Livia Ellis's Blog, page 9

Welcome Tigris Eden - Author of Burned in Shadows

Tigris Eden - Burned in Shadows






October 12 - Texas Book Nook - Review





PARANORMAL ROMANCE - EROTICA

DATE PUBLISHED: 7/30/2013





Royce Zarides has accepted his hand dealt by fate. He's loved and left far too many women. In the bedroom that is. But one kiss from Belinda Raine Ignis was all it took for his eyes to open. Is she really the woman meant for him and his brother Ronin? Or will history only repeat itself? That's the million dollar question he doesn't want to answer.




Ronin does not believe that Belinda is for him and his brother. But one night with her isn't enough. Even when he sees her for who and what she really is, Ronin still has a hard time expressing his emotions where Belinda is concerned, and time is running out now that she's to ascend to the status of Matria of the Phoenix Enclave.




Belinda (Bells) Ignis is good at ignoring men. She's had her share of heartache. Jilted at the altar by her first love, she's sworn all men off for good. Her mother and Matria of her community has other plans in mind, as well as the Zarides brothers. When faced with the heated glances of Ronin and the smooth tongue of Royce, what's a girl to do?




The clock is ticking down for certain members of the Shadow Unit. Draven assumed dead, leaves a sour taste in every ones mouth. Jes' new found abilities make for a great addition to the team. But when things seem to settle, they only get worse, as the team sets out to discover the origins of Mr. Black and the notorious Red Sun Organization. Secrets are uncovered and deals are made that result in a deadly blow to all involved


















Tigris Eden




There is really not much to say... I love to write, read, and listen to music. My attempt at a music career sadly ended at the Apollo one warm night in May! LOL (Side note: I was not booed just outdone by two munchkins rapping to Biggy Smalls but they were good!)

Military brat extraordinaire; have traveled to a lot of interesting places. 

The very first time I put pen to paper in story fashion, was in 6th grade. It was called The Case of the Missing Pepperoni. 

It was a cute mystery where all the ingredients and shop appliances came to life when the store owner closed up for the evening.




Website

Blog



Facebook

Twitter

Welcome Joss Landry - Author of Mirror Deep

Mirror Deep by Joss Landry

DANGER AND ROMANCE
…Roll like thunder in Kat Bonner’s world, when a known felon comes to the ranch to drop a bomb about her past. Kat turns to Pierce for help, the same Pierce who bucks her every chance he gets … and whose feverish investigation lands them in trouble with the law and directly in the path of a serial killer.

Mystery deepens, fraught with wrong turns, bumbling detectives, old murders, and Kat’s doppelganger no one ever sees but her, just as she never sees the change in Pierce’s feelings toward her brewing, mounting, until she can no longer deny them.



Buy on Amazon | Paperback | Kobo | B&N | EBookPie | Scribd
 









Meet the author:
With a degree in commerce, Joss has worked as a consultant for more than twenty years, writing copy for marketing firms and assisting start-up companies launch their business. She recently made the switch from composing copy and promos, to writing fiction and prose. She is developing her style through courses and the support of other writers. A recent graduate of the Long Ridge Writer’s Group, she is a member of the Romance Writers of America and is presently working on honing three other novels for publication.

Blessed with four children and five grandchildren, she resides in Montreal with her husband, a staunch supporter, and enjoys spending her time biking, rollerblading, playing tennis and swimming. She loves creating stories, as she says that it fulfills her need to think outside the box.

Follow Joss Landry:

Website | Blog | FaceBook Page | Twitter | Pinterest | LinkedIn |

Follow the Book Tour




The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card for two readers

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome Thomas & Nancy Wise - Authors of The Borealis Genome

Thomas & Nancy Wise - The Borealis Genome














YA Sci Fi

Date Published: 6/4/2013





New novel The Borealis Genome addresses the issue of increased moral ambiguity as scientific technology advances and removes our sense of individuality. The married authors throw engaged characters Tim and Nora into a scientific nightmare where mind-uploading and a weaponized virus allow the minds of the few to control those of the masses. As the population starts turning into mental zombies can Tim and Nora find the source of this mayhem? And can their love persevere through these harrowing times?
























Thomas & Nancy Wise

Thomas and Nancy come from very different backgrounds.  Thomas was raised in a military family and lived through the separations of war and the challenges that a family faces when coming back together. Challenges such as injuries and the frailty of the body and shifts in the personality that war bring to a family can force everyone to redefine how they see the themselves and the world around them. Nancy was raised in a family challenged by severe injuries.  Her father was paralyzed and could no longer work causing the family to reform around a new breadwinner when their mother had to take over. 

We chose to write a book shaped around these realities and the challenges that new technologies will force societies all over the world to deal with very soon. Mind uploading, neural networks, and human gene manipulation combined with new medical discoveries may become a new reality that we must all understand and learn what it means to our lives. These are realities today that were only science fiction just a few years ago that will soon have a real and direct affect on our lives.

Tom earned his Ph.D. in Organization and Management in 2012 and has other books including “Trust in Virtual Teams,” and “Agile Readiness.”





Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBorealisGenome




Twitter: https://twitter.com/BorealisGenome




Blog: http://www.tumblr.com/dashboard




Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6959168.Thomas_P_Wise




Book Daily: http://www.bookdaily.com/book/3981488/the-borealis-genome

Welcome Mary Banos - Author of Uplifting One Life at a Time: The Power of Encouragement

I have worked in financial aid in higher education for over 16 years, assisting students with the financial means to achieve their goal of a college education.




I was fortunate to overcome a troubled childhood, plagued with times of depression, resulting in random thoughts of committing suicide.  In my adulthood, I overcame the pain that was her past. This past developed within me the life-long passion of helping and encouraging others.




I am working on a Masters of Science degree in Family Studies. My goal is to be an author and motivational public speaker, while my collective passion is to encourage others, help others overcome obstacles, and to reach their goals and dreams.




Would you rather win the lottery, or end up writing the next big book?




            Most definitely I’d rather write the next big book!  Wealth from a lottery can be exciting, however wealth through the writing of a book which touches the lives of others is even better.  You cannot put a price on changing the lives of people.







Are you an introvert or an extrovert?




I am most definitely an extrovert.  I can chat with a random stranger, as I have done many times over the years.  And I would not have some of the friendships which I have been blessed with if I had not chatted with someone who I did not know.







How do you feel about self-publishing?




I absolutely love it, and recommend it to others who would like to publish a book.  It is a great way to become published without waiting many months or years for a traditional publisher to choose to publish your work.  It is a way to be in control and to make it happen for yourself. And being fortunate to be with a self-publishing company as mine (PDMI Direct Publishing) who gives 100% of the royalties to the author is a great bonus as well.







Excerpt from my book:

We have more power in our lives than most of us are able to realize.  Sometimes




it seems easier to just believe that we are limited then to truly open our eyes to what we




can actually accomplish if we simply believe in ourselves.  We can also make a




difference in the lives of others around us more than we realize.  Holding back for




ourselves or others accomplishes nothing other than failed opportunities. 




Some hold back from progress due to mental or emotional pain from the past. 




On a TV episode of “Criminal Minds,” one of the main characters stated, “Scars remind




us of where we have been.  They don’t have to dictate where you’re going.”  There are




millions of people in the world who allow their futures to be limited due to painful




experiences of their past.  They are limiting themselves out of fear and doubt.  If they




could only see that it is them who are holding themselves back and allowing the painful




past experiences to be an obstacle that hinders them.  Anyone can work through




emotional/mental blocks to find their way to success and happiness.




When we take a chance and truly believe in ourselves we can make things




happen - goals are accomplished, dreams are fulfilled, and hopes are manifested. 




When we allow others to see our empowerment and share it with them, then we spread




the magic of empowerment to more people.







www.encouraginglife.com




http://www.amazon.com/Uplifting-One-Life-Time-Encouragement/dp/0615773303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366153008&sr=1-1&keywords=mary+banos

Welcome Jessica Gibson - Author of Dressed In White

Top 10 book boyfriends








Here is a list of my top 10 book crushes, the ones who make
me sigh and swoon when I read.




1.   
Mason from the Mystic Wolves series by Belinda Boring~
Mason is sex on a stick, I mean really, what’s not to like? He’s a hot alpha
who loves as fiercely as he fights for what is right.

2.   
Dorian from the Gwen Sparks series by Stephanie Nelson~
Sexy angel of death, need I say more? He’s seriously hot, but what I really
love is his sense of humor. I love a man who can make me laugh.

3.   
Harry Potter (you all know where he’s from lol)~ I have
a nerd crush on him. I love his sense of honor and adventure, and his fierce
loyalty to his friends. I was an adult when I read the books, but I feel like I
grew up with him lol.

4.   
Bones from the Night Huntress sereies by Jeanine Frost~
Hot vamp with an accent? Yes please!! I loved Bones from the get go, I love how
sarcastic he is, and how much he loves Cat.

5.   
Jack from the Beauty series by Georgia Cates~ Again,
I'm a sucker for an accent. He was hot, like steaming up my Kindle hot. The
love between Laurelyn and Jack was intense to say the least.

6.   
Travis from Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Mcguire~
Intense much? He was hot, there was no denying that. I spent most of the book
torn about his relationship with Abby lol. He was sex personified, walking
around in man form.

7.   
Ethan Blackstone from the Blackstone Affair series by
Raine Miller~ There’s that accent again…..I could not get enough of him. He was
sexy as hell, and had just the right blend of controlling and powerless when it
came to Brynne.

8.   
Hades from the Spellbound series by Lola James~ Sexy
god of the underworld. Good gracious was he intense. He would stop at nothing
to get Toni back by his side. So, so sexy.

9.   
Sinjin from the Jolie Wilkins series by H.P. Mallory~
Smart ass sexy british vampire, need I say more? Man oh man did I love his
sarcastic wit. I know I should have been rooting for Rand, but i was always
team Sinjin!

10.  Brandon
from the B&S series by Kimberly Knight~ I could not get enough of this man.
He was so swoon worthy and sigh inducing. He was sexy as all get out, and he
loved Spencer so completely, it’s hard to argue with that.






Dressed In White

Lorelei Peters had everything she had ever dreamed of. Amazing friends, a sexy boyfriend, and a job that she absolutely loved. Dillon Brockwell was all she had ever wanted. Handsome, successful, and he loved her as much as she loved him. Life was going along the way it was supposed to, until someone from Dillon’s past shows up and shatters everything to pieces. Can Lorelei and Dillon get through all the craziness and make it down the aisle? Or will lies of omission be enough to derail them forever.

Purchase on Amazon –  Kindle  /  Paperback

Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Literary Addicts

About Jessica Gibson Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she’s down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the “someday” section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write.

Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future.




Where can you find me?




email: gibson.jessicaj@gmail.com

Website: www.releasedaydiva.com

Blog: www.thisauthorslife.blogspot.com

Book Blog : www.bookonthebrightside.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Gibson/120212814747940


Twitter: @jessicajgibson

Cover Reveal for Knight of Wands by SM Blooding

Knight of Wands
Book 2 of the
Devices of War Trilogy

Genre: New Adult Fantasy Steampunk Adventure

Publisher: Blooding Books

Date of Publication: November, 2013

Cover Artist: Ravven’s Glass

Book Description:

Return to a world of mind blowing visuals, heart stopping action, and ships that sail the skies.

Nix, Queen of Wands, has exactly what she wants—Synn El’Asim, the greatest Mark the world has ever seen. Even though she bound his soul to hers, he is not easily controlled. If she wants him, she must do the one thing that pains her most. Let him go, and give him what he desires. Peace.

Armed with a treaty bearing Nix’s seal, Synn sets off to bridge the gap between the world’s two reigning tyrants—the Hands of Tarot and the Great Families. He struggles to trust Nix as he fights for control of his soul. He’s going to need every ounce of restraint when dealing with his mother, leader of the Great Families. She will not give up her power without a fight. Nix will honor her treaty only if Synn agrees to become her knight. His mother refuses to sign the peace agreement if he falls into the queen’s control.

Frustrated, Synn does the one thing neither woman saw coming. He invites all the tribes, currently voiceless in the war between these two ruling tyrants, to partake in the treaty negotiations. All they have to do is prove their worth in his Peace Games. As Synn’s influence and subsequent power grows, a new fight begins.

Who will control Synn’s League of Cities? Can he protect more people as a leader of the Great Families, or as the Knight of Wands?

Goodreads



Purchase Book 1 on Amazon

Welcome Kathleen Ball - Author of Summer's Desire

Summer's Desire
(Cowboy Seasons #1)


by Kathleen Ball

Contemporary
Western Romance

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

Release
Date: July 25, 2013

Heat
Level: Steamy

Word
Count: 51,298 words




Available at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Summers-Desire-ebook/dp/B00E80EP1I/

ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com//product-summer039sdesire-1252235-149.html

BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/summers-desire




Description:

Summer
Fitzgerald is a person of interest in the robbery and murder of her former
boss. With no resources she is forced to take a job as a nanny. To her surprise
the job consists of watching four, almost full grown, cowboys and helping their
handsome, older brother Holden O’Leary.




Veterinarian
Holden O’Leary moves his family to a Montana ranch for a fresh start. His time
is soon consumed rescuing neglected horses and he needs help with his
bothers.  Despite wishing otherwise, he soon finds that Summer holds his
heart.




Will scandals
and old secrets keep them from trusting each other or will Summer finally get
her desire?




Warning: This title is intended for readers
over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult
language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.






About the
Author:




A voracious reader, Kathleen quickly discovered the world of romance
novels and she knew she was home. Kathleen wrote her first book four years ago.
She was shocked to find out that people liked what she wrote. All of Kathleen's
novels are award winners.




Kathleen lives in Keller, Texas.
She moved there from Rochester, New York seven years ago. She is having the
time of her life exploring Texas culture and learning to ride horses.




Kathleen is married to her
wonderful husband Bruce and they have one son, Steven a Marine.




Kathleen has six published
novels. She writes Contemporary Western Romance.




She feels blessed to be supported
in her writing by her family and friends.




Connect with Kathleen
Ball

Email: kballromance@gmail.com

Website: http://www.kathleenballromance.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kballauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathleen-Ball-Western-Romance/121300767916947

Welcome Caris Roane - Author of Embrace the Magic

EMBRACE THE DARKThe Blood Rose Series Book 1 Enter a world of blood-starved mastyr vampires and the rare women who can
satisfy their deepest needs… How can he resist his blood rose…Gerrod,
mastyr vampire of the Merhaine Realm, never thought to have his blood-needs
satisfied by a mere human. But Abigail is no ordinary woman. She stuns him with
her telepathy as well as the richness of her blood. However, her human DNA
makes her an unacceptable mate. Yet how can Gerrod turn her away when she alone
has satisfied his blood-starvation for the first time in a
hundred-and-fifty-years?Will she fall to temptation and give herself to a vampire…When the
dreaded enemy of all realm-folk, the Invictus, attacks at a fae wedding, Abigail’s
simple human life gets turned upside down. She doesn’t know if she has the
courage to pursue a path that means giving herself body and soul to a mastyr
vampire. Will she return to her normal existence in Flagstaff, Arizona? Or will
she embrace the dark… Available in Both
Digital and Print at Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Dark-Blood-Series-Volume/dp/1477582916/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1338505985&sr=1-1













EMBRACE THE MAGICThe Blood Rose Series Book 2Release Date August 31, 2013 When a blood rose enters Mastyr
Ethan’s world, will he succumb to his deepest needs or lose her forever to an
enemy intent on possessing her at all costs? He desperately needs his blood rose… Ethan, mastyr vampire of the
Bergisson Realm, never thought to find his blood rose, the one woman who could
ease the blood-starvation he’s endured for decades. But Samantha carries a
surprising level of power as her newly discovered fae heritage emerges and she
connects with his personal realm frequency, a vibration that ignites his
passion.  His commitment to ruling
Bergisson, however, has priority, even over his driving need to be with
Samantha.  As desire rises, and Ethan
finds himself drawn into the web of his driving, relentless need for her, will
he be able to embrace his blood rose or will his guilt over past events prevent
him from living life to the fullest? How can she give up the life she
planned…? Samantha can’t believe she’s a blood
rose, a woman who can meet the needs of a starved mastyr vampire.  Her plans never included the world of the
Nine Realms in which mastyr vampires rule millions of realm-folk, but learning
that she’s half-fae has changed everything. 
As Ethan’s blood-needs become a life-or-death struggle, and cast her
into a war against the dreaded Invictus, how can she choose to embrace her new
fae powers and change her life so completely? 
Will she take on the role forever as Ethan’s blood rose?  Or will her desire to follow her life’s
ambitions force her to choose against love, passion, and unbelievable fae
power? Buy Links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Magic-Blood-Rose-ebook/dp/B00EX5ULN4Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-the-magic-caris-roane/1116810337?ean=2940148804468Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/embrace-the-magic/U95cASEH_E-U1QbQU6m1hA  Excerpt from EMBRACE THE MAGIC: Chapter One Mastyr Vampire Ethan stared down into
Sweet Gorge where two of his Guardsmen hauled up a body on a sling carried
between them. They flew side by side, matching their movements by long
practice. The night air, though usually fresh in early April, carried a rancid
edge, something he’d connected with this area for a long time.But he’d lost another of his Guard
here at Sweet Gorge, killed sometime this past week, but located by a search
patrol just a half hour ago. And this was the fourth murder in a month.Something was on the wind.“Invictus?” Finn scratched behind his
right ear. He was Ethan’s second-in-command, his long red hair a beacon in any
situation.Using both hands, Ethan shoved his
own unruly hair away from his face. Sweat dripped from his forehead. The temp
wasn’t too warm in Bergisson Realm this time of year, but when his
blood-starvation reached difficult levels, he’d often perspire like he’d been
battling for hours. “What the hell was Paul doing patrolling in this area?”Ethan didn’t know Paul well, but he
felt responsible for him, as he did for all his Guard. He’d built his force to
three hundred strong, but Paul, as a new recruit, wasn’t well-known to many of
the Guardsmen.“He didn’t have orders to go out
here, not with three other Guardsmen dead in the past few months along the
eastern border.” Ethan let his gaze move from one end of the gorge to the
other, then along the monolith to the east. A familiar heavy guilt clawed at
his chest. This part of his realm was off-limits having been the place of a
massacre forty years earlier. “Maybe his body was dumped.”Ethan’s frown tightened his forehead.
“Most likely.”There was a connection between Sweet
Gorge and the Invictus. He just didn’t know what it was.Sweet Gorge used to be a place of
great beauty and had once been a modest resort, a place his family had been to
a lot in its prime. Fae leadership had also met here often.Now his mother, father and sister
were gone, lost in the attack, along with many loved ones, over two hundred
realm killed all at one time.Afterward, the stream had dried up,
the source cursed by a powerful fae of unknown ancestry. No one had seen the
fae female or the deed, only that the stream was blocked and no amount of power
had ever released it. A wall of crystals resided there and none of the fae he
knew would go near it.Besides, there was always the stench
to warn realm-folk away, of something not right, very ancient, and deadly.He glanced over the wooded ridgeline
along the north ridge. A breeze picked up sending sharp pine scents through the
air.But something else struck his
nostrils, the scent of dark fae magic, as though it waited there. His muscles
flexed involuntarily along the insides of his arms. Yet in all these decades
not a single fae of power, in any of the Nine Realms, had been able to figure
out where all that power was coming from, not even Vojalie, the most powerful
fae he knew.  About the AuthorBIO:  Caris Roane has published nine paranormal
novels and novellas and writing as Valerie King, fifty Regency works.  In 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career
Achievement award in Regency Romance.  As
Caris Roane, she currently writes paranormal romance for St. Martin’s Press and
also self-publishes the continuing stories for her Guardians of Ascension
series as well as stories set in other worlds.

 Author Links:Website: http://www.carisroane.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caris-Roane/150858114985050?fref=tsTwitter: https://twitter.com/carisroaneGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3500801.Caris_Roane

Welcome Alicia Michaels - Author of The Bionics Series

Title:  The
Bionics

Series:  The Bionics
Series, Book 1

Author:  Alicia
Michaels

Published:  September
13th, 2013 by Crimson Tree Publishing

Word Count:  21,000

Genre:  YA Mature
Dystopian Romance

Content Warning: 
Coarse language and mild sexual innuendo

Recommended Age:  16+




Synopsis: All I ever wanted was to be a normal girl. I had
dreams of joining the ranks of the Military Police and making my family proud.
But the nuclear war that laid waste to our country destroyed any hope I had of
being normal ever again. They took everything away from me, including my
humanity. I am now half-human, half-machine, part of the never-ending freak
show that is the Restoration Project.

They hate what they created and they fear us for being
powerful.

And so they hunt us, destroying our lives so that they can
bury what they built. What they don’t know is this: there is a Resistance out
there and The Bionics aren’t going down without a fight.

Amazon | GoodReads



Title:  Titanium

Series:  The Bionics
Series, Book 2

Author:  Alicia
Michaels

Published:  September
13th, 2013 by Crimson Tree Publishing

Word Count:  30,000

Genre:  YA Mature
Dystopian Romance

Content Warning:  Coarse language and mild sexual innuendo

Recommended Age:  16+




Synopsis: We stand on the brink of a double rescue mission,
a plan so foolhardy that even our bravest men are quaking inside with fear.
Storm the capitol, free the prisoners, don’t get killed. It seems like a
suicide mission, but not a single one of us has anything to lose.

In my past life, I was a scoundrel; a drug peddling street
thug who cared nothing for anyone because I had no one to care for me. The
nuclear blasts of 4006 reminded me of the value of life, and a girl with the
saddest eyes I’ve ever gazed into gave me someone to care for. Now, as we
embark on our most dangerous enterprise, I can only hope that we make it out
alive and that those we have lost can be recovered.

Foolishness … fear … hope … These are the elements that
threw our revolution into motion. As the momentum of the Resistance continues
to build, we can only pray that hope continues grow larger than our fear.

Amazon
| GoodReads














About the Author:

Ever
since she first read books like Chronicles of Narnia or Goosebumps, Alicia has
been a lover of mind-bending fiction. Wherever imagination takes her, she is
more than happy to call that place her home. The mother of two and wife to an
Army sergeant loves chocolate, coffee, and of course good books. When not
writing, you can usually find her with her nose in a book, shopping for shoes
and fabulous jewelry, or spending time with her loving family.




Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website | Blog









Crimson Tree
Publishing

(An adult division
of Clean Teen Publishing)




Website | Facebook | Twitter



























Giveaway Details:

There is an international tour wide giveaway.

GRAND PRIZE: A digital copy of The Bionics (Book One) and
Titanium (Book Two), a Bionics bookmark, Readers choice of any other Clean Teen
Publishing eBook and a $15 Amazon gift card (INT)

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Welcome MJ Pullen - Author of Regrets Only

Regrets Only is the second book in the Marriage Pact series, but it can be enjoyed by those who have read The Marriage Pact and first-time readers alike. A fast-paced and charming story, Regrets Only centers on Marci’s picky best friend, Suzanne, whose event-planning skills are almost as legendary as her exploits with men.


At thirty-three, Suzanne Hamilton has it all. A successful party-planning business with an elite client list. A swank condo in a hot Atlanta neighborhood and a close group of friends – especially her longtime best friend Marci. A list of men a mile long who have tried to win her heart and failed. Plus, she’s just landed the event that will take her career and social status to the next level. What could she possibly have to regret?

Then a freak accident changes everything, and Suzanne discovers that her near-perfect life is just a few steps away from total disaster. She is humiliated and at risk of losing it all… except the surprising support of her newest celebrity client. With nothing else to go on, Suzanne follows him into an unexpected job and unfamiliar territory. Soon she will question everything – her career, her past, her friendships, and even her own dating rules. 

But when her catalog of past relationships turns into a list of criminal suspects, she is faced with the horrifying possibility that she may not live to regret any of it…








Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Livia. It’s great
to be here!




1.      
Are you a reader?
What are your favorite books?

Definitely. On any given day, I am usually in the middle of three or four
books, plus an audiobook I listen to in the car or while exercising. I
alternate between them, depending on my mood or how compelling the plot is in
each. It takes me a while to finish each one this way, but it keeps it
interesting! I will read books in almost any genre, from Virginia Woolf to
Helen Fielding to Margaret Atwood and back again. I could read Jane Austen
until the pages fall apart (or the Kindle screen wears down), but I also love
thrillers, sci-fi, YA, fantasy, historical romance… I love smart books that
make me care about the characters, especially those that expand my
understanding of the world – real or imaginary – in some way.




2.      
What is your path
to publication?

Right now I am making my own path as an indie author. I’ve never tried the
traditional route of query letters, agents and publishing houses, at least not
with a full-length novel. For years I have done writing ‘on the side,’ with
magazine articles and little freelance projects, but now I’m beginning to see
it as more of a primary vocation. I like the control that comes with
self-publishing; and it’s certainly exciting how the literary landscape is
changing to allow more of us to take a shot at winning over an audience. On the
other hand, if an agent or publisher contacted me I would at least listen to
what they were offering! 




3.      
How much time do
you spend writing each day/week?

It varies from week to week. I do have another part-time consulting job, for
which the hours vary. I also have two preschoolers, and as any parent can tell
you, they invariably get fevers or projectile vomiting on the day that you
planned to outline your next project. I try
to write for at least ten hours a week. Sometimes I can only manage two, sometimes
it’s more like twenty-five or thirty. I’ve found that having broad monthly
goals helps me to correct when I’ve had an off week.




4.      
How do you work?
Are you an island unto yourself? Or part of a larger community?

A little of both. I am definitely independent, but I like to participate in
writers groups, twitter communities and online collectives when I can. For the
first time in several years, I recently joined an in-person critique group here
in Atlanta and love it. Virtual communities are amazing, but there’s something
special about being in a room with other writers face-to-face. I’m a total
extrovert, so the human contact is energizing. Plus there’s usually wine.





5.      
What is your
favorite thing about writing? Least favorite?

I love that writing carries infinite possibilities, using a relatively simple
set of tools. You’ve got 26 letters (in English), a few punctuation marks, and
hundreds of rules about how to use them. It sounds so confining, and yet we can
write anything we can imagine. Writing can transport you in time and place,
take you to worlds that exist only at the edges of possibility, describe the
most complex human emotions, illustrate our most basic conflicts, and sometimes
offer ways of resolving them. I love when I’m writing and the characters or the
story take over, and suddenly I see something I never would have come up with
on my own. My least favorite thing about writing is that revision is always a
much bigger part of the process than I anticipate. It’s sort of like
childbirth, I keep forgetting at the conception of an idea how hard the final
stages will be.




6.      
Are writers born,
taught, or both?

Both, with more emphasis on teaching. Certainly some people are naturally more
inclined to enjoy and excel at writing than others; and some unique perspectives
or artistic voices lend themselves more readily. That said, the most talented
writers will fall short without training, mentoring, and learning from their
mistakes. Even people with minimal talent can become skilled writers if they
have a story to tell, are open to learning and work hard at mastering the
craft. It’s all about knowing your strengths and being disciplined enough to
uncover your weaknesses.






7.      
What would you
tell younger and less experienced you if you could?

Go for it! Don’t let your insecurities get the better of you, and never let
anyone talk you out of doing what you love. Also, keep a journal. That’s one
area in which I have not been very disciplined, and I always regret it.















M.J. Pullen



When she’s not chasing two little boys or trying to wipe something sticky off the floor, M.J. (Manda) Pullen is the bestselling author of two contemporary women’s fiction novels: The Marriage Pact (2011) and Regrets Only (2012). She is working on several new projects as well, including more women’s fiction and a YA paranormal adventure series.




M.J. grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Writing has always been a big part of her life, both professionally and personally. She studied English Literature and Business at the University of Georgia in Athens, and later Professional Counseling at Georgia State University in Atlanta. She practiced psychotherapy for five years before taking a sabbatical to spend more time writing and raising her brood. Since high school, she has also been an executive assistant, cashier, telemarketer, professional fundraiser, marketing guru, magazine writer, grant-writer, waitress, box-packer, HR person, and casual drifter.




M.J. loves creating true-to-life characters who are flawed, relatable, and most importantly redeemable. She tries to explore all aspects of relationships, from romantic entanglements to battles between mortal enemies, and everything in between. She reads and writes across many genres, and learns something from everything she does. No matter what she’s writing, M.J. believes that love is the greatest adventure there is, and that hopeless romantics are never really hopeless.




After years traveling and living in places like Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, M.J. has now returned to her home city of Atlanta (actually Roswell, for hard-core Roosevelt fans and connoisseurs of suburban culture), where she lives with her husband and two young sons. She loves to hear from readers and other writers – so drop her a line!




Website: www.mjpullen.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mjpullenbooks

Twitter: @MJPullen

Blog: mjpullen.com/blog/

 http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/m-j-pullen.html





BUY LINKS




http://www.amazon.com/Regrets-Only-ebook/dp/B008QD09P4/