved to Georgia and promptly became a Southern Belle (or so she likes to think). When she isn’t staring at a blank page, willing the words to jump from her head to the screen, she’s usually playing on her iPhone, reading a book, or taking pictures with her fancy camera (which she has no idea how to use).
Website † Facebook † GoodReads † Twitter
January 24, 2014
The Serendipity Duet: You’ve Got Questions, I’ve Got Answers
Ever since I announced my plans to write a two-book spin-off of my young adult quartet THE KING SERIES, I’ve had a lot of questions. Now that UNDENIABLE, Book 1 of The Serendipity Duet, is nearing release, I decided to share some of those, along with answers.
Free free to leave your own questions below.
What King Series characters are featured in The Serendipity Duet? Quite a few. Featured main characters include Rafe Brooks, Nell Massler, Cathryn Whitmore and Zoe Hamilton. There are also some surprise pop-up appearances from some supporting cast members. You’ll have to read it to see.
Why a spin-off series? Why not more books in THE KING SERIES? Because THE KING SERIES was Tasmyn’s
story, and Tasmyn’s story is finished, for my purposes. I am not saying I will never write another story about her again–she may have a short in my planned King anthology–but she and Michael got their happily-ever-after, and I’m finished. A spin-off series was necessary because both Rafe and Nell demanded their own books. It just happened to work out well.Is The Serendipity Duet young adult? No, it’s not. It is definitely New Adult. I want to make this crystal clear! Both books include some sexual scenes as well as some swearing and other adult situations. I will repeat: UNDENIABLE and UNQUENCHABLE are not YA books.
Why did you choose to make The Serendipity Duet New Adult instead of YA? This was, in some ways, a difficult decision because I know so many young people who have loved Tasmyn, Michael and the other characters from King and would like to read more about Rafe and Nell. However, I had three reasons for making the books NA: one, the stories as they unfurled before me were decidedly NOT YA. Two, the characters’ ages made more sense in NA. Three, I am moving away from writing YA altogether. Although I enjoyed my time in King, I know that my passion (no pun intended) lies with NA and adult romance.
Can you read The Serendipity Duet without reading The King Series? You can, certainly, but you will probably enjoy the books more if you’ve read at least BREATHLESS and RESTLESS. And it wouldn’t hurt to read ENDLESS as well. So you might as well go ahead and read all four, since FEARLESS is the first book. Happily, there is a handy omnibus ebook now available on Amazon and Smashwords so you can read all about King in one place.When does The Serendipity Duet take place in the timing of The King Series? UNDENIABLE picks up about three months after the end of RESTLESS and a good portion of it takes place at the same time as ENDLESS. If you include the short stories related to these two series, UNDENIABLE also crosses a little into Stardust on the Sea (from ETERNAL SUMMER). UNQUENCHABLE takes place a little during Stardust and then has its own chronology independent of The King Series.
Do Tasmyn and Michael appear in The Serendipity Duet? Well. . .yes and no. They are mentioned, certainly, and they are seen, but they are not active characters.
Anything else we should know about The Serendipity Duet? You should know that the first book, UNDENIABLE, ends on a sort of cliff-hanger. I don’t usually do that, but this is how it worked out. Rest assured, book 2, UNQUENCHABLE will follow shortly.
January 23, 2014
ARCADIA’S GIFT and ARCADIA’S CURSE: The Cane Interview
By Jesi Lea RyanMost people who experience death don’t live to tell about it.
When sixteen year old Arcadia “Cady” Day wakes in a hospital after experiencing what can only be called a psychic episode, she finds her family in tatters. With her twin sister gone, her dad moved out, her mom’s spiraling depression and her sister’s boyfriend, Cane, barely able to look at her, the only bright spot in her life is Bryan Sullivan, the new guy in school. When Bryan’s around, Cady can almost pretend she’s a regular girl, living a regular life; when he’s not, she’s wracked with wild, inexplicable mood swings. As her home life crumbles and her emotional control slips away, Cady begins to suspect that her first psychic episode was just the beginning…
Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own. (Literally.)
In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy. Her grades have tanked. Her best friend is afraid of her. And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around. But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price.
Find The Arcadia Novels here:
Amazon (Arcadia’s Gift)/Amazon (Arcadia’s Curse)
AUDIBLE Audio Book of Arcadia’s Gift
Author Bio:
Jesi Lea Ryan grew up in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, IA. She holds bachelor degrees in creative writing and literature
and a masters degree in business. She considers herself a well-rounded nerd who can spend hours on the internet researching things like British history, anthropology of ancient people, geography of random parts of the world, bad tattoos and the paranormal. She currently lives in Madison, WI with her husband and two exceptionally naughty kitties.
Stalk Jesi Lea here:
Follow the Book Tour
Our interview: I have loved these books since I read the first one. It made me smile, and it made me cry. . .and I fell in love with the characters. Truthfully, I was a fan of Bryan in the first book, but as I edited book 2, I realized that my heart was moving into Camp Cane. And I never looked back.
So I’m happy to introduce you to Cane, one of my favorite characters from the ARCADIA books. He kindly sat down for an interview with me, though I don’t think he likes to talk about himself. Cane, I’m so happy that at last we have a few minutes to chat. I have so much I would like to ask you! Come. . .sit next to me.
You dated Lony, Cady’s sister. Tell me a little about her, what made her special, and what you miss about her.
Lony was…fun, I guess. She was the girl who liked to be in the middle of everything. If there was a party or whatever, she wanted to be involved. I guess I miss her enthusiasm.
But then, there’s a part of me that’s really conflicted. I mean, if she hadn’t died, and she was just some girl I used to date, I probably wouldn’t give her any thought at all. But it didn’t happen like that for us. We broke up, and she died. You can’t say anything bad about a dead teenager, but I think people forget that Lony could be selfish and jealous and argumentative…not the easiest person to get along with. But I can’t talk about those things because it would make me a jerk, right?
Since we’ve talked before, I know that your feelings toward Cady have always been somewhat, um, complicated. Care to talk a little about that? You’re among friends here.
* squirms in his chair * Well, I met Cady first, a long time ago. She doesn’t even remember it. I guess I had a crush on her. When we got to high school, we didn’t exactly travel in the same circles. Not that I care about popularity or status, but all my friends were in sports, so it was easy to hang out with the cheerleaders like Lony. When I realized Lony liked me, and Cady didn’t know I was alive, I thought…this is going to sound stupid, but I thought I might be meant to be with Lony instead. It was a dumb decision. I should’ve never even dated her, because now my feelings for Cady just seem weird. How can I be falling in love with my dead ex-girlfriend’s sister?
Tell me how you feel about Bryan Sullivan. We’ve only seen him through Cady’s eyes. I’d like your take on him.
I don’t know. He’s nice enough to me. I just don’t like the way he treats Cady. I sort of see Bryan…I don’t know, as a metal spring maybe? If you let a compressed spring loose, it will fly all over the place, and it’s hard to compress it again. Bryan’s like that. He’s been cooped up and protected his whole life because of his blood thing, so I get that he’s all excited now that he can be a reckless idiot, because Cady will heal him when he gets hurt. But he’s so freakin’ wrapped up in himself and all this new stuff he gets to do that he doesn’t even notice that healing him hurts Cady. And that just makes me hate him. He’s got this great girl, a perfect girl, and he doesn’t even see her anymore.
In the last months, Cady has been living out of town. How has that worked out for you, and what has been happening in your life since she’s lived in Chicago?
I hate that I don’t get to see her every day at school. We never really talked at school, but I used to make sure I could pass her in the halls between classes. Pathetic, right? I know she has a boyfriend, but it was important for me to know she was okay. I don’t miss seeing her with Bryan, though. Watching him touch her and hold her hand was torture.
Since Cady left…well, really since Lony died…I don’t have the energy to be social. I’m not sleeping well, so when I’m not at school, or at practice, I just want to hang out in my bedroom and listen to music. I’ve been working with a new pitching coach, and that’s going well. College and pro scouts have been coming to my games. Pretty soon, I’ll have to decide whether to go to college or enter the draft and go pro. Concentrating on baseball helps me push Cady to the back of my mind, and that’s what I need right now.
Tell us how you learned about Cady’s special abilities and what you think of her new powers.
* chuckles * I found out about her gifts when Bryan and I were both busted up and bleeding, and she healed us. If it hadn’t happened to me personally, I wouldn’t have believed it. Nah, that’s not true. Cady doesn’t lie. I’d probably believe anything she told me.
I’m not sure what I think about her gifts. On one hand, I see Cady could do a lot of good in the world, if she learns how to use them better. But from what I’ve seen, they do more damage to her than good. You should see her after she heals Bryan. She gets all weak and pale and clumsy. She gets horrible headaches and numbness. I don’t get why Bryan doesn’t notice. Or maybe he does, but doesn’t want to admit it. I just hope her doctor in Chicago can help her control her abilities.
If you could write your own happy ending. . .what would it look like?
I’d be a bazillionaire, and Cady and I would sail off into the sunset on my yacht. * smiles * Kidding. I don’t know. I guess the most important thing right now is that Cady’s happy and healthy. I hope she’d be happy with me, but I don’t think that’s going to work out. I think the most I can hope for is to stay friends. I can’t imagine not knowing her.
There you have it: this is why I adore Cane. I’m counting the days until we are able to read the next chapter in Cady’s story. . .which I have it on good authority also features this wonderful young man.
January 20, 2014
Monday Musings: Why Joss Whedon Rocks
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Am I desperate for a topic? Maybe. But the fact remains, this is about the coolest thing I could blog.
All of my books mention or refer to Joss Whedon or one of his shows or movies in some form. This is because Joss is the master of all things wonderful when it come to television and movies. Oh, and short internet shows. (See: Dr. Horrible’s Sing A Long)
I’ve chronicled how I stumbled upon this paragon of paranormal elsewhere. But let’s talk about a little about some of Joss’s work.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Yes, I’m a little crazed about this show, still, ten years after it went off the air. But hey, this was life and culture changing stuff. The writing and the characters were irresistible. My sister and I rarely have a conversation, aloud or text, wherein we don’t make reference to Buffy or use a line. Among my favorites:
“The earth is doomed.”
“If the apocalypse comes, beep me!”
“I wear the cheese, the cheese does not wear me.”
“I’m a comfortador also.”
“Men with your. . .sales.”
“Your loss is my chocolatey gain.”
Angel: Also awesome, as a Buffy spin-off and the way it dovetailed with Buffy and gave us more insight into Buffyesque characters like Cordelia and Wesley. Oh, and Harmony. Plus, it gave Spike a place to go after Buffy ended. Oh, and there was Lorne, the Host, who rocked that green face. But all in all, it was darker, and the ending was not my favorite.
Firefly: We didn’t know what to expect. Cowboys in space? Really? It was a testament to Joss and our trust that we tried it out. And we were blown away. Wow. Again with the characters and the amazing dialogue!
Dr. Horrible’s Sing A Long Blog: Hey, guys! Let’s take Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day (two of the three Buffy alum) and give them this quirky little story and some really kicking music. And then let’s just put it up on the internet, not on TV or the movie. Freaking amazing.
Much Ado About Nothing: Because he IS so freaking cool, Joss and friends frequently sit around and read Shakespeare aloud together. Do I want an invite to his next impromptu Bard Buffet? Oh, yes, I do. But I digress. Joss needed something to take his mind off the complications and stress of making AVENGERS (another favorite) and his wife suggested, “Hey, let’s take 12 days and film a Shakespeare play here at our gorgeous home, with our friends who are actors. It’ll be a hoot.” So maybe I’m paraphrasing but you get it. And that’s what they did, and the fact that the Divine Mr. W did a blockbuster like AVENGERS and a sweet little side piece like MUCH ADO at the same time is exactly why I find him so wonderful. And Much Ado will make you fall in love with Shakespeare all over again. Or for the first time. Whatever.
Is there more Joss goodness? Of course there is. But this is as much as I can fit in tonight, because I have to go back to my own little novel. . .and hope that something Joss-like falls into it.
January 19, 2014
BOND OF LOVE Author Interview
As a picturesque mother and wife, forty-one year old Avery Richards seems to have it all. Married to a successful veterinarian named Noah and mother to a spunky daughter named Kara, her life is far from awful but she is stuck. With the recent move of their daughter, who has just flown the coop for college, this story examines the deep and often-tumultuous bond between mother and child and the lengths we are willing to go to, as mothers, to sacrifice our own happiness for the ones we love.
As we watch Avery walk through her ‘new’ way of daily life, without her ambitious and stubborn child around to mother any longer, we are given a very unique opportunity to tip toe in the front row of their lives, from three very separate views. We will see life as it plays out through her mature and motherly eyes, through Kara’s young and sheltered heart, and then through ‘someone else’s eyes’ that has a vested interest in them both.
As Avery’s well-hidden web of lies come crashing down in an unexpected way, her secrets that she’s safeguarded for years will threaten to rip her peaceful world apart, as well as the world of the ones she loves most. As readers, we will watch how ONE single choice can alter everything. Each character will then be forced to examine what the true meaning of love and forgiveness means to them.
Every gamut of emotion will be explored: humor, sadness, love, joy, betrayal, hate, and forgiveness. Bond of Love will leave you pondering the age-old question: How well do YOU actually know the ones you love most?
Buy on Paperback | Kindle | B&N | Kobo | Apple | Sony
Our Interview
-Tell us a little about Bond of Love.
As a picturesque mother and wife, forty-one year old Avery Richards seems to have it all. Married to a successful veterinarian named Noah and mother to a spunky daughter named Kara, her life is far from awful but she is stuck. With the recent move of their daughter, who has just flown the coop for college, this story examines the deep and often-tumultuous bond between mother and child and the lengths we are willing to go to, as mothers, to sacrifice our own happiness for the ones we love.
As we watch Avery walk through her ‘new’ way of daily life, without her ambitious and stubborn child around to mother any longer, we are given a very unique opportunity to tip toe in the front row of their lives, from three very separate views. We will see life as it plays out through her mature and motherly eyes, through Kara’s young and sheltered heart, and then through ‘someone else’s eyes’ that has a vested interest in them both.
As Avery’s well-hidden web of lies come crashing down in an unexpected way, her secrets that she’s safeguarded for years will threaten to rip her peaceful world apart, as well as the world of the ones she loves most. As readers, we will watch how ONE single choice can alter everything. Each character will then be forced to examine what the true meaning of love and forgiveness means to them.
Every gamut of emotion will be explored: humor, sadness, love, joy, betrayal, hate, and forgiveness. Bond of Love will leave you pondering the age-old question: How well do YOU actually know the ones you love most?
-One theme in the book is mother-love. What inspired you to include that?
I think that the bond between a mother and a child is often a very touchy and sensitive one, but one of the most precious that there is. The bond can be beautiful and aggravating at the same time. My relationship with my dad was always easy, he was fun, but my mom was always the one telling me, “NO.” When I turned into a teenager, my mom became my number one challenge. We hit heads. She tried to tell me what was right, what I could and couldn’t do (like a good mother should) and although I DID listen most of the time (secretly), I also tried to push against her a lot. It is one of my biggest regrets and therefore I tell both my mother and father daily how much I love them. I don’t think that I really fully appreciated and understood my mom until I became a wife, and even more so, when I became a mother. I know that at times my girls look at me with the very same disdainful look that I used to look at my mom with, all because I am just trying my best to look out for their best interest. I want to protect them. For example, at this very moment, one of our youngest daughters is mad at me because I won’t let her go somewhere. Therefore, in her mind, she thinks I’m mean and no fun! I’m the fun-squasher apparently. I’ve become my mother.
The relationship between a mother and a child can be challenging at times, but under it all, there is always the element of love. As parents we make choices because we think they are the best ones for our children, but sometimes, even parents can make mistakes. I wanted to show in my book, that although Avery is an excellent mother to Kara, she has made sacrifices and choices too. She hasn’t always just been “a mom” and led the perfect life, like Kara thinks. Our mothers and fathers may try to guide us along the right path, but ultimately…it is up to us to decide right from wrong. I believe that Avery and Kara’s relationship evolves in my book, just like most of ours do. I think that the bond between a mother and a child is one of the strongest there is, if it is nurtured and tended too properly.
-Your previous book was for children. How difficult was it to make the leap to adult fiction?
Actually, my memoir is written for “more mature eyes” not for young children, so it wasn’t hard. I wrote my memoir, Little Girl Lost, for my girls, but I will NOT let them read it until it is age appropriate. Therefore, it’s not really a children’s book. I did NOT write it to be sold. In fact, I had to repeatedly keep explaining this to my publisher who wanted to promote it and release it to the public for over a year! I found it on Amazon at one point and almost flipped my lid! I demanded that they take it off.
I wrote Little Girl Lost to teach my girls “who I am” and “what I have been through” in my life. I also wrote it to heal old wounds and I accomplished that through it. Writing my memoir was extremely exhausting and mentally draining because I was digging deep into my heart and soul, the bread and butter of my life, but writing Bond of Love, my fictional novel was actually fun and exciting. I can’t wait to write another one!
-Did you base any of Bond of Love on your own relationship with your daughters?
Yes and no. My daughters haven’t necessarily gone through the same things that Kara has, but I have to a certain degree. As a daughter of two amazing parents, I can relate to Kara from her perspective easily. My parents were always present, active, loving forces in my life. They provided me with a loving home, good morals, values, and we were always taught to keep God at our core; to guard our bodies and keep them pure. Therefore, some is based on my relationship with MY own mother from when I was a teenager.
On the flip side though, as the mother of four spunky girls, most definitely they influenced my writing because I am surrounded by girl-drama every day of my life. My stepdaughter is grown now and out on her own, but she and I have had some of the same struggles that Kara and Avery faced. We’ve hit heads and not always agreed (she has been in my life since she was 1 ½ years old). I tried my hardest to protect her and guide her in the way my husband and I felt was best, but she fought against us, and most of the blame was set on me. Now that she is older though, it’s changing. Our relationship is stronger and our bond mending. I think she is finally starting to understand that everything I’ve always done has been out of love. Like Kara though, she was not able to fully comprehend this love until something VERY drastic happened in her life. This has been the same for my stepdaughter and me as well.
Our other three girls are still too young to experience some of the same things that Kara did, our oldest of the three is almost sixteen, but I’ve definitely struggled with letting go. I know it’s necessary to their growth, so I do my best not to hover too much, but it’s a challenge. No mother wants her child to hurt; we want to protect them at all costs. This is why the relationship between Kara and Avery is very understandable to me, from both views.
I remember what it was like to be an independent teenager, and I also know full well what it’s like to be a mother of a teenager. Let me just say, both are completely different. Neither is completely fun at all times either. Teens always think that they know best, but mothers actually DO know best! Most mothers anyways.
-As an author, are you a planner or a pantser? Do you plan your books out carefully, or just write as it comes?
I am a little of both. With my memoir, I was a pantser. I wrote as the words came, fast and furious, trying to type as quickly as the thoughts were flying out of my brain. However, with Bond of Love, I mapped every inch of it out on small, color-coded index cards and began that way with a giant cork board and push pens. Each character had their own color of index card and I would move them around accordingly, until I felt my story flowed the way I wanted it too. With this said though, after all the research and methodical planning, as the story took on life through my actual writing, I found myself veering from my original plan. I did not end my story the way I thought I was going to, nor did I keep certain scenes in the book, or stay true to how I had originally intended some of my character’s personalities to be. As I was writing though, I knew I had to change these things, even if it did mess up my pretty, color-coded corkboard.
-I firmly believe that the best writers are avid readers. What book did you read in 2013 that most impacted you?
This is a very tough one to answer because I read so many books, all the time; therefore I have a hard time remembering what I’ve read at a particular time. I will say that in my book club, I’ve read a wide variety of novels. A lot of great ones. My favorite last year though was The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. It was an excellent book! It was one that sticks with you long after you have set it down. I have given it as gifts and think Kathleen Grissom is an excellent storyteller.
-Is there a book coming out in 2014 that you are excited to read?
I would really like to read the sequel to Firefly Lane, my favorite book, by Kristin Hannah, which is called Fly Away, but it came out in April of 2013. I just found out about it though, so that’s what I will be reading to ring in the new year by the fire.
Meet the Author:
This is Amy’s second published work, the first being a memoir written exclusively for her children. As a former second grade teacher, and long time professional photographer, she has been writing and filling journals since she was young enough to hold a pencil and form words. Although writing brings her to a place of solace and joy, her most ambitious and fulfilling job in life thus far has been being a mother. Married for nearly two decades now, she and her husband share four daughters, who fill their lives with amusement, love, and drama daily. It is her lifelong goal to preserve her family’s history through the written word, pictures, and the human touch of love.
Follow Amy on Facebook | Literary Addicts | Goodreads
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January 13, 2014
Monday Musings: A New Year, Yada, Yada, Yada
I’ve never been much for new year’s resolutions. The closest I get is trying to re-organize after Christmas: I am a stickler about not using any of my shiny new gifts until they are set up and it is AFTER January 1st. I was the kid who left her gifts under the tree until the last minute: I liked to be reminded of the joy of Christmas morning, I guess.
But one of the changes I want to make in my life in 2014 is to be a better blogger, a better site-owner. I can justify using my website to keep everyone up-to-date on my books and my events, but there is a small part of me, growing louder, that wants to write more than just my stories.
This is a big change from the small part of me a few years ago that said, “Stop just blogging to your family and write those stories!!”
So to that end, I hope to be sharing some more Monday musings with y’all this year. I’m not going to say it’ll happen every Monday, but I’ll try.
And for those of you looking at the timestamp on this post, yes, Miss Stickler, it’s technically Tuesday. So sue me. I’ll do better next week.
Maybe.
ARCADIA’S GIFT and ARCADIA’S CURSE
By Jesi Lea RyanMost people who experience death don’t live to tell about it.
When sixteen year old Arcadia “Cady” Day wakes in a hospital after experiencing what can only be called a psychic episode, she finds her family in tatters. With her twin sister gone, her dad moved out, her mom’s spiraling depression and her sister’s boyfriend, Cane, barely able to look at her, the only bright spot in her life is Bryan Sullivan, the new guy in school. When Bryan’s around, Cady can almost pretend she’s a regular girl, living a regular life; when he’s not, she’s wracked with wild, inexplicable mood swings. As her home life crumbles and her emotional control slips away, Cady begins to suspect that her first psychic episode was just the beginning…
Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own. (Literally.)
In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy. Her grades have tanked. Her best friend is afraid of her. And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around. But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price.
Find The Arcadia Novels here:
Amazon (Arcadia’s Gift)/Amazon (Arcadia’s Curse)
AUDIBLE Audio Book of Arcadia’s Gift
Author Bio:
Jesi Lea Ryan grew up in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, IA. She holds bachelor degrees in creative writing and literature and a masters degree in business. She considers herself a well-rounded nerd who can spend hours on the internet researching things like British history, anthropology of ancient people, geography of random parts of the world, bad tattoos and the paranormal. She currently lives in Madison, WI with her husband and two exceptionally naughty kitties.
Stalk Jesi Lea here:
Follow the Book Tour
December 18, 2013
THE INN ON THE EDGE: An Interview with author Gail Bridges
By Gail BridgesAngela and her brand-new husband Josh have just arrived at their honeymoon destination, a romantic bed-and-breakfast hotel on the breath-taking Washington coast – the Inn on the Edge.
But everything isn’t as it seems. The lessons that come free with the room aren’t for painting the lovely coastal scenery – the lessons are for better sex. Angie and Josh, shocked and titillated, immerse themselves in every sensual offering.It doesn’t take long for things to go horribly wrong. The discover that the old man running the place is a sex demon, who has been stealing their sensual energy. Worse, he’s dangerously in love with Angie and he has plans for her – plans involving an heirloom wedding ring.
Coming soon http://www.ellorascave.com/inn-on-the-edge.html
About the author
I have three grown children. I live in Seattle, Washington with my husband and our five cats.
In the past I have worked in a variety of different artistic media. I have a BFA in painting from the University of Washington, and for over fifteen years I made award-winning Fine Art Jewelry (silver and handmade ceramics) and sold my work at local and regional Fine Art and Craft shows. My business, Vivid Arts, flourished – but always, I felt driven to write. Two years ago, no longer able to deny the writing muse, I took an open-ended sabbatical from my art shows. Since then, I’ve written two novels and a number of published and unpublished short stories.
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/gailbridgeswriter
Twitter: @GailWBridges
Blog: http://gailbridges.blogspot.com/
Website: http://gailbridges.com/
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7147145.Gail_Bridges
Literary Addicts http://literaryaddicts.ning.com/profile/GailBridges
Prize for the contest.
Angie’s Travel Painting Kit
Acrylic paints, brushes, palette, canvas board and instructions;
Mr. Abiba’s Wooden “Tool” Box, for decorating;
Josh’s Magic Book, for decorating;
Tazo Passion Tea;
Dark Chocolate bar with almond bits.
Follow the Book Tour
I’m so excited that Gail stopped by to chat! Enjoy this fascinating interview. . .
Tell us about your latest book.
It’s called “Inn on the Edge”, and I’m so excited about this novel that I can barely contain myself. “Inn on the Edge” is erotic horror – a challenging combination to say the least. In the book, my newlywed characters have just checked in to a lovely bed-and-breakfast Inn on the Washington Coast, only to find they’ve been taken captive by a sex demon.
Where did the idea for the book come from?
It was a challenge I gave myself. Not long after my first erotic novel was published, I had a conversation with Carrie Jackson, a lovely editor from Ellora’s Cave. She took the time to share with me what the publisher most wanted to see – at the top of their wish list: erotic horror.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Carrie had told me. Erotic Horror? What a difficult, wonderful combination! How to combine two such opposite-seeming things in the same story? How could I create a scenario where the main characters are scared shitless, fearing for their lives … and yet have plenty of time for hot, wild sex? Could I write such a story and make it realistic? I had to try.
Who and what inspire you to write?
It doesn’t take much to inspire me. All I have to do to find inspiration is to be aware of the world around me, to keep my mind and heart open to the glorious nuances of every-day life. I am an artistic, creative person, and I’ve always loved making things up – characters, stories, worlds, the whole works. I get so excited, creating things where nothing existed before.
Each author has his or her own inspiring journey. How did you begin writing?
If I go all the way back…it makes me smile…I remember a spring day when I was in first grade. I’d just discovered chapter books, and I was determined to write one. I cajoled my mother into dragging her old Royal manual typewriter onto the dining room table. I worked all afternoon to produce my first blockbuster, a memoir: “Betsy is My Friend”.
(“Betsy is My Friend” was recently returned to me when my mother went through her old paperwork. An excerpt: “Betsy is my friend. She is verry verry verry nice. I like her verry verry verry much. We play.”)
What has been the most pleasant surprise about writing? How about an unexpected down side?
A pleasant surprise about writing … it has to be how much I love writing erotica. I never thought I’d write sexy books! I have a rather humorous story about how I came to be published in erotica. I’d never written anything sexy in my life – in fact, even though I’d written numerous novels and short stories, I found myself shooing amorous couples behind closed doors and making them do their thing in private. I would sweat over a simple kiss or caress. I knew I had to address my blind spot as a writer, so I challenged myself to write a sexy story: I would go all out, to be as explicit and hot and outrageous as possible, no holds barred.
Guess what? I loved it. No – I adored it. Who knew that writing sizzling, burning, passionate sex would be so easy, so fun! The words flew from my hands so quickly I could barely keep up. To my amazement the first erotic story I ever wrote, “Paint Job” was shockingly good, so I submitted it to the best publisher of erotica and erotic romance around, Ellora’s Cave. And they accepted it.
Do you have any writing rituals?
Tea. I love to sip Irish Breakfast tea when writing. It doesn’t feel right to be at my laptop if I don’t have my tea at my side. It has to be hot, though. I have this nifty little electric coaster that maintains it almost at my perfect temperature…almost.
Do you write your books in order?
If you mean the chapters and scenes within each book, then yes, I write my books in order. I start at the beginning and write on through to the end, at which point I go back and do extensive revisions.
What is on your writing playlist for this book?
I’m not in the habit of listening to music while I write…but I dearly love classical guitar. A playlist for Inn on the Edge would definitely include classical guitar. Besides, one of the main characters in the book plays guitar.
Any favorite writing snacks?
Unsalted dry roasted almonds from the health food store! They’re so delicious. Just writing about them makes me want to go across the kitchen and grab a handful from the nut container.
What advice would you give writers who aspire to be published?
I’d say the first step in eventual publication is to have a great product, and that takes a lot of work. Educate yourself. Work on improving your writing. Enlist other writers to read your work and give honest feedback. Study how other writers put together a novel. Never stop learning.
Are you working on anything new right now?
I have several ideas demanding attention. I’ve outlined an intriguing three-part story about sexual healers…we’ll see!
Who is your favorite character in your current book?
That’s hard. I’d have to say that while my favorite character is the heroine, Angie, I had the most fun writing about the demon. Oh, but he was awful! He had my characters spinning in circles because he could be so kind and caring one moment, and shockingly cruel the next.
What is your favorite book of all time?
You’re going to make me choose one? There are so many – I’ve read a book or two each week for as long as I can remember. I’m going to narrow it down to erotica, and say that Richard Adam’s novel “Maia” (even if it’s not strictly erotica) has stuck with me for probably twenty years and has been an inspiration.
Tell us in one sentence why we should read your book.
That’s easy! My book is verry verry verry sexy and scary – you’ll like it verry verry verry much!
