P.C. Zick's Blog, page 27
December 23, 2014
Happy Sixty to Me
Originally posted on Living Lightly:
Today I turn sixty. How did I manage to live this long when it all seems to be a blur that spun me around so quickly I’m dizzy? I don’t feel sixty. I keep telling myself the number doesn’t matter. It only matters if I allow it to matter. I do know this birthday more than any other thus far reminds me that I am no longer middle-aged. I don’t know what I am, but more than half my life is over. Maudlin thought? Perhaps it could be. I’ve decided to use it as a motivator. I spent far too many moments and hours in worry, angst, and distress during the first six decades of my life. Sometimes they overrode the extreme magic also occurring.
No more of that. Now it’s onto the magical part and time to leave the crap behind. So I begin by sharing this post I…
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December 10, 2014
Author Wednesday – M.C.V. Egan
Hello – It’s Wednesday and that means I have an author visiting. Today I welcome M.C.V. Egan (AKA Catalina) to my blog to talk about her books and her new release. Her first book, The Bridge of Deaths, is a fictional account of a real historical event that occurred in 1939 in Denmark. At the brink of World War II, an English plane crashed and sunk in Danish waters. Five deaths were reported: two Standard Oil of New Jersey employees, a German Corporate Lawyer, an English member of Parliament, and a crew member for the airline. Ms. Egan’s grandfather was one of the dead. Defined by Others, her new release, is the first in a series that touches on themes of astrology and the paranormal. 
Hello Catalina. Let’s talk about both of your books. I’m wondering if you have a common theme or thread running through them.
I am fascinated by superstition, astrology, numerology, palmistry, and other subjects that at one point were referred to as occult, paranormal or New Age. So there is alwaysat least a touch of that in anything I write. However, it is not necessarily the main theme or used in In The Bridge of Deaths, which is available in two versions. The historical part of it is what strongly attracts readers, but I also added the element of past lives and a touch of astrology. In Defined by Others, main characters play an underhanded game which involves pretending to be psychic, and questioning whether there is credence to such abilities.
Defined by Others is the first in a series which will be followed by Climbing up the Family Tree; Defined by Pedigree. It has a far smaller influence in that theme, well so far… it is after all a theme that is so broad and fascinates me.
Why have you chosen to write about this particular theme?
The spectrum in this theme is so large and can be incorporated in such diversity. I also find it fascinating; the possibility of fate being imprinted in our features or our stars.
It takes me back to the magic of the children’s books that fed my imagination growing. It is also a great tool to address anything; the very name occult meaning hidden immediately gives a story line a great point of departure. I include ghosts in that as well but never in a horror or fear inducing way.
Do you have a favorite character that you created?
Maggie the fun-loving young pacifist in The Bridge of Deaths is one of my favorites and one I admire tremendously. I am working with such a large variety of characters right now for my defined series that to be honest there are many I love; even the mean ones with all their flaws!
How does setting play a role in your books?
Setting is very important, but I am a writer far more focused on events and story line as opposed to setting. I was just discussing this with another writer who is far more setting-oriented and does a wonderful job at it. I try to use real settings to compensate for the fact that trying too hard to create them would hurt my joy of writing. That being said if a place such as a house can be a sort of character in a story, then I do find describing it with far more ease.
What kinds of techniques do you like to use in your writing?
I love my tape recorder a great tool to brainstorm. I am a list maker, I write lists of all the topics I feel the book needs to cover, not necessarily hard and fast lists. I am flexible and open to change in my work. For my characters I resort to interviewing them, playing with them, making them fill out a job application, anything needed to get depth and make them as real to me as can
Are you planning to continue writing in the same genre?
My plans for the series I am working on is to make the idea of a variety of things that define us, but each book is a stand-alone and not necessarily following a thread. As much as the theme of the occult is used it will probably be present, but I hope that I will play with a wide variety of eras and not stick strictly to contemporary fiction.
That sounds like an intriguing journey for you as a writer as well as for your readers. What’s the best thing said about one of your books by a reviewer?
“An unusual yet much recommended read” by The Midwest Book Review. The reason is that I hope that my stories are unique. I believe that everyone has the capacity to express a unique voice and that as individuals we have different perspectives; as such I hope to be able to convey my own unique and unusual way to convey my stories.
You are so right about that. You stand out in your unique perspective so therefore does your work. We all get the occasional dreaded negative review of our work, so I wonder what advice you can give to other writers about receiving one?
It is not a nice feeling to be criticized and some reviewers can be absolutely scathing. Anyone willing to put themselves out there with any form of writing should develop a nice coat of thick skin! A great tool to learn from and balance the impact of a bad review is the following: Choose a book by a famous, successful author you consider fantastic, look up their bad reviews! A review is simply an opinion, and a bad review is an opinion you disagree with!
That being said, I strongly recommend that writers have the courage to learn and grow from others (reviewers) opinions. I try to use them as tools to become a better writer; to find the elements of constructive criticism in a review.
Very good advice. It’s important to distinguish constructive criticism from simply mean reviews. I agree about looking up famous authors and their reviews. It helped me tremendously after my first bad one. I’m so happy you stopped by today, Catalina. You are an inspiration to all of us Indies out there striving to have our individual voices heard. I hope you’ll come back when the second book in your new series is published.
About the Author: M.C.V. Egan is the pen name chosen by Maria Catalina Vergara Egan the author of The Bridge of Deaths, in two versions, as well as the soon to be released Defined by Others.
Catalina was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1959, the sixth of eight children, in a traditional Catholic family. Communication in such a large family fueled her desire and need to find a voice and write.
She only spent her childhood in Mexico. Her father became an employee of The World Bank in Washington D.C. At the age of 12, she moved with her entire family to the United States.
Catalina was already fluent in Southern English as she had spent one school year in the town of Pineville, Louisiana with her grandparents. There she won the English award; ironically being the only one who had English as a second language in her class. In the D.C. suburbs she attended various private Catholic schools and graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland in 1977. She attended Montgomery Community College, where she changed majors every semester. She also studied in Lyons, France at the Catholic University for two years. In 1981, due to an impulsive young marriage to a Viking (The Swedish kind, not the football player kind), Catalina moved to Sweden where she resided for five years and taught at a language school for Swedish, Danish, and Finnish business people. She returned to the USA in the late 1980s where she has been living ever since. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Swedish.
Maria Catalina Vergara Egan is married and has one son, who together with their five pound Chihuahua make her feel like a full time mother. Although she would not call herself an astrologer she has taken many classes and taught a few beginner classes in astrology. This is one of her many past times when she is not writing or researching.
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December 9, 2014
#New Release – Starting Over by Michele Shriver
Please see my review of Starting Over. I loved this book about a woman in her fifties remaining sexy and successful. Yes, to the mature woman!
Title: Starting Over
Author: Michele Shriver
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Links to Buy
AMAZON US / UK / AU / CA / FR / DE
KOBO / B&N / iTUNES
Excerpt
“I
know that,” Ben said, then let himself out of the car.
Author Bio
Michele Shriver writes women’s fiction and contemporary romance. Her books feature flawed-but-likeable characters in real-life settings. She’s not afraid to break the rules, but never stops believing in happily ever after. Michele counts among her favorite things a good glass of wine, a hockey game, and a sweet and sexy book boyfriend, not necessarily in that order.
December 8, 2014
Yippee, It’s Release Day for Heroes to Swoon For
I’m one of eleven authors in the contemporary romance boxed set, Heroes to Swoon For, so I can’t write an official review, but I can tell you about the other books I’ve read so far. I’m proud and humbled to be a part of such a talented group of romance writers. I only hope my first romance, Behind the Altar, can stand up to their caliber. And the best part? For a limited time, the entire box set is only $0.99 on Kindle, Kobo, iTunes, and Google.
Here’s a preview of the books, with my short commentary on the ones I’ve read so far. I hope you’ll get your copy and swoon through the holiday season with our heroes rather than stressing about the holiday egg nog. Cheers!
Aroused – J
ade Kerrion
Recently divorced, Dr. Vera Rios is too busy being a single parent to look for Mr. Right. Along comes a man who cherishes her, adores her daughter, and helps her find her sexy groove. The only problem: Mr. Perfect is an escort, with far too many secrets of his own. Will love cost Vera her daughter’s safety?
Commentary: I loved Vera. She’s wounded and vulnerable but still manages to take care of her daughter. Her ex-husband has been created by Jade in the best tradition of jerky exes. The hero is certainly someone to swoon for as a male model, but the comedy of errors when Vera and Mr. Right meet is hilarious but with the ingredients to backfire in everyone’s face. Great romance with plenty of complications.
Blazing Love – Chantel Rhondeau
Laura’s attempting to rebuild her life after grieving for her murdered fiancé. Fireman Thayne is the most eligible bachelor in Sayle—strong, loyal, and sexy as hell. He’s determined to show Laura how to love again, but an arsonist loose in Sayle ups the stakes, risking more than their romance.
Commentary: Who doesn’t love a heroic fireman? Thayne is so handsome that the main character Laura finds it difficult to believe he could even look at her let alone love her. I love that Laura isn’t model-perfect, but a real woman who is attractive for other reasons than her body. Thayne and Laura each carry wounds from the past but together they come together in love to fight the awful things happening in their town. I love both of these characters and rooted for their success despite some pretty lousy friends supposedly guiding them along the way. Here’s to a fireman and a vet’s assistant always keeping it hot!
Roaring Hot! –Rachelle Ayala
Motorcycle racer Teo Alexiou cooks up a reality show to convince actress Amy Suzuki to play at being his girlfriend. When Teo and Amy find themselves caught in love’s grip, each suspects the other of acting. Their game playing explodes when Teo is injured on the track and left wondering if the reality show portrayed skillful acting or true love.
Commentary: How about a motorcycle racer with a billionaire father for a hero that makes you all swoony inside? That’s what Rachelle Ayala has created in Roaring Hot! I loved the story line with all its mix-ups and twists and turns. Amy is the actress who’s confused by her role of a lifetime and her introduction to the love of a lifetime. Either way both are hot, and the story takes the reader around the world. I loved the energy of this novel. It’s fast-paced, which goes with the racing part of the story, and fun to read.
The Right Pitch – Lyssa Layne
Colie Adger is trying to make it in the big leagues as an athletic trainer with the help of best friend Grant Adamson, a veteran pitcher on her team. Colie’s elated when big time pitcher Jace Richards, her former crush, comes back into her life. This time, he wants it all, with Colie front and center. Can Colie figure out her own heart and hit a homerun off the right pitch?
Commentary: What’s not to like about finely-tuned baseball players? Colie’s job is one to envy because of her close physical relationship to the players. It’s the dream for a young woman to have two baseball pitchers fighting over her–at least for me!
The Art of Love- Michele Shriver
After watching her parents’ marriage crumble, jewelry artist Chelsea Matthews doesn’t believe in love or happy endings.Sexy painter Hayden Shaw sets out to show Chelsea the art of love and prove to her that good guys do exist, but a gallery curator with an agenda of her own threatens both their happiness and their future dreams.
Commentary: I loved this book, and you can read my review of The Art of Love here.
Behind the Altar
– P.C. Zick
All seems perfect in Leah’s life until tattoo artist Dean rides his Harley into her heart. Dean, who’s been away from his home for ten years, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Leah’s natural beauty and genuine goodness, but Leah’s engagement to Dean’s brother stands in the way. The more they fight the attraction, the harder it is to stay apart.
Commentary: I’m not going to comment on my own book, but here’s a review from Amazon: Engaged to one brother but wanting the other. Such is Leah’s plight in this compelling story of forbidden love that is the first in an exciting new trilogy. The chemistry between Leah and Dean burns hot, and provides an interesting contrast to the backdrop of a church soup kitchen for homeless vets, which Is Leah’s other passion. With well-drawn characters, especially a villain that readers should be hating for a while, this book is a winner.
Lost Avalon
– K.S. Thomas
Rockstar Blaise has it all with his brooding good looks, haunting voice and troubled lyrics of a soul gone lost. Only Blaise didn’t wind up brooding, haunted and lost by accident…
Avalon has been the girl next door since she was five. The band manager since she was sixteen, and the keeper of his secrets always. But Blaise has one secret even Ava doesn’t know.
Commentary: Lost Avalon is a fun romp through the rock and roller coaster of love. On the surface, it’s the story of a rock star about to fall apart unless his long-suffering friend can save him. But as the story unfolds, it’s more about facing the past in order to move forward. Ava and Blaise fight the past ravaged by alcoholism and mental illness. It’s not predictable, but it’s very romantic. It’s sexy yet tastefully presented in the artful hands of K.S. Thomas who is a talented story teller.
Second Shield – Stacy Eaton
When Agent Drew Bradley goes undercover to find an officer gone rogue, he finds Detective Sergeant Mackenzie McAllister, and she is nothing like he expected. Mack is the epitome of control, but when the rookie, twelve years younger than her, enters The Unit, the control she mastered slowly slips away. Can Drew solve the case before Mack loses her control completely?
Commentary: Coming Soon!
Amber Rules – Melinda Curtis
For years, Amber was the main attraction in her father’s self-help infomercials. Now, she must improve the mental game of the biggest bad-ass in the N.B.A., Evan Oliver. Too bad Amber knows nothing about basketball or life coaching. Too bad Even Oliver is determined to do things his own way, especially when it comes to teaching Amber a new set of rules.
Commentary: Coming Soon!
Wild Irish Ride – Jennifer Saints
Given a second chance at forbidden love, Alexi plunges headlong into the passion Jesse ignites. To Jesse, love is an overrated word for getting ones needs met, and he’ll gladly take Alexi on the ride of her life. Maybe then, he can get her out of his head. But the forces that tore them apart before are at work again and may cost them their lives this time.
Commentary: Coming Soon!
Bonus Story: How You Remind Me – Julie Leto
Sexy guitarist Shaw Tyler knows lawyer Kate Schaffer’s personal fantasies and secrets. Trouble is, she doesn’t remember why. Kate used to live a wild and crazy life. After a scary black-out, she cleaned up her act. Problem is, who’s the man who acts like he knows exactly what she wants, and is she willing to find out if her past was a mistake?
Commentary: Coming Soon!
December 7, 2014
25 Ways to Help Self-Published Authors
Good, simple advice if you love the Indie Author movement!
Originally posted on This College Dropout:
Courtesy of David Melchior Diaz via F
lickr/PhotoPin
Buy a self-published book
Leave an honest review. (In fact, leave a review on more than one site!)
Thank the author publicly on social media.
Recommend the book to someone else.
Follow them on social media.
Engage with them on social media.
Ignore critics of the self-publishing industry.
Write your own good book.
Serve as a beta reader or reviewer for a book.
Write a blog post about the book.
Enter an author’s contest or giveaway.
Become a book blogger or reviewer.
Interview an author.
Refer any potentially good reviewers to an author.
Don’t obtain an illegal copy of the book.
Mention a book in a group or forum.
Offer your editing, formatting, or graphic design skills to an author.
Buy a second copy of the print version for a friend or for your local library.
Download a copy from Amazon’s Lending…
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December 5, 2014
Book Review Friday – Starting Over
I’ve been a fan of Michele Shriver’s writing since reading After Ten, which I would call contemporary women’s fiction. She switched to writing contemporary romances during the Romance in a Month class, and the result was The Art of Love, which I reviewed a few weeks back. While writing The Art of Love about two college students, both art majors, finding their way to one another despite their differences.
One character from the book, the main character’s mother Liz, wouldn’t leave Michele alone so she wrote a second romance, Starting Over. I love all of Michele’s work, but I was particularly taken by this story because Liz, the plucky hero, is closer to my age and faces singledom as a vibrant woman in her fifties.
Liz faces the same dilemmas all women face as she grows older, but Michele does not wallow in the pity party of analyzing wrinkles, weight gain, and gravity pulls. Instead she emphasizes the beauty of the mature woman–beauty gained from living and learning and loving. Those things can’t be bottled by Oil of Olay or shot up in a botox treatment. Liz may have lived a few decades, but it has only enhanced her inner glow and aroused her passions to new heights.
When her new man comes for dinner the first time, the action in the kitchen both astounded me and gave me ideas! It’s refreshing to see a woman of Liz’s age still passionate about both her cooking and her sexual appetite.
Even though Liz has gained wisdom through her years of raising a daughter and divorcing the father, she still has many things to learn about love, and Michele Shriver takes us on that journey with her. It’s a lovely ride filled with bumps, love, sensuality, and humor. No matter your age, you’ll enjoy Liz and cheer for her ultimate success as a woman who has many more years left to enjoy what she’s learned.
Age is merely a number attached to our legal documents. It has nothing to do with how attractive we are or what we’ve achieved. Liz defies definition by her age, and that’s a good lesson for us all to learn. I thank Michele for creating such a well-rounded and passionate woman. Love never gets old nor does a little spiciness in the kitchen.
Starting Over will be officially released on Tuesday, December 9, but you can order yours now. It’s only $0.99 cents, and it’s a fantastic read by a lovely author. Click here to order your copy.
December 1, 2014
#New Release – Two #Romances from Jade Kerrion
Title: Betrayed
Author: Jade Kerrion
Release Date: December 1, 2014
Synopsis
Marguerite Ferrara wows audiences on the haute couture
catwalks of Milan, Paris, and New York, but whenever she’s face-to-face with
Drew Jackson, she feels like a gawky thirteen-year-old in love with a superstar
who will never see her as more than his younger brother’s ex-girlfriend.
Drew’s superstar days are long over. A car accident shattered
his knee, destroyed his football career, and crushed his hopes of winning
Maggie’s love. How can he, a desk-bound financial advisor, compete against the
celebrities Maggie whirls through one-night stands or Tyler Lamarck, the social
media maverick who sweeps her off her feet?
Links to Buy
AMAZON US / UK
GOOGLE / KOBO / iTUNES
Title: Crushed
Author: Jade Kerrion
Release Date: December 1, 2014
Synopsis
Cody Hart, the daredevil black sheep of the esteemed Hart
clan, should never have made it to his twenty-fifth birthday. What he hadn’t
counted on, though, was his best friend dying instead of him.
Emotionally devastated and financially ruined by the death
of her brother, Felicity Rivers is down to her last hundred dollars when Cody
offers his help, at a price. She’s out of options, but nothing on Earth could
possibly entice her into the arms of the man who killed her brother.
Links to Buy
AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iTUNES
Author Bio
Jade Kerrion writes award-winning and occasionally best-selling
science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary novels anchored on unlikely romances
you will root for and happy endings you can believe in. Her favorite romance is
the Double
Helix love triangle between Galahad—the lab-created perfect human
being; Danyael—an alpha empath and Galahad’s physical template; and Zara—the
woman who can wreak more havoc with love than most people can with hate
Sign up for Jade’s New
Release Mailing List for news of giveaways, contests, and new releases.
Visit Jade at Life
Shocks Romances or at JadeKerrion.com
Author Links
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 26, 2014
A Grateful Author on Wednesday
It’s a different twist on my usual Author Wednesday fare, but I purposefully didn’t schedule anyone for today’s slot. I knew I would be releasing 
my Florida Fiction Box Set, which I did. I also knew that the new box set, 
Heroes to Swoon For would be in pre-order phase, getting ready for release on December 8, which it is. And I knew all of you would be busy with your holiday activities with little time left over to read my blog. So on this day before Thanksgiving here in the States, I’d like to offer my humble attempt at expressing gratitude for my life.
Yesterday as I prepared for the holiday, I received a call from my daughter. “I’ve got some bad news, Mom.” My heart sank. It’s not a call you want to receive, and those are words you never want to hear.
It seems books I’d had mailed to her place in Florida for two upcoming book signings had arrived. Only the mailman decided that the best way to deliver to her apartment would be to leave the box in the parking lot on a day of torrential rains in northeast Florida. She sent a photo of the books, and my heart sank to see those babies of mine all warped and useless. I fumed; I fussed; I used the “f” word in more ways than I did in this sentence.
And then sometime this morning in the wee hours of sleeplessness on how to proceed, it came to me. They are books. They are things that can be replaced. My daughter and others I love cannot. Perspective, my dear readers, changes everything.
I am grateful to my daughter Anna who has always encouraged me to be a writer. She was the first to tell me to jump from teaching to writing way back when. And she’s been unwavering in her support ever since.
My husband Robert is the reason I can write full time (all you writers know that’s a fallacy as an Indie Author) without worrying about a job outside of the home. He believes in me and what I do. 
He loves my work and is proud of my determination despite the lack of economic contribution to our finances.
I am grateful for my friends who are my cheerleaders.Two of them were my earliest supporters when everyone else thought I’d gone bonkers to think I could write a novel. Tonja gives me kudos and support at every turn. Having her at my book signing in September made me feel like I had my own little private fan club. Then there’s Linda, who buys my books first, reads them first, shares the news first. She buys all versions and shouts out to the world my virtues as a writer. If my success depended on her view of me as a writer, I’d be as famous as that “gray” shady lady.
I am so grateful to my fellow Indie Authors who inspire and encourage me on a daily basis. There are so many of us and so many of them who not only manage to write books, but they are tireless promoters for the rest of us. I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing today without them.
And last, but never least, I am so grateful to all of you who take the time to read this blog, comment on and like the posts, and read my books. It’s a crowded field out there, and I have trouble hearing my voice heard above the roar. That makes me all the more grateful for all of you.
So a few wet books and a less than smart mailman are mere pebbles in the road.
I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. All my friends in the East–drive carefully or stay home and mark your blessings.
I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what makes you smile with thanks today.
With gratitude,
Patricia
November 21, 2014
#Cover Reveal – Heroes to Swoon For
Heroes To Swoon For Boxed Set
11 Sizzling Contemporary Romances
Multi-author boxed set
Genre: Contemporary Romance Anthology
Release Date: December 8, 2014
Cover Artist: http://www.bellamediamanagement.com/
New Release Sale Price: $0.99 Limited Time.
Purchased separately, the books in this set would cost over $30. Nine
Full-Length Novels, 1 Novella, and 1 Short Story from NY Times, USA Today,
National and International Bestselling Authors.
We all need a hero! Preferably a hot, muscled, romantic one who’s not afraid to fight for the woman he loves. From firefighters to athletes, and artists to rockers, these swoon-worthy heroes will keep you on your toes and weak in your knees. Slip into a reading adventure that will have you panting for more: fun, steam, and thrills.
~~Purchase Links~~
Amazon
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PWXGA1I
Amazon
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00PWXGA1I/
Amazon
CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00PWXGA1I
Amazon
UA: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00PWXGA1I
Barnes & Noble: (pending)
Apple iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BOJLLC
KOBO: (pending)
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1p2WAfy
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1F2mrGD
Preorder Now!!
~~Join Our Facebook Release Party~~
Join the Heroes To Swoon For authors for their LAUNCH DAY
PARTY! The authors and their friends will be celebrating the
release, December 8th and 9th 2014, from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM (EASTERN TIME).
Prizes Galore, Q&A, Authors, Readers, Books, and FUN! So what are you
waiting for? Come join us and have a blast!
https://www.facebook.com/events/669439816505498/
~~Included in set~~
Aroused – Jade Kerrion
Can falling in love with a gorgeous male escort lead to anything
except inevitable heartbreak?
Blazing Love – Chantel Rhondeau
An emotionally injured veterinarian
assistant struggles to resist the heat of a blazing hot firefighter, but she
can’t avoid the flames of his passion.
Roaring Hot! –Rachelle Ayala
A playboy motorcycle racer hires an aspiring actress when he is
challenged by his grandmother to bring a real girlfriend to her birthday party.
The Right Pitch – Lyssa Layne
Colie Adger is torn between the lavish
attention from a big shot pitcher and the common sense of a solid friend. Can
Colie figure out her own heart and hit a homerun off the right pitch?
The Art of Love- Michele Shriver
After watching her parents’ marriage crumble, jewelry artist
Chelsea Matthews doesn’t believe in love, but a sexy painter sets out to win
her heart and prove that good guys do exist.
Behind the Altar – P.C. Zick
All seems perfect in Leah’s life until tattoo artist Dean rides
his Harley into her heart in this story of forbidden love.
Lost Avalon – K.S. Thomas
Blaise Nolan has it all – brooding good looks, a haunting voice
and troubled lyrics of a soul gone lost. Only he didn’t wind up brooding,
haunted and lost by accident…
Second Shield – Stacy Eaton
Agent Drew Bradley goes undercover to find an officer gone rogue,
but what he finds in Detective Sergeant Mackenzie McAllister is nothing he ever
expected.
Amber Rules – Melinda Curtis
One of the first assignments of life coach to the rich and famous,
Amber Rule, is to improve the game of Evan Oliver, one of the biggest bad-asses
in the NBA. Will Amber up Evan’s game? Or will he teach her a new set of rules?
Wild Irish Ride – Jennifer Saints
Sexy, Southern Suspense. Jesse was Alexi’s forbidden fruit, the
one man she couldn’t forget and can’t resist. After twelve years he’s back for
her—so is a killer.
How You Remind
Me – Julie Leto
Can a former party girl take a chance on a sexy guitarist who knows her deepest, darkest secrets?
~~Purchase Links~~
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PWXGA1I
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00PWXGA1I/
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00PWXGA1I
Amazon UA: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00PWXGA1I
Barnes & Noble: (pending)
Apple iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BOJLLC
KOBO: (pending)
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1p2WAfy
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1F2mrGD
November 19, 2014
Author Wednesday – Stacy Eaton
Welcome to Author Wednesday once again. Today I welcome new author friend, Stacy Eaton. Stacy and I met through Rachelle Ayala and the Romance in a Month class, but really became connected when both of us became a part of the romance box set, Heroes to Swoon For, which will be released on December 8. Stacy is tireless in her work and in her writing. I’m very happy she’s here today to talk about her books.
Hello, Stacy. What a treat to have you here today. I’m always curious about writers and their process. One of my heroes is Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring. She said in an interview once that she never chose a subject because as a writer, the subject chose her. Does this happen for you?
My subjects have always chosen me. I can’t remember a time that someone said, “Hey, can you write about this,” and I did. The stories come to me, they dwell, and then they want to come out. They can be so forceful that it’s almost painful not to write them down and get them out of my head.
That’s a wonderful thing. For years, I had to write what others told me to write, and it certainly stifles the creative mind. Do you have similar messages or themes running through your different novels?
I write in a few genres: paranormal, romantic suspense, relationship and such. Most of my books, I can’t say that I am trying to convey a message, but in the three novels I have written on domestic violence (Whether I’ll Live or Die, published, and two to be published early next year, You’re Not Alone and Barbara’s Plea), I teach. My point in writing those books was not only to entertain, but to help people understand what domestic violence is, and why it’s not so easy for a victim to leave.
I love it when fiction can be used to a purposeful end, and that’s a very powerful message. Do you have a favorite character that you’ve created?
Favorite characters, whew… I have a few of them. I think my two favorites are Jay and Tasha in Six Days of Memories. I absolutely love the chemistry 
between them and how strong both of them are. With that said, I just finished writing a book, Barbara’s Plea, and the lead male is Grey Bloodstone. I think I am a little bit in love with him (shh…. Don’t tell my husband). He’s an all-around good guy who grew up with morals and principals and believes in family. I loved writing him and so far my Beta team is fighting me for the head of his fan club!
I’m going to have to check this fellow out! Tell me about the title of your books. How do you choose them?
With almost every single book, the title has come from a sentence written on the pages within. Most titles come to me pretty early on in the writing process. I knew the title to Whether I’ll Live or Die, before I even put my fingers to the keyboard. My latest story, Barbara’s Plea is the first one that I really had to dwell on it to come up with the title. The final title wasn’t decided until I had finished the story.
That’s happened for me. My newest release had two titles prior to the final Native Lands. I like the title Barbara’s Plea. You just needed incubation time to come up with it. How long do you spend on your books, from an idea to a published product?
Most times, when I come up with an idea, and it is jumping up and down in my head, screaming let me out, I get the idea and start working on it. Six Days of Memories was written in twenty-eight days, from conception to final first draft. Barbara’s Plea was a total of six days, five of them were writing days. That story was an obsession that needed to be released before I could do anything else. Other books have taken me longer. Second Shield took me a few 
months, as did Distorted Loyalty and You’re Not Alone. It all depends on what character wants to talk and how loud they are speaking. It also depends on how much time I get to write. My work schedule is sometimes not very pliable and I might find myself without time for a few weeks, then I have a long weekend off and get some major writing done.
Second Shield is a part of our box set, Heroes to Swoon For, which is very exciting. I’m pretty sure you don’t get much of it, but what do you do during your down time?
Down time? What the heck is that? Lol… Actually, writing is my down time. Being a detective in real life, my days are stressful. Coming home and losing myself in the lives of my characters, where I can have almost complete control (I say almost because they can get out of hand and take over), is where I find my relief. I step out of real life drama and fall into fictional drama. If I’m not doing those, I own a business and I play taxi to my very social and active 11 year old.
Unbelievable! You are my hero, for sure. I wonder if you ever have time to read. Are you reading something now?
I am actually re-reading a series that I have read before. I wanted something hot and spicy with major alpha men and didn’t feel like searching for something. So, to answer your question, I’m reading JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I love those books!
After talking to you, I’m even more honored that you managed to spend a few minutes with me for this interview. You are an amazing woman, and I’m honored to be working with you. I hope you’ll come back one day with one of your new books about domestic violence and talk to us more about that subject.
About Stacy Eaton: Stacy is a full-time police officer who enjoys crime scene investigation, and above all else, taking a passion in putting the pieces together to figure out the crime. She is also a business owner where she helps people get the awareness out for the causes they care most about. She is a mother of two, a son proudly serving in the United States Navy and a young daughter. Her husband is also in law enforcement. Stacy is currently serving on the board of directors for her local domestic violence center. She is very much into photography and carries her Nikon Digital SLR with her almost everywhere, just in case.
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Twitter: @StacySEaton
Amazon Author Page - Purchase her books here.
