K.M. Jackson's Blog, page 16

Oh snow!

Happy Monday! The DD has arrived in Paris and so begins a new chapter for her. Thanks for all the well wishes. Please join me in continuing to wish her well and safety.

 

So now it’s Monday and time to crack that Monday whip. For some reason with both kids now settled and getting into their pursuits and studies I’m feeling like this is as re-start to the New Year for me. I’m making my to-do list and checking it twice. Time to really grind it out.

But first…. I guess there is more snow to be shoveled. Both Jack and I are not amused (also someone needs a haircut. Spring please come soon).

 

Wishing you a great day.

All the best,

KMJ

Working for the Weekend!

Happy Friday and Happy weekend! Wishing you all a bright and sunny one and one where there is hopefully a nice warm up for all of us. Please no snow and no ice storms. Let’s keep it nice and light, shall we?

This weekend I’ll be, I’m sure (since I already am), a little verklempt since my lovely DD will be heading off to France for her semester abroad. There will no doubt be a teary goodbye but I’ll try to save the full on waterworks for the car ride home.  I’m just hopeful that she learns a lot, stays safe and has the time of her life. France, please be good to my baby.

As for today please join me over at the newly launched Romance at Ramdom site where I’m getting real and talking BOUNCE. And speaking of BOUNCE, if you haven’t bounced in yet now is the perfect time since I’m holding a kick up your heels $0.99 for a limited time. Enjoy!

All the best,

KMJ

 

image from we heart it.

Strictly Professional… and interview with author Christina Jones

I’m so happy to have an interview with new author Christina Jones on ye old blog today. Christina is a talented author, blogger who is also a busy working wife and mom. It’s a treat to get to pick her brain for a few moments.

Hi Christina thanks so much for being here on ye old blog today. It’s a real pleasure. First off can you tell us a bit about your current work?

My latest work, Strictly Professional is the story of a 20-something, Gabi, who is trying her best to gain her independence and make her mark on the world, despite the efforts of her family and a (quite frankly) crazy ex.  In the midst of this, she develops a crazy level of chemistry with someone (Terrence) that it’s probably not a very good idea to become romantically involved with.  On the other side, we have Terrence, who is very focused on his career, and definitely not looking for love.  They both have to decide if they’re willing to risk not only their hearts, but their careers in order to pursue what could be happily every after.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always known that I had a passion for writing, and storytelling, but I did not know that I wanted to be a writer. I started out writing in long hand, back in high school.  I would put together these folders of stories, and pass them around amongst my class.  There was a situation where someone I really cared about wasn’t supportive of it, and I stopped writing for a long time.  I actually hadn’t written in years, and started back up on a whim, writing fan fiction, just as a way to put my work out there, and get feedback from other people.  Then, I found out that I could publish my own work, and I just decided “Hey, I’m gonna write a novel!” So I did.

Wow good for you, going for it and putting yourself out there. That’s brave! Do you feel your works are more character or plot driven?

I feel like my work is definitely more character driven.  Before I even put a single word on the page, I get to know my character.  What motivates them, what makes them happy, what pisses them off, etc.  Once I know them well, I’m confident in putting their story down on the page, and I won’t change my character to fit something that I want to happen in the story.  It’s not my story, it’s theirs!

What made you choose this genre to write in?

I chose my genre (Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction) because it is one of my favorite genres to read.  The other genre is Fantasy, and I am absolutely not equipped right now for the type of detail and world-building that goes into Fantasy!  I love to be able to escape into a book with characters and situations that I can relate to, and I want to create that type of feeling for other people.

Tell us a bit about your writing schedule. Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?

I am absolutely a Pantser!  I have a graphic design business, two small children, a husband, and I’m in college full time, so during the semester, I just have to get in where I fit in!  Anytime I can grab thirty minutes here, an hour there, I take it and do what I can.  I’m definitely more productive during the short breaks from school.

LOL so just a little busy. Thanks so much for taking the time to be with us today. Lastly, what can readers expect next from you?

My latest WIP is going to be a bit more fast-paced and fun that Strictly Professional.  It’s a story of two sisters, and their struggles with family, career, and of course relationships.  These women are in their 30s, so it will be a little more grown up as well.  It’s untitled as of now, and I have no idea when I’ll finish, but I’m hoping I’ll be done and ready to start on the second part to Strictly Professional by this Summer.

Once again thanks for being here. It was a real treat and a pleasure!

Readers you can find Christina at these sites just a few clicks away.

Blog- www.beingmrsjones.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BeingMrsJones

Twitter – www.twitter.com/beingmrsjones

And your can pick up your copy of Strictly Professional here.

All the best,

KMJ

Scribbling for a Cause

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. The temperature is still set to Brrr here in the Northeast. Though I know we’re still firmly in Winter I’m starting to have long Summer daydreams where all the scenes in my head feature warm breezes, open toed shoes and guys who don’t care all that much for shirts. Time to get to writing.

And speaking of writing today I’m beyond the moon to announce the sale of Scribbling Women and the Real Life Heroes Who Love Them. I am so thrilled and honored to be one of the writers asked to be in this anthology where for the first time I’m not writing fiction, but giving a glimpse into my own real life romance (one word: Spooning)  and I’m doing it for a wonderful cause. Here is a bit about Scribbling Women:

In Scribbling Women and the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them, twenty-eight popular romance fiction writers  reveal their real-life stories of how they met, wed and love—and are loved and supported by—their spouses and life partners. At times whimsical and laugh-out-loud funny, at others poignant and bittersweet, all unfailingly inspiring, each essay celebrates that most powerful and sacred of human bonds: love.

Happily Ever After isn’t only the stuff of romance novels and fairy tales. It is every woman’s birthright.

All net sales of the anthology support Win (www.winnyc.org)

You can pick up your copy of Scribbling Women at these major E-tailers: Kindle, Nook & Smashwords

 

I hope you enjoy!

All the best,

KMJ

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bounce-iversary and a trailer debut!

 

It’s a Bounce-iversary (of sorts) with today being the 1 month anniversary of the release of BOUNCE!

 

And to celebrate I’m debuting my spanking new book trailer made by the fantastic Darin Kent (Thanks so much Darin). I’m in love with it and think it captures the feeling of BOUNCE so well. I hope you enjoy it too.

 

Also if you have not yet entered my giveaway there is still time to enter or enter again. Just click on the links below for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Thanks so much for the support and have a wonderful weekend!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

All the best,

KMJ

Jumping off the page…

Today I’m excited to say that my main character, Sabrina Jacobs from BOUNCE was “interviewd” by the fantastic M.J. Schiller over on her blog. You can check it out here. Thanks so much for having us M.J.!

And if you’re over here in the deep freeze like me I hope you’re keeping warm and dry.

 

All the best,

KMJ

And the nominees are… (wait, that’s all you’ve got?)

So a lot has been said these past few days about the USA TODAY Top Books of 2013 list (Big congrats to all that made the list. Good for you. There are some great books there).

Also sidebar to me and giving myself a back pat for BOUNCE having gotten a mention on the USA TODAY HEA blog. Huge thanks to Michelle Monkou for the lovely review. It was called a “great book club pick”. Loving that! You can check out the full review here.

But back to matters at hand. So much has been said about the fact that there are no self-pubs on the USA TODAY list this year, which is huge, but I do think in many ways speaks to the power of having a backer and big marking behind you (and the possibility of a TODAY show appearance doesn’t hurt a thing). But this hybrid woman writer of color is asking another question: where are the fiction writers of color on the list?

In this big global writing world, why are the  top spots in publishing as rare as getting an Academy Award nomination? What are your thoughts? Why are so many writers of color turning to self-publishing? How can there be more visibility for these writers? Also who do you think, writer or publishing house, is getting it right? I’m sure there are some.

This is a day of celebration so things have to start looking up. I’m all about the positive. Have at it.

 

All the best,

KMJ

 

Let it Shine! Happy MLK day

Happy MLK day!

Let this day that we remember Dr. King be one of service and kindness where we let the best of our hearts shine through.

 

All the best,

KMJ

Ch-ch-ch-Changes… Happy Birthday Dear Twins!

So it happened…

 No matter what my feelings or your father’s. No, we couldn’t slow it down or stop time.

The teenage years are done and twenty is here.

Happy 20th Birthday My dear, Our Dearest Twins!

On this day our wish for you is the same as it’s been since the very first. For you both to be full of happiness, and peace, to be safe and live a life full of love and joy. To continue to do your best as you go out in the world and reach for the stars.

All we ask in return is that you cut us some slack and know that, though you’re truly young adults, for as long as we live you’ll be our babies and the two most precious people in the world to us. Continue to make us as proud as we are today.

Changes… yep, they happen and we can’t change that just like you can’t change our love.

 

Love forever,

Mom & Dad

 

P.S. Check out my DD’s (Little Twin B) Next semester Paris Dreams here and wish her luck and she goes on her way!

Hello Monday, What brings you here?

See me trying to be nice with that lovely “hello” though I’m darned near loopy enough to growl as I write this at 2:46AM after a weekend of Bat Cave copyediting. There I go looking up at the clock and BAM! I’m hit by Monday morning. Can I get a re-wind?

Can I also get a forklift to get me off this basement couch and up my stairs to my bed? How did you spend this weekend? I hope unlike me you got outdoors and maybe took in some fresh air or are you in need of a forklift too and maybe that extra cup of coffee.

 

Have a fantastic Monday!

Oh and just a reminder my BOUNCE giveaway is still going on. Have you entered yet?

Had to add a little edit here as it’s now 9:30 and I’m just blinking my eyes open to find out about BOUNCE getting an fantastic review on the USA Today HEA blog! This Monday is looking up! You can check out the review here

 

All the best,

KMJ

 

image from here