Ally Shields's Blog, page 83
July 13, 2013
Summer Sun Awards
Grab a cool drink and join me at
The Summer Sun Awards!
In between trying to keep her character Lady Fury in order and rounding up pirates, the creative and talented writer, Shehanne Moore, created the Summer Sun Awards, and I was nominated by another fantastic author - Catherine Cavenish!
Thank you, Cat.
To accept the award, the only requirements are to display the sunny logo, link back to the person who nominated you, and make 8 secret "confessions."
Hmm, sounds like hot work to me. So, I'm on my deck with a cold pitcher of margaritas. Shall we get started?
1. Favorite song with summer in the title or the words (give the words)
Summertime, composed by George Gershwin for the musical Porgy & Bess. It gives you the feel of a lazy summer afternoon with a cold drink in your hand. (Sound familiar??)
Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high
Oh, Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry.
One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky
But until that morning
There's a'nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing by.
2. Favorite book about summer: Summer Knight, the 4th book of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.
All down-and-out wizard Harry has to do to save the world is solve the murder of Summer Knight, the second in command for the Queen of Faeries.
3. Favorite hot summer film:
Summer of '42 - I don't know if you'd call it "hot," but it's a great coming of age movie.
Check out the Youtube video for this movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oIx4-oN9OU
4. Favorite summer memory: Camping with my parents at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. I was in my Indian phase, and Dad put on my headdress and danced around the camp fire!
5. Favorite summer holiday destination: I love the oceans and beaches. So how about Mykonos Island? One of my very favorite trips. Take a video tour of this incredible Greek paradise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj1Pk4JGATs
6. What books will be in your suitcase this summer?
Affliction by Laurell K Hamilton;
Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer
7. What's your likely destination this summer?
Saylorville Lake, which is only about five minutes from my house! 8. What hottie would you most like to be sharing the hot days and long nights with this summer?
I don't know who this hottie is in real life, but I've used him in a graphic for the charismatic vampire Andreas in my books. He is rather scrumptious.
The guy most often in my life these days is Ranger, my nine year old playful Miniature Pinscher.Enough about me. Here are the 8 people I've nominated. They've all got fabulous blogs, so whether they find time to play Q & A or not, click over and look around.
Kath Marsh
Kristin Pulioff
Tina Gayle
Laura Diamond
Courtney Farrell
Theresa McClinton
AJ Locke
Sara Hubbard
I hope you enjoyed the Summer Sun Award. Thanks for stopping and come back soon!
July 9, 2013
Coffee Chat with Author Tina Gayle
It's Wednesday again--and for me that means coffee chat time!
I'm sharing my pot with Tina Gayle, an author of sweet, sensual contemporary romances. Welcome, Tina. How do you take your coffee?
TINA: It's nice to be here. I like my flavored creamers (vanilla, hazelnut, Irish cream) one of them and sugar with a little coffee. :)
Ally: Coming right up. While I pour, tell us about yourself, including something unique you don't normally include in your bio.
MY BIO: Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books.
After years of working in the business world doing a variety of jobs, she decided to try her hand at writing and hope to incorporate the joy of being a mother into her books.
Currently working on a series about four executive wives, she is excited about combining elements of women fiction with the passion of romance. The first two books, “Revive” and “Birth” have been released and the last two are coming out in 2013.
Married twenty-five years, she and her husband love to travel and play golf. She can’t wait for Mike to retire so they can do more of both.
Read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website.
TINA: That's the official bio. As for something unique, I have a degree in MIS (Management Information Systems). When I quit work to pursue my goal of becoming a writer, I didn't fully realize how much I would use my degree. I program my own website and use it to better understand the different social media sites.
Ally: A great degree to have--being your own IT person! We've had authors visit us from all around the world, so tell us where you are from.
TINA: Currently, I live in Southern California. I love the weather, hate the traffic. Though, I was not born here. I’m a Texas girl at heart and lived there until after I was married. I still miss silly things like walking into a store and hearing Country and Western music.
Ally: What is the hardest part of the writing process? And the easiest?
TINA: Rewrite is the hardest because it requires a word by word search of the manuscript to determine proper grammar and spelling. The easiest is the writing, I love seeing the scenes in my head and capturing the emotion on the page.
Ally: Let's try some quick answer questions before we get to your book:
last memorable book you read (not your own) – Drive Me Wild by Christine Warren
favorite after five drink – white wine
favorite summertime activity – reading in the shade
last person you talked to on the phone – my husband
place you'd most like to visit, real or fictional – Ireland so my husband and I can go play on the course at the birthplace of golf.
Ally: Now, let's talk about your book. What makes this story different from other romances?
TINA: CFO’s Affair is the 3rd book of the Executive Wives Club series and deals with a number of issues; empty nest syndrome, a disloyal spouse, grief from the loss of a spouse and taking on the care of a child. Any one of these might be enough for most people but Sylvia has to deal with all of it while learning to trust in love again.
Ally: Let's take a look...
Blurb for CFO’s Affair
Sylvia Donovan is emotionally wounded from the unexpected death of her husband and still haunted by their last conversation: his request for a divorce and his confession of love for another woman. Her husband gone, her only daughter off to college, Sylvia faces the challenges of learning to live alone and move on with her life.
Vince Wilshire, enchanted with Sylvia, is more than willing to do what it takes to capture the heart of the hurting and untrusting Sylvia.
Can he help her forget the past and make her believe in love again?
Buy Link is http://bit.ly/CFOaffair
If you'd like to talk further with Tina, she can be reached everywhere:
Home - www.tinagayle.net
Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + - https://plus.google.com
Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759
I'd like to thank Tina for visiting today! And, thank YOU for joining us. I hope you'll come back soon!
July 7, 2013
Updates on Guardian Witch Series
Series Update
I'm busy writing this week, so I just popped in to give you a quick update on where the series stands.
Burning Both Ends is still scheduled for release to online booksellers on July 19th! Yay!! (print date is unknown)
I will do a cover reveal on here and on Facebook, as soon as I have the final artwork!
A 4-hour release party will be held on Facebook on July 20 where you can win prizes every half-hour, including gift certificates, signed copies of books one and two, and some of my awesome ribbon bookmarks. Be sure to be there and invite your friends! (https://www.facebook.com/events/468546549902150/)
Blood and Fire, book 4, is written, and first edits have been started for a fall 2013 release date. I will give you a definite date when I'm sure we're on schedule.
Stirring the Flames, book 5, is started. I'm ready to begin chapter eight, my characters are in big trouble, and I have to figure out a way to get them out of it! Nothing new about the trouble part, but you'll meet some new supernatural characters in a setting far away from Riverdale! :)
Flame to Flame, book 6, and the currently untitled book 7 are outlined, so I know where the story is going. Getting there is a whole different issue! More surprises are coming.
I hope you'll continue to follow Ari's adventures as she takes on the evil things in her world and struggles to manage her personal life!
July 3, 2013
Coffee Chat with Author Simon OKill & Release Preview
I'm welcoming Simon OKill to the Coffee Chat today to talk about his upcoming paranormal release. Of course, he'll have to answer a few questions first. :) How do you take your coffee, Simon?SIMON: I take it orally, just kidding. I’ll have it black with a tot of whisky to cool it down. You do have whisky?
Ally: I have Baileys. Will that do? While I'm getting our drinks fixed just right, tell our readers about your background.
BIO:
I live with my wife, Shirlee Anne and our cat, in a pretty coastal town in South Wales, UK. We both love Stephen King and had read many of his books and enjoyed their transition to the screen. Due to our love of books, my wife and I dabbled in writing for some years as a hobby. We were approached by a film company to write a paranormal TV series. We struggled most nights and all through weekends to come up with 22 episodes only for the company to go bust. Then after an accident at work, I was forced into early retirement due to disability. I used my newfound skills as a writer to help with my depression. We decided to use our TV series episodes as templates for film scripts and novels. My writing became more serious as certain A-list actors expressed interest in my scripts and my debut novel Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe was accepted by Christopher Matthews Publishing after so many British publishers turned it down.
Ally: I've placed a list of your writings at the end of this article. So, now tell us something about you that isn't in your bio.SIMON: I sleep on the left side of the bed and eat my peanuts chilled with a glass of red wine.
Ally: I've heard of crackers in bed, but wine and peanuts is a new one. Oh, you didn't meant at the same time...or did you?
Let's get serious and talk about writing. What was your writer's journey to publication?
SIMON: Long before I bumped into you lovely guys on ASMSG (an online authors' group), I was floundering like a fish out of water. Rejections were arriving thick and fast. Agents even refused to answer my requests. Actors said yes to my screenplays but even that was not enough to get attention. What to do? With so many scripts gathering edust on my hard drive I thought, what the hell, let’s convert them to novels. And 7 frustrating years later a publisher in America – Christopher Matthew Publishing picked up our first novel – Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe. Now I have self published Luna Sanguis a vampire romance set in Paris 1925. Due out 15th July.
Ally: What do you do when you're not writing? Do you have a hobby?
SIMON: When I have the time, Ally, I search for fossils on our local Jurassic beach in S Wales with my wife. We have a fine collection of ammonites.
Ally: Let's try some Quick Answer Questions:
a. favorite tv show: - Dexter
b. how many hours of sleep do you require? – sleep? Vampires don’t sleep.
c. Which comes first: characters, plot or setting? – my characters are the plot.
d. Do your vampires sparkle? – most certainly not – they are dark, nasty and totally ruthless as they are addicted to
Eternal.
e. one item on your bucket list: - Take my wife to Paris.
Ally: One last question before we get to your new book. What makes your vampire series stand out from the others?
SIMON: The Luna Series shows what happens as a vampire changes from human to the beautiful undead, how her life is linked to the cycle of an Eternal Moon – an actual rare occurrence, and also delves inside her mind as the powerful vampire personality takes control over the weaker human one. Oh and explains our more violent history as a slideshow.
Ally: Okay, you have my attention. Tell us more.
BOOK BLURB:Paris 1925.
A young woman is nearing her Eternal Vampire state as her birthday approaches. She is held captive by the hybrid vampire she created and slowly drained of her pure blood to keep his addiction in check. She outwits him and escapes to a chateau in the hope of reaching maturity. But he follows her unmistakable scent and massacres all that dare protect his supply of Eternal blood.
She awakens in a tiny room trapped and defenseless with amnesia, but something deep in her subconscious yearns to be set free by the next full moon – the date of her Eternal Birthday.
Her true self, Eternal, emerges in brief flashes of awareness to protect her from the horrors of this terrifying prison. Desperate, she forges an alliance with her true love, a gorgeous young doctor treating her.
But her nemesis is out there somewhere, relishing the hunt for her blood – and nothing will stop him from becoming Eternal.
SYNOPSIS:
Luna Sanguis is set in Paris and the French countryside June 1925.
Delicate Rose is a young woman nearing her Eternal Vampire state as her 19th birthday approaches. She was born on June 6th, 1906 at precisely 6am during the zenith of the Eternal Moon. And in 4 days time the Eternal Moon shall shine once more to bring forth Eternal, a vampire so powerful, nothing can stop her. But, she is held captive by the brutal hybrid vampire, Lucien. He is a Suckling due to his heightened addiction to an Eternal’s blood and only by taking all her blood after the eternal making will he be set free.
All his young life Lucien has enjoyed inflicting pain on his Delicate Rose. It’s his way of showing his twisted love for her. He really can’t help himself for on the night he read his vampire’s bible - Dracula, Lucien became possessed by the devious demon, The Count, hiding amongst the book’s pages. And The Count needs to become Eternal so he may cause chaos and destruction.
With just 36 hours to go, Delicate Rose escapes her garret prison in Paris. Now the blood hunt is on. The Count Lucien and his two other Suckling Vampires track down her unmistakable scent, but each time she escapes with the help of a stranger who will become her true love.
The Count leaves a trail of corpses as his rage boils over. Where is his Delicate Rose? Having slaughtered all her friends at a chateau, his former home of all places, Lucien is left confused. He can no longer sense her fear. She has vanished.
Eternal wakes up in a tiny prison-style room with no name, no memory at all. Something stirs in her subconscious. Something otherworldly yearns to be set free by the next full moon – the date of her Eternal Birthday, just 24 hours away. Can she survive long enough for the final transformation? Her only hope is Edouard, her designated true love and psychiatrist treating her. But the more memories that surface the stronger Eternal becomes and yet she must depend on her true love for her very existence for out there somewhere, He is relishing the hunt for her blood – and nothing will stop him from becoming Eternal.
Look for Luna Sanguis at book sellers on July 15th!
You can contact the author through the following links:
http://facebook.com/simondokillwriter
http://twitter.com/simonokill
https://www.amazon.com/author/simondokillwriter
http://goodreads.com/tassyoneill
http://tassyoneill.wix.com/the-phantom-bigfoot
Other works by Simon OKill:
Luna Aeturnus is the sequel to Luna Sanguis and will be ready for release this Autumn.
Bigfoot Episode 2 - It's a secret!
SS-steppenwolf is a supernatural retelling of WWII involving the Occult Warfare department run by Himmler. Think Indiana Jones searching for a werewolf.
Scripts:
‘Flip Side’ is one of my most exciting screenplays to date with its unusual slant on a supernatural gangster story that encompasses music and dynamic dance sequences to portray the action. The script has been optioned by Tasha Bertram of Brodie Films and Stuart St Paul has come on board to direct and co produce this fascinating piece of work.
‘Nightmare Circus’ is a supernatural revenge mystery script set in the Australian outback.
‘Dark House’ is set in Massachusetts, US, where a lonely female artist must overcome her agoraphobia to escape from three kidnappers holed up in a house haunted by a witch finder’s hanging tree.
‘Circus of Blood’ is a horror script set in Rome AD79 where two citizens go on a dangerous quest to kill a brutal serial killer. Their adventures end in Pompeii.
‘Hunter’s Moon’ is a contemporary supernatural western script set on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.
"The Last Warlord" is set during WWII and tells of Major Stewart of MI6 who must find the Nazi’s secret Atlantis base in Antarctica or the entire world will be doomed
Thanks, Simon, for visiting the blog today. Good luck with your release on July 15!
Thanks to our readers for joining us! Please come back soon!
June 30, 2013
Burning Both Ends (Guardian Witch #3) Sneak Peek
The release date for book three is getting close - July 19!
For those of you who would like a peek inside the pre-edit manuscript, here's a short excerpt of a confrontation with an old nemesis. Yes, Sebastian, the nasty vampire prince of Toronto is back!
Excerpt: Sebastian is talking to Ari and Andreas, who have come to the Canadian court of vampires with a message to deliver.
“Without a master, you are fair game, my sweet guardian. It might be fun to play with you.”
“Not interested,” she shot back. Even though she was appalled at the idea, she schooled her face into indifference. Inside, her stomach churned. The thought of hooking up with Sebastian, of having his hands on her, was repulsive. She could only imagine what he considered “play.”
Andreas stepped between Ari and Sebastian. “She is under my protection.”
So quickly Ari barely saw him move, Sebastian glided around him and stopped in front of her.
“I do not think that is true,” Sebastian purred. “She claims no master.” He reached a hand toward her, Ari stepped to one side, and Andreas moved to separate them again. He was stopped by Sebastian’s out flung arm. The prince’s other hand flashed out, closing like a vise over the hand Ari had instinctively raised in defense. Sebastian laughed. “Peace, Andreas. I will not harm her. Not much.” He looked at Ari with scorn. “You are interesting, my dear, but someone needs to teach you your proper place.” Sebastian’s voice grew deep and richer as it filled with power. “You will kneel in my presence,” he boomed.
Hope you enjoyed the peek! Mark your calendar for July 19...
For anyone who missed the prior preview with a different excerpt and hints, here's the link: PREVIEW.
Come Back Soon!
June 28, 2013
"ENDURE" by Laura Diamond: Cover Reveal
Title: ENDURE (Book One of the Endure Series)Author: Laura Diamond
Publication Date: Coming July 12, 2013
Genre: YA dystopian
Synopsis:Seventeen-year-old Justin's anemic blood is a blessing. Or a curse. It all depends on who you ask.
To most of the immortal Vie, his blood is a scourge: untouchable and useless. To some Vie, his blood is a drug. To Justin, it’s something that gets him in a lot of trouble. Being poisoned by a Vie is just one example. His sister getting kidnapped is another. Whether it’s being coerced by a deluded cult leader, or negotiating with Alex—an Vie scientist addicted to Anemie blood—Justin struggles to keep every mutated drop of blood he’s got.
His fight for survival gets more complicated when he meets Alex’s slave, Cara. Despite coming from different worlds, they’re both prisoners, at risk of being drained by a hungry Vie any moment. When she risks her own neck to help Justin find his sister, he's left with a terrifying choice.
Saving what's left of humanity.
Saving his sister. Saving the girl he loves.
Or sticking a stake in Alex’s chest.
Justin can't decide which option will get him killed first.
Please visit ENDURE on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/new/18112776-endure
About Author Laura Diamond:
Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and author of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, and horror. Her Young Adult Paranormal Romance novelette, NEW PRIDE, and novel, SHIFTING PRIDE, debuted late 2012 from Etopia Press. A spin off short story based on the lions of Tsavo, TSAVO PRIDE, is now available on Amazon. Forthcoming novels include EVOKE, Book Two in the ENDURE series, from Etopia Press, and a Young Adult Paranormal Romance, ZODIAC COLLECTOR, from Spencer Hill Press. When she's not writing, she is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion.
Find Laura Diamond on the web:
Blog: http://lbdiamond.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/diamondlb
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laura.diamond.52
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraDiamond
Website: www.AuthorLauraDiamond.com
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Diamond/e/B009Y7L432/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1353277817&sr=1-2-ent
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5815639.Laura_Diamond
June 26, 2013
Coffee Chat with YA Author PJ Sharon
Hi, everyone! I have my coffee and am ready for another chat.
We have a tea drinker with us today. PJ Sharon, author of YA dystopian fiction, prefers English Breakfast Tea with a little milk and a natural sweetener called Xylo-sweet made from fruit and vegetable fibers. (She says it's recommended by dentists and good for your teeth, but I won't be switching anytime soon. I don't drink coffee for its health benefits! :) )
Other than her tea habits, let's get to know a little more about Paula.
Bio: PJ Sharon is author of several independently published, contemporary young adult novels, including Molly finalist, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, FAB Five finalist, ON THIN ICE, and SAVAGE CINDERELLA, Winner of the 2013 HOLT Medallion Award and the 2012 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She is excitedly working on The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael, a YA Dystopian trilogy. WANING MOON, Book One, is a finalist in the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards for the YA Category. Book Two, WESTERN DESERT is also available now. You can expect Book Three in the trilogy in the spring of 2014. Writing romantic fiction for the past eight years and following her destiny to write…because every teen deserves a hopefully ever after, PJ is a member of the RWA, CTRWA, and YARWA. She is mother to two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Berkshire Hills of Western MA.
Ally: Tell us something personal or unique that isn't in your official bio.
PJ: Personal, huh? Like how personal? Do you want to know what toilet paper I use, my brand of deodorant, or something a little more benign, but possibly incriminating, like the fact that I am a TV junkie? I have a line-up every night of the week and I TVO daily episodes of Days of Our Lives. I’ve infected my husband and we watch it over dinner.
Ally: Oh, wow, EJ is my guilty pleasure! But I can't believe what Kristen's been doing. Oh, yeah, this is about books, isn't it? Not Days of Our Lives. :) So, back to business. Do you write in one or multiple fiction genres?
PJ: I’ve stuck with the YA genre because I think my “voice’ is most suited for it, and I love the idea of covertly sharing my experience and wisdom with teens. I write the kinds of books I wish I’d had when I was a teenager. Within the YA genre, each of my books has been uniquely different. Heaven is for Heroes and On Thin Ice were basically contemporary YA Romance/family dramas, while Savage Cinderella is more of a YA/NA romantic suspense. My recent books are YA Dystopian and part of a trilogy, mainly because the story came to me and I couldn’t NOT write it. When the trilogy is completed next spring, I hope to go back to finishing some contemporary works in progress.
Ally: Where do you do all this busy writing? Do you have a writers cave?
PJ: My writer’s cave is my entire living room. My husband, God bless him, set the whole thing up for me last year for Christmas so I could be at work and still be involved with life. I have a big old wooden desk, dual screens that work synchronously, a printer, two file cabinets and state-of-the-art wireless everything. Being married to an engineer who is a tech geek with a heart of gold has its perks! I even get to work with the TV on.
Ally: Sounds like a great setup - husband and all. :) Let's finish this part with five quick answer questions:
dog or cat person - definitely a dog personfavorite dessert - Anything with dark chocolate and coconut. I’ve finally given up the mounds bars and turned to these yummy, chewy, very satisfying protein bars that I get at the health food store. Lots less processed crap and so tasty!favorite TV show (now or past) - Yikes! Just one? I enjoy so many. Recent picks include Castle, Hawaii Five-O, Chicago Fire, NCIS, and Falling Skies. Are we seeing a theme? Hunky heroes, action, intrigue, and drama! Heaven for us writerly types.
if you were going to try one, would it be snow skiing or water skiing? I’ve done a bit of both and neither of them truly well. Since I’m a former ice skating instructor, I’d have to say snow skiing, but I’ve got to say, careening at high speeds down an icy slope has less and less appeal each year that passes.
roller coasters or carousels - I used to LOVE roller coasters. Now, they just give me whiplash. See above aging reference. Ally: I can relate! Now, I'm dying to see your books. We'll start with the new one just released.
WESTERN DESERT, Book Two in The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael trilogy, takes off where WANING MOON ends.Genetically enhanced sixteen-year-old Lily Carmichael, and seventeen-year-old Will Callahan embark on a journey across a sun-ravaged and decimated US in the year 2057, bound for the Western Desert on a dangerous rescue mission. The survivors they meet along the way put Lily’s healing abilities to the test and challenge Will’s resolve to find his missing father—no matter the cost. But even with the burden of life and death on their shoulders, and the Industry hot on their trail, the greatest challenge they face is trusting their hearts to each other.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Desert-Chronicles-Carmichael-ebook/dp/B00DJUHZS8/
Paperback version: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Desert-Chronicles-Carmichael-Volume/dp/1490504214/
Create Space for Print copies: https://www.createspace.com/4333733
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/western-desert-carol-lacoss/1115772401?ean=2940016451213
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328282
If you haven't yet read the beginning of PJ's triology, you'll want to start with book one.
Book Blurb: In the year 2057, in a post-apocalyptic world where three quarters of the population has been wiped out by a global pandemic, and a polar shift threatens the remainder of earth’s inhabitants, sixteen-year-old genetically altered teen, Lily Carmichael, faces bigger challenges—escape capture by a rogue government agency, save her family, and avoid falling in love.
RT Book Reviews: “An action packed read with a strong female lead.”
WANING MOON is runner up in the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards
JUNE 26 - 28 WANING MOON can be downloaded FREE from Amazon.
Ally: Thanks so much for joining us today, Paula. I know you'll have great luck with your new release. BTW, I love the new cover!
To contact PJ, you can reach her at any of the following links:
E-Mail: pjsharon64@gmail.com
Website: http://www.pjsharon.com
Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/pjsharon64
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pjsharon
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pjsharonbooks
Amazon’s Author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/pjsharon
Promotional blog: http://pjsharonyawriter.blogspot.com
Tuesday Scribes blog: http://secretsof7scribes.wordpress.com
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5238865.P_J_Sharon
Thanks for stopping by today. Please come back soon!
June 22, 2013
Extending Your Twitter Reach With Hashtags
Twitter Hashtags for Readers & Writers
What a powerful little symbol the hashtag is!!
Two years ago I didn't know what it was. Now I use hashtags several times a day. Writers use them to reach particular types of readers, and readers can quickly locate the types of books they like. I put the following list together, because I wish I'd had it back when I first became active on Twitter.
If you are a writer wanting to target a specific audience or a reader/user looking for information on one type of book, try using hashtags-- include them in your tweets or put them in the search box to find areas of interest.
If you are a writer, you want to interact with as many readers as possible, more than the few hundred or even few thousand followers you have. You can do that by including the appropriate hashtags right after the link in your next tweet.
Example: You want to share a fantastic review your book received. It might read something like this:
Check out this great #book review of MURDER AMONG THE PETUNIAS! http://blahblahblah.com #mystery #gardeners #review
Anyone searching Twitter for mystery, gardeners or reviews will find your tweet whether they normally follow you or not. You also might notice I put a hashtag before the word "book" in the middle of the tweet. That insures that book readers will also see this tweet. Hashtags bring your information to people interested in what you have to say and may gain new regular followers. It can also extend the number of people who see your tweet by thousands, depending on the hashtag you use.
But how to readers find these tweets? Twitter's search feature. Put in any search word with a hashtag in front of it, like #romance, and you will see a list of tweets identified by that hashtag.
While any word can be used with a hashtag, there are certain words that are accepted and popular throughout the twitterverse.
Here is a list of some of the most used hashtags among fiction book readers and writers:
General:
#book
#fiction
#kindle
#nook
#novel
#ebook
#selfpub
#writers
#authors
#indie
#SneakPeek
any genre or sub-genre: #romance, #mystery, #thriller, #paranormal or #PNR (paranormal romance), #scifi, #YA, #MG, #NA, #erotic, western, Christian, etc.
Also of general interest:
#FF follow friday
#WW Words Wednesday
#Free
#promo
#Giveaway
To reach writers:
#amwriting
#amediting
#marketing
#pubtip
#writetip
To reach readers:
#amreading
#readers
#avidreaders
#bookworm
#mustread
#booklover
#review
#NewRelease
#BYNR (Be Your Next Read)
There are hundreds of hashtags, with more appearing every day. If you'd like more information before deciding which ones you should use or what time of day is best, there are sites that will give you in-depth information, such as www.hashtags.org.
If I have missed some of your favorite hashtags, I hope you'll add them in the comments!
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June 19, 2013
Coffee Chat with Regency Author Linda McLaughlin
Hi, everyone!
It's time for coffee and a chat! Grab your favorite brew and pull up a chair.
Linda McLaughlin is here with her sweet regency romance, Lady Elinor's Escape, but we're going to ask her a few questions first. Since Linda's has her cup of black, sweetened decaf, and I have my usual black, no sugar, I think we're ready to start with her bio.
Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an incurable case of wanderlust inherited from her father. She has traveled extensively within the United States and has visited Mexico, Canada, & Australia. A lifelong dream came true with a trip to England where she was able to combine sightseeing and theater with research for her novels. A native of Pittsburgh, she now lives in Southern California with her husband.
Her first book was Worth The Risk by Lyn O'Farrell. Now Linda writes historical and Regency romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward.
She also writes sexy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont.
Ally: Now tell us something that most people don't know about you.
LINDA: I used to work as a technical librarian with a Secret level security clearance.
Ally: Ooh, it sounds like you should be writing spy thrillers! But I guess love is your thing. :) How did your first book get published?
LINDA: My very first publication was a collaboration with Anne Farrell. It was published as Private Affair by Lyn O'Farrell. We sold it the old-fashioned way: submitted paper copies to several NY publishers until someone made an offer. It was published as a Zebra Precious Gem in 1998, and re-released as an e-book in 2010 under the title Worth The Risk.
Ally: Since your regency books take place in a different century, how much research do you have to do? And what sources do you find the most helpful?
LINDA: There is a LOT of research involved in writing historical romance, but it is so interesting, I really don’t mind. I am a history geek, so the danger comes in spending too much time doing research.
At this point in time, the Internet is the most helpful source, since it’s easy to find information quickly. But research books still have their place, so I am eternally grateful for public libraries and the inter-library loan system. The best research is when you can travel to the location of the story and get a real sense of the place, and sometimes even the time.
Ally: Let finish up this portion of our chat with some Quick Answer Questions:
a. favorite holiday - Halloween
b. last movie you saw in the theater - The Hunger Games
c. wine or iced tea - beer
d. favorite day of the week (why?) - Friday (I meet my writing friends for breakfast)
e. one item on your bucket list - visit Scotland
Ally: Thanks so much for the chat, Linda. Let's see the book! I confess to having a weakness for regencies. :)
Book Blurb:
Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him.
There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin's life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a rescuer of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled by guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party.
Lady Elinor's Escape is now available at Amazon, All Romance eBooks Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.
If you'd like to contact the author, Linda can be found through any of the following:
Website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/
Blog: http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lindamclaughlin
Photo courtesy of the Morgue Files (Much of this article is a repost by request. It was originally published March 24, 2013, as a guest post by this author on 
