Maggie Thom's Blog, page 5

The Right To Wine

Wine, the nectar of the gods. Or so I'm told. It is something that has been enjoyed for many centuries, that's for sure but beyond that I don't know much about wine. I know they make it from grapes. And sometimes other fruits. It gets bottled up or in some cases boxed up and shipped out so that we can enjoy it with our meals, when we want to celebrate, after a long day at the office, after a stressful day, when we have company, well, really whenever we darn well please.

Other than that I don't know much about wine. What I do know could probably be poured into a thimble. I know what I like and what I don't but I never really remember much else. To tell you that it's a Cabernet Sauvignon made by so and so, I usually don't pay attention too much to that. Gasp! I know. I can tell you if it's red, white, rose or white zinfandel and then if it's sweet or dry but that's it. I'm getting better at remembering the names of those that I enjoy.

For my latest book, Deceitful Truths, it is a companion book or sequel (still figuring that out) to Captured Lies. Both are based around a winery in Ontario. Now why I chose a winery I have no idea. Why I chose Ontario, I have no idea. What I do know is that I'm glad I know people there, who know people there, who know people there... or I'll just have to ask strangers for some answers.

As I mentioned I like wine but I only drink it once in a while. I've done the wine tour thing, a couple of times. I've hung out with people who are wine connoisseurs. And I've tried different wines. And do you think I can remember anything about all of the wine process, the types, what to pair it with? Nope. I have to read. And then read again. Not sure why it won't stick but...
To continue reading, click here: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-vh

Giveaway by Author Dianne Gallagher

Giveaway : Enter the Rafflecopter Draw to Win!

Contest runs July 4th to July 11th.

There are four prizes to be given away - 2 in the United States only and 2 International
Win one of two signed paperback books of Too Dark To Sleep (US only) - Rafflecopter Draw

Or win one of two signed ecopies of Too Dark To Sleep (International) - Rafflecopter Draw

"A darkly ominous crime thriller... terse narrative and crisp dialogue... tautly written but richly detailed..." - Kirkus Reviews

(If you like thrillers, this one is soooo good.)

Too Dark to Sleep has been named a finalist in this year’s Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest... winners to be notified in September!

To enter the draw, click here: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-st

Southern Alberta - Major Flooding

It's supposed to be the first day of summer... but we are so far from the sun and warmth that I attribute to summer.

Southern Alberta is in a state of emergency due to flooding. The whole south western part of the province is under a roaring river of water.

I grew up in Southern Alberta and so have lots of family and friends who are affected by the recent flooding. It is so beyond devastating. I feel sick with what is happening and even worse because there is nothing I can do. Mother Nature is a scary force to reckon with.

Rivers are flooding and spanning over areas at least 2 - 3 kilometers wide (about 1 1/2 miles) and wider in some areas. Houses are being swept away. So far there are no reported deaths, although there are a couple of people suspected to have lost their lives in the flooding. It's amazing really with how fast the creeks, streams and rivers rose that more people haven't died and for that I am very thankful and hope that there are no more.

For you who haven't seen what is going on, here are some pictures I've found on the internet. I've tried to put the links as to where I found them but I see many people are posting them so I'm not sure the credit is going where it belongs but thank you to everyone who has shared their pictures and videos.

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Canmore, Alberta
To see pictures and the full post, click here: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-rZ

We Went West

We Went West...

You know when I set out to create Tainted Waters I never really knew where it was going. Shh, don't tell anyone. But it's true. When I came up with the idea, which really started with my fascination with people who own a cabin at the lake. I think that's awesome but it seems that on weekends everyone leaves the city and goes to their cabin at the lake, turning it into a city. I love the water but not crowded lakes. So we were trying to find a lake that wasn't so busy.

Well we found one to go camping at. We went out west (and you know what happened with all the surprises they received back in the good old days) well so did we. Maybe not quite the same but still... We found this lake that had a beautiful setting, seemed quiet, not a lot of people there, so we camped. The lake was great for canoeing but was a bit reedy and really not all that big but fine for our purposes. It was a beautiful sunny day and there had been a stream that someone dug out to be more of a canal leading out the lake. It was a great place for the kids to play. We had lots of fun. Then it became dark out time. And lo and behold big trucks drive up and down the road all night. Now I'm not sure if we just didn't pay attention during the day or if things happen after dark but we never noticed...

Click here: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-rS

Interview on LA Talk Radio Two Talk Books

How did I come up with tangling family secrets and lies with drug trafficking and a black market for organ donors - willing or not - for Tainted Waters? Check out my interview with Starla Faye on Two Talk Books... http://wp.me/p2ydBl-rx

How to be a Good Guest Blogger

How to be a Good Guest Blogger

By Maggie Thom

Guest Blogging is so important in this day and age, with the internet being the go to place for people to find information and ultimately to find you as an author. It is a great way to share your writing skills, your personality, find new people and to let readers get to know you but it is also about helping to attract more readers to that blogger's website. Guest blogging should benefit both of you. It is not about you writing the article and then expecting your host to do all the marketing and awareness for it. It is up to you as well. In fact, it is in your interest to do all that you can to drive traffic to their site.

There are a lot of websites that are willing to host guest bloggers. If you are looking for a blog who does host articles, check out blogs that do book reviews. Most of them are willing to host you. Please note though that they are busy and get a lot of requests, so be patient and respectful. If you don't hear from a blog within a few weeks, move on. Send out at least five to ten a week and move on to the next thing while you wait for the response. Most blogs are more than happy to host a guest.

If you are thinking about being a Guest Blogger, there are some things to find out and to keep in mind:

1. Before you send out a request, look over their website. Is it the type of website that fits with your book, your style and who you are?

2. Send an email to the owner of the blog and ask if you can do a guest post for them.

3. When they tell you they'd love to have you guest blog, ask what topics they might like to have you write about or do they have interview questions for you to complete.

4. What date could they host you and by when do they need all of your information? Also make sure you're clear on what of your information they are willing to post. Most will put your name, your bio...

Continue reading here: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-qG

Interview and Review with Author Jessica Tornese

An Author’s Journey through Reading with Jessica Tornese

Author's Website: www.jessicatornese.com

1. When did you start reading?

About the age of 5. I have always had my nose in a book for as long as I can remember.

2. What was the first book you remember reading?

I remember being enthralled with Babysitter Club books and Boxcar Children books- then came Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew- I loved a good mystery!

3. What attracted you to or got you started reading?

I guess I always loved the escape a book provided-I liked feeling a part of the world of the characters for just a moment. Reading can take you so many places.

4. What was the first book that had a real 'wow' factor for you?

I think I was really in love with Anne of Green Gables. I think the book is timeless and it stuck with me. I always wanted to go to Prince Edward Island and see the location from the movie, too! As an adult, the first book I remember thinking about for days, was The DaVinci Code.

5. What genres have you read? Was there any progression to the genres you've read over the years? Did you start in one genre and then discover others the older you got? i.e. scifi and then romance, then paranormal, then espionage....

I am more of an author hound. I find an author I love, then read everything they have available until I get my next big kick. As a young adult, I started with mystery/thriller books by Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson, Lee Child and Michael Connelly- then moved to more drama genres like Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, Jodi Picoult books, and Phillipa Gregory books. I also love Christian inspirational fiction. I LOVE historical fiction the most!

6. Who are your favorite authors and when did you start following them?

I absolutely adore Jodi Picoult, Francine Rivers, Diana Gabaldon, and Mitch Albom. I just read Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah and was so moved.

7. What genre(s) do you read today?

Right now, I am doing a lot of different genres, but mostly YA as I am trying to explore the genre my books are in. I like to see what’s out there and keeping the interest of the teens.

8. What do you like in a story? What does it have to have to grab you?

I choose a book by the first few pages. I pick it up in the store and flip through it. I love James Patterson because he gets right to the action- no fluffy details and distractions. That’s what gets me- that and a striking cover or title. Anything that looks aged/historical, I am all over it.

9. What got you started with writing? And how long have you been writing?

I wanted to write a book that remembered the childhood of my father. He grew up like no one else I know- and it was a life I admired and wanted others to know. He is a strong man...

To read the full interview, click here: http://wp.me/s2ydBl-1344

Inspiration by Liz Crowe

On Inspiration

by author, Liz Crowe

It’s a funny thing, this business of crafting books, finding the right fit in a publisher, editing, revising, promoting and then starting it all over again.

Every time I’m hip deep in a book tour, or trying to yammer my way through all the noise on facebook and twitter about MY book (vs. THAT OTHER book, whatever it is at the moment) I swear it’s the last damn time I’m doing it. It’s draining, trying to convince the General Reading Public At Large to pick up your story instead of someone else’s. Especially in this day and age of near non-stop communication opportunities coupled with a hands-off attitude on the part of (most) publishers, even the “big ones” in epub or genre specificity.

Having published (hang on, gotta count) 18 books (more actually but I got rights back on 4 of ‘em and am giving them a serious re-vamp for re-release at some point) since 2009 I feel that I can say with some degree of certainty that “writing the book” is the easy part. And that, ladies and gents is saying something because for every book written and published there are probably a dozen or more waiting to be written, almost written, wished they could be written or otherwise drifting around in some office worker’s head. My point is that finding inspiration to actually create can be tough in The Brave New World of promote-yourself-or-die book publishing.

The various “self” or “tiny publishing house to giant book contract and movie deal phenomenon’s of the last year or two should be inspiring, one supposes. But for me, they are not for various reasons.

So, how to truly Be Inspired as an artist?

For me, now that I have more or less emptied my head of 2 entire series and a few stand alone ideas I am finding that a bit of quiet works best. That is to say, stop writing, stop thinking about writing, take a mental break from writing while reading some books you’ve been wanting to read, along with a classic or two is a guaranteed way to get my personal muse (Hans, many of you know him well) percolating and jumping up and down to catch my attention.

I’m at that point right now, but I guess, since 2013 is seeing the release of 7 books for me, maybe I’ve earned a break. Problem is…in this Brave New World anymore of “quick! Write me the sequel!”
To read the whole article, click here: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-p2

Interview and Review with Author JM Kelley

Interview with Author J.M. Kelley


1. When did you start reading?

I’ve been addicted to books for as long as I can remember. I couldn’t give you an age, but I feel safe in saying I started very young. I remember a very unsuccessful attempt at roller-skating with a book in hand, and can point out the scar that was a result of the experiment.

2. What was the first book you remember reading?

I believe Jenny and the Cat Club (Esther Averill) might be the earliest read I can recall. Jenny Linsky may be the only cat I could get along with.

3. What attracted you to or got you started reading?

I remember falling in love with so many things as a child. Fascinating settings, magical worlds, quirky characters, unique turns of phrase, even interesting illustrations in children’s books. I loved stories. I loved words. I simply couldn’t get enough. Very little has changed about that since I was a child.

4. What was the first book that had a real 'wow' factor for you?

Click here to read the whole interview: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-ky

Melodie Ramone Author of After Forever Ends

An Author’s Journey through Reading


Melodie Ramone

Author's Website: www.melodieramone.com

1. When did you start reading?

I actually started reading before I was five. I don’t know what age, but there was a book called “It Could Be Worse” that was my favorite. It was read to me so many times that I memorized it and then pretended to read it. I remember being very surprised when I saw the words in other books and knew what they were. I remember showing off a lot. I was pretty sure I was super cool right about then. J

2. What was the first book you remember reading?

I have no idea why I remember this, but it was in second grade and it was my first “big book”. It had a red cover with a bunch of kids on it and it was called “More Friends and Neighbors”. It was exactly 100 pages and was a collection of short stories and faerie tales.

3. What attracted you to or got you started reading?

I’ve always had a thing for words. When I first learned about letters and how they work…I don’t know. It excited me. Reading for me has always been the same thing as deciphering a secret message. Somebody has something to tell me and I’m insatiably curious, so I devour books. I get very excited about them.

4. What was the first book that had a real 'wow' factor for you?

Oh, gosh, I don’t know. I’m trying to think back that far. I remember reading all of Judy Blume’s books when I was in elementary school, but I don’t know if they were exactly a “wow”, even though I loved them to bits. But I do remember in fifth grade, I read Little Women and I sobbed when Beth died. I think that was the first time I realized that a book can break your heart. And can heal you, too, all in the same story.

5. What genres have you read? Was there any progression to the genres you've read over the years? Did you start in one genre and then discover others the older you got? i.e. scifi and then romance, then paranormal, then espionage....

To read more click here: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-l3