Rachelle Ayala's Blog, page 78

#AuthorInterview Judy Ann Davis, Author of Red Fox Woman

            Hi Judy, welcome to Rachelle's Window. It's nice to chat with you today. Your first novel is out to rave reviews. What makes Red Fox Woman, your first novel, special to you as a story?
Red Fox Woman is simply a feel-good western, mystery, and romance that was tumbling around in my head for years. It’s the tale of Pennsylvania redware potter, Julia Gast, who escapes to the Colorado Territory only to find the ranch she purchased from her deceased uncle is also owned by the adopted sister of a family of four brothers. Julia makes ring flasks that were used to carry water in the mid-1800s. The characters in the novel are vivid, colorful and humorous. I love humor, and the bantering of the brothers helps propel the story forward. It was selected as a finalist in the USA Book News Best Book and USA Book News International Book Awards.
            Congratulations! Sounds like built-in conflict and a chance for love (what with four brothers to choose from). You are not new to writing. How did you get hooked on a writing career?
I fell in love with the ability to express myself in written form from as early as second grade with a teacher who had the class collectively journal on the blackboard every morning. I had a mother who encouraged me to read. Once I saw how words string themselves into thoughts, I was hooked. I studied journalism in college, wrote all types of nonfiction, but was enamored with fiction because the writer is allowed to dream up his own characters, settings, dialogue and plot. 
            Isn't fiction magical? I understand you started writing short stories first and have won several awards. What makes short story writing a special genre for you?
I love the short story genre the best. I personally enjoy taking a glimpse into someone else’s life or traveling to a place I’ve never been. A short story has a definite beginning, middle and end which can be revealed in a short amount of time. It lets a reader simply escape the present moment and be entertained.
            And in our busy lives today, oftentimes we want it short and sweet. What compels you to write? 
I think most writers will agree that writing, in some small way, allows us to make order of a chaotic world. We are very observant of our surroundings and other people. Writers are curious individuals and we are most happy when we are creating. We are dreamers. We love to use our imagination. We don’t like our minds to be idle or bored.

            So true, and sometimes we want to right wrongs, solve a mystery, and create happy endings. What are you working on now?
I just finished a contemporary romance, Key to Love. I’m currently working on a sequel to Red Fox Woman, and doing publicity for Red Fox Woman and Three Merry Mysteries. Ideas for short stories are always running wildly through my overstuffed, sometimes chaotic mind.

            Sounds like you're really busy! What advice would you give to a beginning writer? 
Forget about perfection when you do your first draft. Strive to get the main gist of the story down first. Forge through the sticky, troublesome spots, or even troublesome dialogue. If the story is flowing, keep it flowing. You can go back and write elaborate or witty dialogue later, but you should never stop a story that’s running away in your head. Lastly, rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite, as many times as you need to get the story, dialogue and sentence structure right.  And despite the hard work, challenges, and confusion that goes along with writing, don’t forget to have fun.

            Great advice! I'm so glad you stopped by. Readers can find out more about Judy at her  Amazon Author Page

Red Fox Woman is also available from Amazon.

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Broken Build tops 16000 Kindle Select Free Downloads

Make no mistake. Giving away books is hard work. It requires planning, teamwork, persistence and a lot of luck. Here are some easy steps to maximize your chance of success.

1. Four Weeks Before
Enroll book in Amazon Kindle Select program. Select the dates your book will be free. I personally do not mind the day of the week, but rumor has it that Wednesday through Friday is the best. I guess, it's hump day, people get bored at work, and scour the 'net for free books? Since my goal was to rise up in the Free rankings as high as I could, it did not make a difference which day I selected. The rankings are relative to all the other books that were free. So, if Wednesday is a popular day, it would likely also have more competition.

Try to get at least five reviews before going free. Ten is even better. Some promotional sites will not feature you if you have no reviews. Also, readers like to see a few reviews before downloading.

Contact paid promotional sites for book exposure for the days after you come off free. Why? Because after you come off free, your paid ranking will have tanked, and if you do not get promoted, your paid sales may not recover. More on this later.

2. Three Weeks Before
Sign up bloggers or friends for guest posts and interviews during your free days. Have them mention at the end of the post or interview that you are free. Do not announce your free days too early because you will kill sales.

3. Two-Three Weeks Before
Go to my Promo Page and enter your book. Most of the sites have no guarantee that they will select your book, so enter it everywhere. Site owners have become more selective in the books they will feature. Make sure your cover art and book description are as attractive as possible. Some sites ask you to pay to guarantee placement. Everyone's opinions differ, but in this competitive day when tens of thousands of books are free, this may make sense if you're not sure you'll get picked up by any of the free listing sites.

Visit the World Literary Cafe and find out how their Tweet Teams work. You don't need to join now, but familiarize yourself with the rules and mechanics.

4. One Week Before
Contact Facebook page owners about listing your book free. See my Promo Page, Indie Author Resources Facebook List and G.E. Johnson's book Get Connected: 101 Places to Promote Your Books Online. Some of the owners will gladly add a post for you whereas others will tell you to post yourself on their page. Facebook has recently reduced the visibility of posts from Fan Pages so the owners are glad if you can post and ask your friends to like your post. Unfortunately, the value of Facebook posts is diminished because Facebook wants page owners to pay to promote a post, so your post is less likely to be seen and hence less likely to go viral. Facebook has also started removing posts its algorithms deem as spam. I had a page owner tell me to "like" my own post immediately before Facebook removes it. Decide how much time you want to spend here and beware that you space out your posts. Facebook can put you in "jail" and suspend your ability to post if it observes too much activity from you.

5. Free Days
Go to the WorldLiterary Cafe and find the Free Book Forum. Post your book in the dated forum. Go back to the Promo Page and look for the few sites that require you to post only on the actual day you are free.

Join the World Literary Cafe Tweet Team and sent tweets announcing your free book.

Go to the Facebook Page list and post your free book link on pages and groups that are friendly to those types of posts. Always observe and see if others are doing the same thing. You don't want to alienate groups that do not allow book links and freebie announcements.

Publicize your blogger friends' guest posts and interviews on all social networking sites.

6. Immediately After Free Day
Do not skip this step. Many authors have found that even though they've given away thousands of books, they did not sell many books afterward. The purpose of the free days is to increase the exposure of your book in terms of name and cover recognition. Everything you did in Steps 1-5 was geared toward pushing your book up the Free chart. Since Amazon displays the Free chart for each category right next to the Paid chart, you get extremely valuable real estate if you do climb the chart.

However during the time you were free, you weren't selling ANY books. Obvious, right? Therefore immediately after free, your paid ranking will start at the bottom and you must climb back to where you were before. If you do nothing after coming off free, you will not get the benefit of the increased exposure and attention translating into paid sales.

The two promotions I used after coming off free were World Literary Cafe Book Buzz or what they call Social Media Book Buzz and World Literary Cafe Today's Hot Titles. Both of these promotions gave me front page status on the World Literary Cafe, as well as tweets from all of the people using the Tweet Team for those days. For advice on how to locate effective promotion sites, please see my post Promotion, Schuhmotion, Where Should I Place my Ads?

My Results:
Oct 8 - 6252 US downloads Highest Rank: 125
Oct 9 - 5841 US downloads Highest Rank: 12
Oct 10 - 2808 US downloads Highest Rank: 13
Total Downloads (including UK, etc.): 16571
Oct 11 (Paid) - WLC Book Buzz, starting paid rank: 154,105 end of day paid rank: 2,033
Oct 12 (Paid) - WLC Today's Hot Title, starting paid rank: 2,033 end of day paid rank: 1,361
Oct 16 (Paid) - Highest rank: 605 overall, 5 Technothrillers, 25 Romantic Suspense
7 day post free sales - 595, 49 borrows (avg: 85/day sales, 7/day borrows)

Melissa Foster organized a team of bloggers to interview me. She also featured my book as well as two other teammates on the World Literary Cafe home page and pushed the posts through all her social networks: Twitter and Facebook. My gratitude goes to Melissa and her team of volunteers and awesome support team. [See Melissa Foster of the Wonderful World Literary Cafe]

Bloggers (Organized by Melissa Foster):
Andrea Buginsky - Andi's Realm Interview with Rachelle Ayala
Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay - b00kr3vi3ws.com interview with Rachelle Ayala
Rayne Cullen - Interview with Author Rachelle Ayala

Bloggers:
Melinda Dozier - Character Interview with Dave Jewell
Chantel Rhondeau - Character Interview with Jennifer Cruz Jones
Christina McKnight - Broken Build Schedule
My Blog - Three Women, Three Spellbinding Stories
Bonnie Trachtenberg - How To Avoid the Second Book Slump

The following Promotional Sites Featured Broken Build:
Free Kindle Fiction
Freebooksy
Cents-ible eREADS
Book Goodies
Freebies For Friends
Savings-O-Rama
eReaderIQ
EReaderNewsToday
Snick's List
ebooksgood
KindleBoards
Addicted to Ebooks
Free Ebooks Galore - the page owner features a different genre each day. Romance happened to be on Wednesday and the owner added me even though I contacted her on Tuesday.
Frugal Tips & Freebies
Dealspl.us
These Facebook Page owners kindly reposted my post onto their main timeline which gives more visibility to their fans:
Kindle Korner
Kindle Freebies
Kindled Hearts

My book was also pirated on Monday at 7:48 pm
http://forum.mobilism.org/viewtopic.php?t=407439

So, was it Worth it?
This graphic shows the effect. After coming off free, my paid rankings peaked at #605 overall, #5 Technothriller and #25 Romantic Suspense. In the seven days after free, I sold 595 and had 49 borrows. My first book, Michal's Window enjoyed a sympathetic sales jump during the days Broken Build was free. Not only did Michal's Window triple its daily sales at Amazon, it also jumped at Barnes and Noble.

I'm very happy with my results and the increased exposure my book has gained through the Kindle Select Free promotion. Yes, we are awash with free books, and I must admit that I spent quite a few hours scouring other freebies. I must have downloaded over a hundred books during the three days my book was free, including a book on Crochet squares and another one on Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers. While others were watching the forgettable debates, I was a downloading away and lipsyncing to Donna Summer disco days. Don'tcha just love those Free Books?

"Free Books" adapted from Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" (I love ya, Donna!)

Free books
Talking about the E books
E books
Talking about free books, yeah

See them posted on Amazon Select, tweetin'
Picking up on all kinds of strangers
Since the price is right
You can score if your pocket's tight
And you want a good time

You ask yourself who reads 'em
Like nobody knows, they're given away everywhere

Free books
Talking about the E books
E books
Talking about free free books, yeah

Friday night, and the 'Zon is hot
Sun's gone down, and they're out to trot
Spirit's high, and covers look hot
Do you want to download?

Now, don't you ask yourself who reads 'em?
Like everybody else, they want to be a star

Now, you and me - we're both the same
But you call yourself by different names
Now, your mama won't like it when she finds out
That her book is out at night
Street tweetin', street likin'

Hey, mister, you don't need a dime
Mister, do you want to download me? Oh, yeah
I'll login for you; and you click it on me
I'll be your book; will you like it for me

Free books; you're such a flirty, e book
Beep, beep, uh, uh
You free book, you e book
You're such a flirty, e book
Beep, beep, uh, uh

#BookChat Dance With Me by Carol Dabney

Synopsis:

Dance Me Home is based on the true life story of my father, who was born in Texas in a log cabin. He was a United States Navy Man during world War II. He was 17 when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese that Sunday morning in 1941 and one of the youngest to enter the war. We sat around for decades listening to him tell the stories of what happened over there. We took it for granted that he would always be around to tell us a story or two. In his eighties, his Alzheimer's actually took him back to even more vivid memories, and I realized I needed to write it down. The amazing things my dad had to do to survive during that time, and how it drove him to alcoholism later, and the dramatic conversion in Christianity that helped him triumph. One thing is very clear, he never stopped thinking about a beautiful girl he met before the war, he dreamed about her and longed for her, and made plans to survive the war because of her. After the war he went looking for her and found her again at the dance.

She had been born in Cuba. Her mother's marriage to her father had been arranged. The man she married had come from America. He was a Cherokee Indian and had stories of his own about his grandparent's travels on the Trail of Tears. They moved  to America when she was eight, and she attended an all girls Catholic school. Her father died just a year later. She had polio and was told she would never walk again, but her inspiring faith made her whole, and she loved to dance. During the great depression years the Spanish beauty helped feed her five siblings by standing in soup lines.

Dance Me Home is a love story weaved in with some American history. It is the story of how one soldier's dream to dance became more powerful than the dance itself.  Its a journey of one American family from the end of WWI to the present age.

From the Author:

Dance Me Home is about my father's life story. It's a romance during WWII and took me three years to write. I read it to my dad and mom in the nursing home, and they got a kick out of it and so I wrote more, how they met at a USO dance, after she said finally said yes to his proposal, past the romance was every day life but great adventures, babies, alcoholism, faith, their lives before they met, which includes a boat ride from France and a walk with the Cherokee Indians on the trail of tears, and finally the humorous parts of Alzheimer's, and the dance continues...
Its an amazing love story and journey of two peoples lives.

Excerpt:

Chapter 20 "Yes"
"Did she dare believe him? What if he really had thought about her while he was at the war? He fought for his country and came back to this cruelty. She suddenly felt bad for having been so unkind. She had never meant to hurt his feelings straight up. Up until then all their talk had been a game. but now the expression on his face revealed a vulnerability she had not expected. Before she realized it, she was running after him and apologizing and found herself saying, "I didn't mean it. You can drive me home. Look, I want you to drive me home."

She was glad to make him smile again. Then a twinkle came into his eyes, so she added sternly, "But that's all. Don't expect a kiss or anything." He gladly agreed to her terms and drove her home.

With refreshed energy and hope, he jumped out of the car to walk her up the sidewalk. She walked fast ahead of him. He grabbed her hand, pulled her around, and held her close. Before she knew it he kissed her. While she stood speechless, he had the nerve to ask, "So can I pick you up tomorrow night?"

To his surprise, she slapped his face. Then she let him see a hint of a smile before she whipped around, answering as she continued to walk, "I guess, if you were to be here at seven, I'll consider it. Maybe." Then she disappeared into her house, shutting the door. He smiled at the door. He smiled at the sidewalk. He smiled at his car.

 Chapter 23 "Christmas Wedding" (Post WWII)

"My father, like most other young men had already poured all his money into a new automobile. It was all he owned. As they drove away to their honeymoon destination, he asked her to count the money in the glove compartment. She counted to what came to  less than a dollar in coins. "Ninety-eight cents." She announced and flippantly tossed the coins back into the glove box. She suddenly had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She turned to him and asked sternly, "Why? Why did you want me to count the money in the glove?" She had an uncomfortable guess as to the answer.

He replied with a nervous chuckle, "Well, I just wanted us to remember how much money we started out with."

She was stunned at this revelation. However, seeing her eyes tighten, he quickly pointed out. "Oh but don't worry. I have our rent for the whole month paid and a great job lined up. It pays thirty-five a week, so we'll be fine"

She relaxed her body back into the seat and replied, "Whew, for a moment you had me worried."

Behind the Scenes:
It sure is hard to pick a portion out of a book that has 62 chapters and talks about a person's entire life ... My folks were married 65 years, so this is just two little moments. My father passed away last year and my mom last week. It is a tribute to them. I read most of the book to them and they loved hearing their life in storybook form. Dad slapped his hand upon his knee one day at the nursing home and declared, "I had no idea I was so interesting." It's a fun book. It is written very plain and simple, easy to read, and liken unto that of the Little House books, I've heard people say. Which I love by the way.

Author Bio:

I was raised on a farm in Arkansas. Studied Italian Opera and became a singer-song writer for Tom Moffatt Productions in Honolulu, Hawaii. Then I was a disc jockey and a music resource teacher for over 20 years. Last but not least, I raised five great children and wrote a children's book about my grandson Noah and my daughter Lieutenant Melissa Dabney entitled Military Mommy.

Dance Me Home is available at Amazon.

The Saddest Scene: 14 Authors Pass the Tissues

Sad scenes that squeeze our hearts and wet our eyes are as unforgettable as the love scenes, maybe more so, as they are turning points in the plot.

How often have you pulled out the tissues? What is one of the saddest scenes you've written?

Michal has to leave Phalti and go back to David:
He wrapped his arms around Anna and me, his huge body wracked with sobs. When Abner pulled Phalti back, I pushed Anna into his arms. “My baby girl, don’t forget me.”

... “Michal ... (now) I believe you (love me).” He pressed his face into Anna’s neck, looked at me, and walked out of my life holding the dearest part of me in his arms. As we rounded the next bend, I lost sight of them. [2nd Samuel 3:14-16]

Michal's Window by Rachelle Ayala


Emily confronts Sergei about his past:
“How do I know you’re telling me the truth? How do I know you weren’t the bad guy?"

Sergei's eyes paled as hurt robbed them of their color. He moved closer to me. “You know me, Em.”

“Do I?” Tears shook my voice. “I’m starting to wonder how much more you’ve decided I shouldn’t know. Maybe my mother was right about you.”

Life on the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux


A Soldier's Heartbreak
Galvanized by fury, he screamed the words that had blocked his throat and his heart. “Because, for Christ sake, because I had no choice. It was kill them or let them kill my men.”

The words burst out fueled by rage and colored by pain. His lips wobbled uncontrollably, and tears globbed his eyes. He shook so hard he dropped onto the sofa and lowered his head into his hands. A sob escaped, forcing him to bite down hard on bloodied lips, but the next sob escaped, and so did the next.

His Devious Angel by Mimi Barbour



Andrea's Letter
To my one and only friend, Maya. By the time you get this letter, if you get it at all, I’ll be gone already. You should know, the days you spent with Anna, and me well, those were the best days ever. I never had a friend like you and never a friend I could sneak into the house...

Oh, and Maya, don’t be sad for me. I know we’ll see each other again. It’ll be in a place where bad people don’t exist, pain doesn’t exist, only happiness and fun. A place where I’ll see her alive, my baby, she was a girl, Maya. I’ll see her and you and yeah, we can play Rock Band forever! And, I challenge you to a pillow fight! And we won’t get in trouble anymore. Yay!
Love forever, Andrea~
Twenty Weeks by Melisa Hamling

Death Scene:Do you remember watching “Old Yeller” and crying about his death?  Remember the death scene in “My Girl?”  I cried all the way home from the movie theater both times.  I’m not sure readers want to read a book because they learn of a heart-wrenching death scene, but in my sci-fi novel “The Havenshire Resistance” the death of a beloved wolf is not really the end.  Check it out.  In location 5809 Chapter 16, Amber lies in the snow bleeding to death.  Tessa can’t save her life but she can “host” her mind.

The Havenshire Resistance by Diane Rapp, author of the Heirs to the Throne YA science fiction trilogy

The saddest scene that I have written was during my newest book, Rise of the Infected. Who would guess that a zombie story would make me cry, but it did! I think its probably because the book is more about what it truly means to be human, and not just about the deadly creatures aching for your flesh;)

Rise of the Infected by Monique Morgan, releasing October 31





In the world of Adelheid, animators are humans with the magical ability to temporarily reanimate dead bodies. The "newer" the dead, the more intelligence and personality they retain for the time they're animated. In "Voracious" -- book three in the Adelheid series, available singly or as part of the three book bundle -- there is a scene where the narrator witnesses an animator, at the mouth of a newly reopened grave, Raising the recently deceased body of a young soldier who had died in the Middle East so that his young wife could say good-bye and "I love you" one more time, and hear him say it back. He apologizes for leaving her so soon. This moment was sad and touching, but also incredibly creepy. I managed to make myself choke up and get a chill at the same time, but it's one of my favorite scenes.

Voracious (Adelheid Book #3) by Mia Darien


But the young dwarf couldn’t move through her fear. She knew she just watched her husband die right in front of her eyes.

 “Halli!  You need to get to them immediately and resurrect them before it’s too late!”  Still no response. Kaidyla took her friend by her shoulders and shook her gently until Halli finally looked at her, and tears streamed down her face.

“Go!  Now!” commanded Kaidyla.

Nature's Unbalance (The Chosen Book 2) by Andrea Buginsky

The sky was a uniform dull gray color, leaden and overcast, a light drizzle falling. My yellow Camaro was a source of memories of Eden, as I got in, wearing the same clothes as yesterday, and drove back to Uncle Jack’s mansion in the mountains.
The light drizzle turned to rain, as we all stood around Uncle Jack’s mahogany coffin while it was lowered into the ground.
My life was officially over. Even if opening day of the new season were the next day, instead of eight months from today, I couldn’t summon up enough energy to play.
Eden was gone. Uncle Jack was gone.
My life was over.

All for Love by Jon Bradbury

Lilly Price is falling for Zach Woodbridge, but she has a horrible secret she's tried to bury from her past life. The time has come, and Lilly can no longer lie to Zach. She tells him about being accused of killing her fiance, but the hard part is telling him why the police think she has motive. Her fiance, Charles, was a sadistic monster who delighted in beating Lilly and mentally abusing her, breaking her spirit and self-esteem. Her biggest fear, as she tearfully relates the story to Zach, is that Charles was right, and that Zach will never love her.

Always & Forever by Chantel Rhondeau


[image error] The most tear-jerking scene I've ever written actually never made it into print.  In the early drafts of my first novel, Summer Solstice, one of the main characters, 14-year-old Nicholas Brandeis, dies.  The "death bed" scene in the hospital had me crying when I was writing it.  The death of this character produced such a profoundly negative reaction from my beta readers that I decided to change the story.

Summer Solstice by G. M. Frazier




My debut novel, Only In Her Dreams, features a scene when my heroine visits her mother, who suffers from dementia, at a nursing home. The scene was traumatic to write and I still cry every time I re-read it. Thankfully, a great writing friend, Lucie Ulrich, helped me hone this emotional section of my story to incorporate the gut-wrenching sadness of the moment, enabling me to convey this to my reader.

Only In Her Dreams by Christina McKnight




“Pull off the road for a sec so I can talk to you without worrying that you’re going to drive off the road.”
 “Why would I do that?”
 “Just do it, babe.”
 She’d lapsed into silence again. “Okay, I’m parked now. What do you want to tell me?”
 He’d braced himself for the killing shot. “I wasn’t alone last night.” Silence. “I didn’t do anything, but I thought about it.” He added to himself, I didn’t do anything last night at least… More silence. “Chér, are you still there? Chér?”

A Wicked Awakening by Calinda B.


Morgan calls her father after she receives an urgent message:“Go ahead, Dad. Please.” She moved about the room, unable to be still, as her heart rate accelerated again.“Shelly, Ian and Tom…they—”“What? What’s wrong with them?” She gripped the phone until her knuckles whitened.“They’re…they’re gone, honey.”Morgan stopped in her tracks. “What do you mean they’re gone? What does that mean? They’re missing? How long? The guys and I’ll be on the first plane—” “No, honey. They’re dead.”
Morgan's Hunter by Cate Beauman
Be sure to check out the books on the 14 Saddest Scene Listmania from Amazon
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#NewRelease Debut Author Cate Beauman Hits it Out of the Park

My friend Cate Beauman just published three books. And what's even better, all three of them made it into the Amazon Top 100 Hot New Releases in Romantic Suspense category.

Morgan's Hunter surged to #28, Falling for Sarah #44 and Hailey's Truth to #72 as of Monday, October 15! Simply Incredible!

You can find out more about Cate and read excerpts at her website.

These three hot and exciting books are available at Amazon for Kindle and Barnes & Noble for Nook.

Amazon Links: Morgan's Hunter, Falling for Sarah, Hailey's Truth
B&N Links: Morgan's Hunter, Falling for Sarah, Hailey's Truth

What an awesome accomplishment! I'm so excited for her and happy that she allowed me to beta read all three books. Love 'em! Won't tell you more except you should download them all right now. What's even more exciting is there are three more books in the works. Bring them on, Cate!

Please leave a comment and congratulate Cate.

#AuthorInterview Kristen Beairsto on Sugar & Spice

Hi Kristen, welcome to Rachelle’s Window. I hear you have a new release. Love the cover by the way. Those legs do stand out.
Yes, thanks, Rachelle. Sugar & Spice follows a woman named Frankie Stevens who runs a lingerie catalog company with her two best friends.  She’s also sworn to remain single after two horrible relationship experiences.  So she’s focusing on work and expanding her company into Europe.  But she needs the help and finds herself working with Royce Westin, who works to try and convince her to take a chance on love again.
Royce Westin? Sounds like a hotel. What was the inspiration for this story?
I had a dream that me and two of my friends started our own lingerie company.  I loved the idea so much I turned it into a story.  And yes, there are aspects of the three owners in Sugar & Spice that are based on me and my friends. ; )
I’m wondering if there’s anything subliminal with a lingerie company. Have you written people you know into any of your other stories?
There’s been a few characters that are modeled after someone I know.  One story I wrote a long time ago, that will never ever ever see the light of day, I wrote about me and my friends and I had one of my friends die in the story.  My friend to this day won’t let me forget that I killed her off in the story.  She’s milked it for all it’s worth. = )
Uh oh... Payback is sweet, right? What inspires you?
People that think, or step, outside the box.  They move outside of their comfort zone and try to reach for something better.  It takes a brave person to step outside their comfort zone.
No kidding, so, is there a genre you haven’t written in that one day you’d like to tackle?
Paranormal romance is really fascinating.  I’ve always been intrigued by magic.  Talk about endless possibilities.
Yes, I know about that. I want to try everything at least once. What’s something you’ve learned about yourself from your writing/publishing experience?
First off, I learned I’m not above putting someone I don’t like in real life into a story and killing them off or hurting them really badly.  Second, I’ve realized that patience and determination is great and all, but if I don’t maintain my motivation, it all goes by the waste side.   And lastly, nothing feels as good as a major success after a lot of hard work.  Ok, so maybe there’s a few things I can think of that feels better, but it’s definitely in the top three. ; )


Bio In between her to-be-read pile and trying to bring the characters in her head alive, Kristen spends as much time as she can with family and friends.  Much to her husband’s dismay, she enjoys collecting purses, shoes, and jewelry.  During those rare times she’s not working at her day job, rushing her daughters somewhere, watching movies with her husband, and trying to meet a deadline, she can usually be found energetically cheering for one of her favorite New York sports teams.
As with just about every other writer on the planet, Kristen grew up an avid reader.  She started with young adult before she technically hit the age range and moved on to sci-fi classics by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury.  At fifteen, her best friend gave her a book she just had to read!  The book was Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts.  Always a sucker for a happy ending, she was a goner and fell in love with the romance genre.  Having started writing novel length stories at the age of eleven, Kristen’s stories all took a romantic turn from that point on.
is available at Amazon.
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Sugar and spice makes everything nice, but mixing business and pleasure can come with a price . . .
Francis Stevens – Frankie to her friends – has declared herself permanently single after a couple of monumentally disastrous relationships.  And she doesn’t mind at all.  Between the international expansion of the lingerie catalog company she runs with her friends, labor strikes, and her regular work load, she has little time for love or a relationship.
But Royce Weston has other ideas.  After his family accuses him of becoming a workaholic, a chance encounter with Frankie at a night club has his mind on things other than business.  As luck would have it, Royce winds up the executive assigned to work with Frankie and her lingerie company when she partners with his family’s investment firm to fund her expansion.
Despite Frankie’s outward appearance of confidence and swagger, insecurities rear up and cause her to over compensate and drive harder for what she wants.  Doubts weigh her down and with Royce watching her every move, she fights to keep her businesswoman’s façade firmly in place.  But while Frankie tries her best to keep her mind on business, she can’t ignore the way Royce’s touch makes her feel or the fact that he makes it clear he’s interested in more than just a business relationship.  When all of her defense mechanisms fail to keep him at arm’s length, Frankie finds herself wondering: is it possible to mix business and pleasure?

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#AuthorInterview Helga Zeiner talks about Polygamy

Helga Zeiner has written a gripping book called Section 132.
Welcome to Rachelle's Window. So, how did you get the idea of writing about a polygamous cult?A few years ago, I read an article in the Vancouver Sun about a polygamous sect tucked away in a remote corner of Canada, close to the American border and not far from where I live.
I didn't really believe this still existed in our western world and dug a bit deeper. My research uncovered some unbelievable facts and I simply had to transform this material into a novel.
I've also heard of such in the news. The worst thing is that they involve underage girls. How much of this novel is based on facts?I have based the novel on a true story but have taken many liberties with the plot, have invented protagonists, changed settings, locations, situations and many other details. After all, I write to entertain. I want to take my readers on a journey of the unknown. If, by doing so, I might raise public awareness, so much the better.
Are you working on your second novel?Actually, it is my novel number seven. I have published five novels in German in the past years. Section 132 is the first novel I wrote in English and my next – a psychological thriller – will be in English too. I'm having a lot of fun with it.
Is writing always fun for you?You bet. I love writing, always did, and am blessed that I am able to devote all my time to it. I have a very supportive husband and the economical stability to be able to afford it. So here I am, tucked away in the Canadian wilderness, surrounded by wild-life, and am one of the happiest people on this planet.
Helga, that is truly wonderful. You get to do what you enjoy most and life in such physical beauty.
   Section 132 Synopsis
Lillian is only 13 when her parents marry her to a middle-aged Bishop of a fundamentalist sect who practices polygamy. She is forced to live with her new husband’s many wives and children on his compound tucked away in the Canadian wilderness.
The hardships of poverty and isolation have crushed the will of just about everybody in his flock. They suffer in silent submissiveness, trying to please their despotic leader. He justifies the humiliating treatment of his dependents by citing ‘Section 132 of the Doctrine & Covenants’ of his fundamentalist religion.
One day, Lillian had enough. But it is dangerous to try and escape the Bishop’s iron rule. He practices blood-atonement, which is quietly sanctioned by the ‘Gatekeepers’, an American secret society within the Fundamentalist Mormon Church.
Lillian must find outside help if she ever wants to leave the Bishop’s compound – but how can she do this if she is locked up without any means of communication?
Her desperate struggle to escape draws the reader into a very dark, very dangerous place.  But not all is hopeless. When land developer Richard Bergman buys the neighboring property, Lillian’s luck seems to be changing.
Author's bio:
Helga Zeiner is a bi-lingual Canadian author of German origin. She has published five novels in her native German language and only recently her very first English one, Section 132.
At the age of 18, after completing her Arts degree in Bavaria, she left Germany and has lived and worked in Australia and Hong Kong. Her time in those countries gave her the inspirations for her novels.
Since 2004 she is living on a country estate in the wilderness of British Columbia, devoting herself to her life-long passion of writing entertaining, suspenseful novels.

Links:Webpage: http:/section132thebook.com
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/IPoQgY
Twitter name: HelgaZeiner
Please visit Helga's Amazon Author Page
You can buy Section 32 at Amazon.com

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It is also available at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/helga-zeiner?keyword=helga+zeiner&store=ebook
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#BookChat The Special by J. E. Pendleton

SynopsisBilly Pendleton hitch-hiked from Fort Worth, Texas to San Diego, California in the spring of 1941. His goal was to find work in an aircraft plant. He quickly discovered two new friends in his widower landlord and the landlord's young son. Soon this trio is making plans to build a racecar to set speed records on California's dry lake beds.During their first race event visit Billy meets a young woman named Sally. His life will never again be the same.

A car is designed on the kitchen table and work is started building the car. Sally joins the team. Work progresses quickly and the car does indeed set records. However, America is drawn into WWII, duty calls and young Billy Pendleton joins the Navy and is a nose-gunner on a B24 Liberator stationed in Dunkeswell, England.

Liberators fly from this base hunting German U-boats over the Bay of Biscay. Several battles ensue over the Bay between the Liberators and the Germans who are both in the water and in the air. The tide is turned and the Allied forces start to make progress in their efforts to defeat the Germans. A terrible price is paid by both sides.

As the war comes to an end, the world must pick up the pieces and rebuild lives and families. The characters in The Special are no different, they must try to rebuild families that have been forever changed.
From the AuthorI began writing the book as a fictionalized history of a car I was in the process of building.  My pen seemed to have a mind of its own and the resulting story is less about the car and more about the people that built it. My father's only sibling was his older brother Billy, and though I never knew him, his memory had a huge impact on my youth. I used the facts of his life I knew and combined them with my imagination to create the life I hope he lived. 

Sadly Billy was lost when the B-24 Liberator in which he was flying was shot down over the Bay of Biscay. All the family ever knew about his disappearance was that he was listed as missing in action (MIA).  My father never accepted the fact his only brother had been killed. My research while writing the book brought more definitive answers.



Reader's ReactionsThe author develops the characters in such a way that they jump from the pages and become a part of the reader’s reality. Pendleton’s prose is simple and easy to read in a storyline that is truly gripping.---This book is a must-read! The author wrote an incredible story that appeals to men and women alike. Every detail is thorough, the characters are well-developed, and it flows in such a way that makes it read very easily.---I found myself getting so attached to the characters and so wrapped up in their stories that I stayed up way too late on several nights just to read *one more* chapter (which always turned into at least 3 or 4).


Behind the ScenesAs I stated earlier, all we ever knew for certain was that Billy's plane disappeared while hunting German U-boats (submarines) over the Bay of Biscay on February 26, 1944. Two radio messages were received; one that they were being attacked by German long-range fighters and the other a "Mayday".

The week I was writing the chapter about Billy's plane disappearing, a fishing trawler off the southern coast of Ireland and pulled up a landing gear strut tangled in its nets. When they returned to port, investigators were called in.  The serial number was checked, and it was learned that the strut had not come from a jet lost a few years before as was originally thought, but from my uncle's airplane. After over sixty years of silence my uncle was heard from the same week I wrote of his demise. You may think it was coincidence, but I think otherwise.

From Rachelle: That is an amazing story. You did well with your uncle's memory. That landing gear was his way of saying "hi" to you. Wonderful background.

Readers can buy The Special by J. E. Pendleton at Amazon.
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#BookReview Roll the Dice by Mimi Barbour

Roll The Dice by Mimi Barbour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aurora Morelli has a mission to bring her partner's rapist to justice. What she didn't expect was that her new partner, Kai, had vengeance on his mind.

They start on the wrong foot, with Kai shooting Aurora in the arm while the villain escapes. More victims surface and Aurora and Kai are always one step behind. But their chemistry is impossible to ignore. Their vulnerabilities mesh, each fulfilling unspoken needs of the other. The stakes escalate through out the book, ending in an explosive showdown.

What I liked about this book was the fantastic voice of the characters, especially Aurora and Kai. She's a no nonsense type of gal but is smart enough not to ignore her intuition. The clues were perfectly placed, and I was able to figure out the eventual victim by noting what the characters missed. And the ending was emotional, even in a creepy sort of way. Ms. Barbour's characters are not one-dimensional, and the poignant story told at the end to the villain was truly tragic.

I really enjoyed this story. The pacing was fast, the dialogue and voice superb, and the chemistry was hot. Can't wait for the sequel.

For more books from Mimi, check out her Amazon Author Page
ROLL THE DICE is available at AMAZON.
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#AuthorInterview Tina Klinesmith tells how to lose weight

Hi Tina, congratulations on your new book, Rebuilding the Temple . You're here today to talk about a healthy lifestyle and weight loss.
Why would a fiction author write a book about weight loss?
When I'm not writing fiction, I am a fitness coach and instructor.  Originally this was written as a take-home curriculum for the classes I taught about fitness and health but I wanted to gear it, specifically, to Christians and paired it with the devotions.  When I lost over 100 lbs, people wanted to know how I did it but everyone is looking for a quick fix.  I wanted to cut through all of the fads and garbage to help people realize there is a way to do it that isn't expensive, outrageous or difficult.
That is incredible. How did you lose 100 lbs?  Did you keep it all off?
I struggled for years with a weight problem and was ready to give up at 240 lbs (on a 5' 6" frame).  I realized that I had to do something so I turned to eating lots of vegetables, fruits and lean proteins.  I swapped out over-processed foods for whole grains and eliminated a lot of the "junk" food.  I didn't do it overnight so it wasn't an overwhelming task when I took it one step at a time.
Like everyone, my life is constantly busy and changing.  Due to some medical issues over the last few years my weight has fluctuated but I continue to use the plan and I am healthy and maintain balance which is what I am trying to teach people.  Sometimes things happen that are out of your control but you do the best you can to be as healthy as you can be.
What is your best diet tip?
Drink more water!  Most people don't drink nearly enough water and that one tip may kick-start weight loss.  I usually drink a gallon or more a day.  If you want to lose weight, you should be drinking half of your body weight in ounces daily + 8 oz for every 30 minutes of exercise.  (Eg. a 200 lb man would drink 100 oz).  It may seem like a lot but your body needs that water to rid toxins, including burned fat, from your body or they just stay and "gum up" the systems.
Also, use common sense!  People know that French fries and burgers are not healthy meal options yet we eat them daily (and give them to our children).   And then top it off with a diet soda...what's the point in ordering diet?  A low-fat cookie is still a cookie.  And, I'm a realist, I know that people want fast food sometimes.  A burger and fries would actually be fine if it was only once every few weeks but not several times a week.  We (humans) have an uncanny ability for convincing ourselves that having a overcooked vegetable with dinner means we "eat healthy."
I just went and poured myself a glass of water. Okay, so what does a "healthy meal" look like?
A good, balanced dinner would be something simple.  About 4-6 oz of lean meats (fish or chicken is best), about 1/2-1 cup of grains (rice, bread, pasta) and 2-3 cups of vegetables (or 1/2 - 1 cup cooked vegetables and 1-2 cups raw, like a side salad).  A quick meal would be sauteed mixed vegetables like pea pods, water chestnuts, broccoli, green beans, carrots and bell peppers  with chicken over brown rice.
What about exercise?  How much do we actually need and what are some ways to fit it into a busy schedule?
Dieting works to lose "weight" but exercise will change your body shape which is really what people want.  You really need both dieting and exercise to visually see your body change shape.  To be healthy, I recommend that everyone gets at least 30-60 minutes a day of exercise if they are doing traditional cardio exercises like running, swimming, biking.  If they are doing HIIT workouts (high intensity interval training), the time commitment can be as little as 10-15 minutes.  It might take longer to shower than actually workout!
I'm a busy mom of three teens, I run two businesses from home and I write full time.  I know how to fit a good workout into a short period of time.  HIIT workouts help me do that.  I also keep my resistance workouts short but with maximum effort to make change quickly with little time spent working out.  The days I have more time, I do the workouts I enjoy (like kickboxing, playing with my dog at the park, playing football with the kids).  Exercise needs to fit into your life, not the other way around.  You need to find something that works quickly but doesn't take long as well as something you enjoy.
I'm interested in that HITT workout since I don't have much time either. Your book includes references to the Bible and God. What does weight loss have to do with God?
1 Peter (5:7) tells us to give all of our worries to God.  Health is a big worry for a lot of people.  As Christians, we have a Father who has given us detailed instructions on how to be healthy if we only turn to Him.  Much of our weight and health troubles come from lives of excess, whether in what we eat, what we drink, our exercise or our spiritual disciplines.  When we allow God to work in one area of our life and we see how faithful He is, we feel secure to open up other areas as well.
Sounds very logical. After all, He made us and He knows what types of food and lifestyle are best for us. What are some fun things that most people may not know about you?
I did the foundational training for a horse that went on to be the top racing filly in California.  I treat my big, goofy, Golden retriever, Chance, like he's my fourth child.  I'm an accomplished "Chair Dancer."  (I can dance in my seat or the car.)  I'm a fairly talented artist if only I could find time to sketch and  we have a "Mommy Mad" side of the kitchen sink where nothing can be placed, just ask my children.
Ha, ha, you must be loads of fun to be around. I've never seen anyone chair dance. Next time I pull up next to you at a red light I'll wave. Tell me about the new book.
Rebuilding the Temple is a book that will put all of the pieces together for the average person.  It is a plan for healthy living that will encompass your physical needs as well as your spiritual needs.  When they are combined in balance, beautiful changes begin to happen.
Rebuilding the Temple is designed to help anyone walk into a grocery store and be able to cut through the marketing hype to find things that are healthy for their family.  It will help anyone, from beginner to advanced exerciser, learn and put good habits into play so that they can maintain a lifetime of health, not just a 30-60 day weight loss plan.  Instead of being a one-size-fits-all diet book, it will teach the reader how to design a plan based on individual needs and desires.  It will also combine those disciplines with becoming spiritually disciplined through daily devotions.
I'm reading it right now, thanks! What can we look forward to from you next?
Right now I'm finishing up the second title in the Journey Series (Journey to Grace).  It's the continuing story of Michele and David from Journey to Almighty and picks up right where we left them - Michele is just about to have the baby.
I'm also working on a couple of secular romance novels, Rodeo Gold and Dark Ryder.  Rodeo Gold is a contemporary romance set around one of my favorite places - the rodeo.  Dark Ryder is a historical romance and one of my favorites to write to date.  I absolutely love the characters in this one from the spoiled Whitney to the very complicated Ryder and everyone in between!
I look forward to your novels. Keep me up to date on when you're about to publish and we can feature you again. Thanks Tina, for joining us today. Where can readers find out more about you?
Tina KlinesmithAuthor of  Journey to Almighty  (Book 1 of the Journey Series) & Rebuilding the Temple: Revolutionary Health Change  - Summer 2012Tina's Amazon Author Pagewww.TinaKlinesmith.com 
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