Tawdra Kandle's Blog, page 72

THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN Book Tour and Giveaway!

The Marriage Bargain

Camille Chandler is a tabloid journalist whose career is right on track–until her boss sees a curious ad in the L.A. Trades.

Wanted: Single actress for an extended gig abroad.

France’s mega-rich playboy Julian de Laurent is up to something and Camille’s boss expects her to find out what. Who knew the eccentric gazillionaire was looking to hire a temporary wife?

When Camille refuses to accept Julian’s proposal–and secretly write a juicy tell-all about the de Laurent family–she’s fired and left financially destitute, forcing her to entertain Julian’s proposal for real. But what’ll happen at the end of the contract period, after Camille has spent six months as the wife of a man she learns is capable of stealing her heart?

Buy on Amazon / Nook / Paperback Coming Soon

 

 

About Sandra – I write in a variety of genres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary, and suspense. While all my tales hold an element of romance, my books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance.

Follow her – Facebook / Twitter / Blog / Goodreads

 

Tour starts September 10th!! Prize – 4 of Sandra Edward Books in Print and a $100 Amazon Giftcard

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DARK SUMMER Promo Blast

Dark Summer (Book I, Witchling Trilogy)

A girl with a broken past and a dark secret. A boy with a twisted future and no second chances. When they meet, it just might cost them their souls.

Sixteen-year-old Summer doesn’t expect the new boarding school to be any different than the rest: a temporary stay where everyone will turn against her after a few weeks. Until she meets the rest of the students at this special school and realizes she’s not the only one with magic in her blood. Accustomed to the concrete jungle of LA, she gets lost one night in the

forests of the Rocky Mountains and meets Decker, the boy who will become the Master of Night and Fire on his eighteenth birthday. Their connection is instant and dangerous, for both will be forced to choose between Light

and Dark, life and death, love – and their souls.

One choice. One soul. One price.

Kindle / Paperback

We’re having a party to celebrate the release of Dark Summer HERE Sept 6 1pm – 4pm EST !Join the Event to chit chat with Lizzy, win prizes, and have a lot of FUN!

The author is working with Promotional Book Tours for a contest for a KINDLE FIRE and autographed copy of the book!! Fill out the form to Enter to win! Open to US for Kindle & Book or International for GC and Ebook

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My Author Journey–Part I

“So how did you start writing?” It’s a standard question on most interviews, and I have a standard answer for it, too.

I usually say that I’ve been writing stories all my life, got sidetracked from fiction during college, early marriage and motherhood, stuck to non-fiction for a while, and then began writing stories again recently.

It’s all true, but it’s also much too neat. The longer answer is not one I can share in a pithy interview answer, but I’m going to share it here, in the hopes that it might inspire other writers who might need it.

My writing journey began, as I believe all writers’ do, as a reader. More accurately, as a listener. My father had long purposed that he would read to his children before bed every night, and he began with me, his first born, when I was barely old enough to sit still.

I can’t tell you what the first books he read to me were, but I can remember some of my favorites from the early years, from the time I was in kindergarten. We read the Katie John books by Mary Calhoun, the All of a Kind Family books by Sydney Taylor. Of course we read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, long before they were on television.  (And if you haven’t read those books because the TV show turned you off, please, please read them. You will hardly recognize them as being even related.)

Throughout the years, my dad moved from early elementary literature through the classics (Edgar Allen Poe, Jane Austen–Daddy didn’t care for her–the Bronte sisters, Oscar Wilde, Sir Walter Scott, Shakespeare, Dickens) to more challenging books like those by Madeleine L’Engle and even Ayn Rand.  My father never hesitated to read me a book because he thought it might be over my head; he recognized that constantly challenging my comprehension and vocabulary made me a better reader and writer.

In addition to my dad, I also had a grandmother who told me stories all the time. I loved the tales from history, from her own childhood and her own adaptations of other classic stories that she shared. Add that to a mother who always had a book of some kind nearby and I was destined to be a reading addict.

The first time I remember inventing stories was after my family moved to New Jersey. We’d lived in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, California, Pennsylvania (again) although both of my parents had family back in South Jersey. We returned there when I was in fourth grade, and I joined a class who had been together since kindergarten. Kids of that age aren’t exactly welcoming to a newcomer, and I spent most of that first year very much alone.

It was then that I discovered the value of inventing stories. I couldn’t read as I walked alone to and from school, but I could make up the next part of my own story. I could invent characters and situations that were comforting and amusing and hopeful. Those stories saved my life that year, and from then on, I was always telling a story, whether or not I actually wrote it down.

But even so, I would never have believed that within a few years, I would actually be a published author.

 

CRIMSON GROVE Giveaway and Blog Hop

Crimson Groves by Ashley Robertson

Abigail Tate was a normal human girl. Until the day Bronx the vampire barges into her life and turns her against her will. Held captive while forced to deal with never ending cravings for blood, Abby prays for a way to escape. Only when an opportunity arises, it’s with the aid of an innocent human named Tyler–except vampires are forbidden to interact with the unbitten. But Abby quickly learns this human has secrets of his own…secrets that can either help her or get her killed. Only Abby discovers that she was the one with the biggest secret of them all.

 

**June 2012 Extras added to the e-book version only (including the first chapter of the sequel Crimson Flames (book #2 of The Crimson Series)

Add to your Good Reads shelf

Purchase Kindle / Paperback

 

Ashley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida and loves reading and writing about everything urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When she isn’t writing you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, drinking fine red wines, and making gourmet coffees with her Nespresso machine.

 

Follow Ashley Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Blog

 

Ashley Robertson is giving away 3 Book Swag packs!

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  Enter to win a swag pack brought to you by Ashley Robertson and Promotional Book Tours. Open to US Residents (International winners will receive ebooks and egiftcard) a Rafflecopter giveaway

SIZZLING SUMMER READS!!!

Welcome to the Sizzling Summer Reads hosted by Literary Addicts. This Event takes place August 20 – Sept 2

Each blog participating will have a book related giveaway worth at least $10.The Literary Addicts is also hosting a grand prize – Open Internationally!Follow the linky below and hop around!

// ]]>

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Are Indie Authors Lazy?

There’s been a lot of buzz in the writing world in the last week or so about an interview author Sue Grafton gave to a Louisville, Kentucky website. In response to a question, she said, “Quit worrying about publication and master your craft. If you have a good story to tell and if you write it well, the Universe will come to your aid. Don’t self-publish. That’s as good as admitting you’re too lazy to do the hard work.”

Want to make a group of normally peace-loving people angry? Tell them they’re lazy.

I am not a traditionally published writer, but I’m sure they work hard. When I say that indie authors are the most intense, driven and focused people, I’m not taking anything away from non-indie writers. But I work with indie authors, many of my friends are indies, and I can tell you that it’s true. Most indie writers work diligently at their craft. . .and most also have at least one other job and families, some with small children.

That, my friends, is hard work. That’s not laziness.

Indie writers do all their own promotion. They keep their social media sites up to date, interact with their fans, work on blog tours, write guest posts, do interviews and run contests. They have to maintain both a virtual and a local presence, so when they’re not working on-line, they’re at local bookstores or author events or other conventions and conferences.

And the indie community is a strong and supportive one, so when writers are not promoting their own books, they’re cheering on their fellow indie authors, posting for them, tweeting and reviewing.

All of that is in addition the aforementioned ‘regular’ job most indie writers maintain, and of course their family and/or personal lives.

Oh, yes. . and then there is the writing. The editing. The revising. Choosing a cover, formatting and publishing, both in electronic and hard copy.

When do we sleep? Well, not often. And not for long.

And yet some authors would refer to us as ‘lazy’.

As I’ve said before here and will say again, I agree that writing is a craft. Are there independently published books that are poorly written, unedited and embarrassing? Most assuredly. Are there traditionally published books that could also fall into that category? Oh, yes.

The idea that the agents and editors are the lofty gatekeepers to the rarefied air of true publishing is antiquated. The notion that only those whom they admit are true writers who have paid their dues and know the reality of hard work is ridiculous and wrong.

I’m sure Ms. Grafton has her reasons for her opinion, to which of course she is entitled. But she might want to talk to a few of us and read a wider variety of our work before she jumps to any conclusions.

Support Your Indie Authors!

If you love indie authors (whose ranks include all of the writers I feature here and of course yours truly), there are lots of easy and quick ways to support us. I’ve shared a list above.

Reviewing your favorite books is huge. Amazon makes its decisions about promotion based on things like reviews, ‘likes’ that a book receives and tagging. So if you can do that, it’s a really wonderful help.

And of course word of mouth is a treasure. I love to hear from new fans that their friends told them about The King Series. If you love a book, pass it on!  Tell friends, tell family, talk about it on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest. . .everywhere!

Go to your local bookstores and libraries, and ask them to carry your favorite indie books.

Stop on author pages and gush a little. Talk about what you liked and what you loved in their books. Writing is frequently a solitary profession, and hearing what made you sigh and swoon gives us a big happy.

Thanks for being an indie fan. . .you ROCK!

MARK OF THE WITCH Giveaway!

MARK OF THE WITCH

Magic flows through Jillian Proctor’s veins as surely as blood, but so far her life outside Boston has been peaceful. William Morgan blows into Jilly’s life like a hurricane, unleashing her magic and sending her out of control. Unknowingly, William brings an enemy who only wants to posses the power of the witch. Jilly must learn to harness her magic before she loses it – and everything in her life is destroyed.

Kindle/Paperback

 

Win 5 Autographed copies of Mark of the Witch and 2 necklaces! Open to US/ Can residents

Enter below for your chance to win!

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Follow the Tour for your Chance to win

Catching Up. . .or What I Did Over the Summer

Remember when you went back to school in September (I grew up in places where school never began before Labor Day) and your teacher would assign you an essay about what you did over summer vacation?

Well, today’s post is that essay.

If you follow my site, you might have noticed that my personal posts have dwindled over the summer.  I apologize.  My summer began with the release of Restless on June 28th and all of the planning and work that went along with that.

And shortly thereafter, I became a full partner in Promotional Book Tours with the incomparable Mandie Stevens.  Mandie has handled the bulk of my own promotions and publicity, and she is smart and savvy.  Working with her has been a huge learning experience!

For instance, I now know how to put together a rafflecopter, a linky tool and the set up for scheduling a tour. I’m always a little slow at first, but eventually I figure it out.

You may have noticed that I’ve been promoting lots of other books on my site, too.  These are all PBT clients, and all are books I can personally recommend to you. I hope that you’ll check out these books and authors (and enter the giveaways for some really cool prizes!).

So I’ve been adjusting this summer to a new schedule, balancing PBT work, housework, child care, family time and my own promotion and writing.

Writing has been especially hard. It’s difficult for me to just pick up and write in dribs and drabs; I need devoted writing time, a few hours or anything open ended, where I can get lost in the world and let the words flow. That kind of time has been in short supply lately.

So what else have I done? Well, we have a new cat in the house (yes, that makes me the crazy cat lady officially), and she’s slowly getting acclimated to the other cats.  We didn’t choose her; a neighbor found her and delivered her to our house. But seriously, folks, she’s so cute you wouldn’t be able to turn her away either! Look at that face.  Her name is Mrs. Lennon, named by my Beatles loving children. I call her Lenni.

What have YOU done this summer?  What books did you read, what movies did you see, what shows on television captured your evenings?  Did you eat any delicious food, travel to exciting places, meet new people?  Share below. . .that’s you assignment.  Minimum 25 words, single spaced.

And. . .go.

Group Tour! Win $100 Gift Card!

Welcome to Promotional Book Tours Group Tour taking place August 3 – 24. We have teamed up with 9 Amazing Authors and several awesome bloggers to bring you a $100 Amazon Giftcard!Brought to you by these 9 books!Don’t miss out on these great reads even if you don’t have a kindle yet. You can download the kindle app for you phone, desktop, or ipad HERE. All of these books are less than a Starbucks Coffee!

Incredible Dreams

Incredible Dreams is the story of a modern-day ghost whisperer who travels through time to save the life of a WWII fighter pilot, and ends up jeopardizing her own existence.Izzy Miller prefers to call herself a spiritual therapist because she thinks it makes her sound more professional than plain old ghost-whisperer. She expects her latest project to be quick and easy because exorcising military personnel is pretty routine.

But there’s nothing easy or routine about Captain Jack Baker—he’s a rather forgetful spirit and somewhat mischievous. And even though he’s intrigued by the US Government’s latest attempt to remove him from the only place he can ever remember being… he has no intentions of going anywhere.

Plans to exorcise Jack are quickly sidelined when Izzy discovers a portal into the past inside her dreams and sets out to change his fate. Trouble is…when she gets back there, she can’t remember anything but her name. She still sees ghosts, but is far less accepting of her gift. And, to make matters worse, a demonic force pretending to be the forgetful heroine’s sister has her own plans—to steal Izzy’s soul Purchase Here

50 Parent Commandments: “The Essential Guide to Hiring a Good Nanny”

50 Parent Commandments is a must have book by childcare expert, Tosi Ufodike. Parents all over the world struggle with how to hire and retain good nannies to look after their children. In this book she offers simple, yet effective advice on Hiring a Good Nanny.

This book answers many questions: Should you offer your nanny a bonus? What should you do if the nanny is a flirt? Should you allow the nanny to spank your child? How much should you pay a nanny? Nanny Cams?should you have one? Tosi Ufodike relied on numerous parent and nanny interviews to write this book.

50 Parent Commandments is the only book that gives parent tested advice that is not based on theory but practical experience. With humor, insight, and proven experience, Tosi Ufodike breaks down the daunting task of hiring a good nanny. Purchase HERE

 

Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction

When Tess Tremaine starts a new life in the colorful town of Goose Pimple Junction, she thinks she’s moved to a quiet little burg.

Curiosity leads her to look into a seventy-five-year-old murder, and suddenly she’s learning the foreign language of southern speak, resisting her attraction to local celebrity Jackson Wright, and dealing with more mayhem than she can handle.

 

 

Purchase Here

 

 

Bitten Shame

Jill Prescott returned from self-imposed seclusion to help save her best friend Devan’s life. Throwing herself into Devan’s problems and bringing an evil organization to its knees might just be the distraction she needs to keep living without the only man she’s ever loved. Her life changed forever when she was hired to spend a week with Doc Massey.

On the day she became a vampire her youthful innocence ended, but Doc’s love rescued her from being consumed by the darkness. The shadow of that former life continues to loom over her, keeping her from realizing her own self-worth. Running from her past only brings her closer to a destiny that is inextricably connected to what she is trying to escape…

Every gift has both a reward and a price, because All of it fits…

Purchase HERE

 

 

As Above~ So Below: A Channeled, Assisted, Unfolding Story

A thought-provoking, journey of fantasy, through the experiences of a new writer that has moved back to the mountains of Upstate New York with his wife. He encounters a spirit who has passed over, and together, they touch upon many issues and beliefs of society and the concerns thereof; those that weigh so heavily upon their minds.

Often controversial, at times extremely passionate, and usually very captivating, this work exudes food for thought that “Magickally” keys forth a possible spirtual awakening for those yearning to grow and learn. The opinions and beliefs presented within, may or may not be similar to those of the reader~ however it will provoke the reader to think about what is said.

The author believes this to be a “channeled” work, as much that is wriiten, he believes to have received form the “powers that be.” Purchase HERE

 

Restless

When she agrees to allow Ms. Lacusta to help develop her powers, Tasmyn has no idea how deep and dark the journey will become. Trapped between fascination and fear, she moves farther away from friends and family, even her boyfriend Michael.

Leading a double life forces Tas into decisions that will threaten her sanity and her future… and the very lives of those she loves.

Purchase HERE

 

 

 

The Unsacred Gift

When Sissy was six, she had her first vision of her sister’s (Misty) disappearance. Her mother (Tina) said she had a bad dream, but not long after that Misty vanished before Sissy’s eyes. No one believed her, so Sissy pretend to act like everyone else, like Misty never disappeared and never existed. For the past fifteen years Misty’s disappearance has haunted Sissy’s dreams. She could hear the ear piercing screams at night of her sister begging for help. Sissy tries to help her, but never succeeds.

Sicily “Sissy” Monroe attends the University of Washington and is in her senior year majoring in Psychology. She has all the makings of a perfect young lady, ageless skin, flawless long black hair, full kissable lips and eyes that are shaped like almonds. She is almost where she wants to be in life. But laying deep in the pupil of her eye’s hold something that she cannot get rid of, which interferes with her plans.

Purchase HERE

Night Game

The exclusive King’s Club resort casino is a glittering playground for gamblers with everything to gain and the hunting ground for a killer with nothing to lose. Until casino owner Jay King hires P.I. Kasey Atwood. Kasey’s attraction to King is immediate.

As their love affair heats up, she becomes a pawn in a dangerously seductive game of passion and revenge

Purchase HERE

 

Phantom

The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. Read more and purchase HERE

These fine authors are bringing you this Book Tour Event via Promotional Book Tours.This contest is open Internationally! Please fill out the form below to enter.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Affiliate links present. Promotional Book Tours is responsible for the prize. Open Internationally 18+