L.V. Lewis's Blog, page 36
December 16, 2012
Q and A with Allie Jean, Author of Legacy of a Dreamer
1. Who’s your favorite author, and why?
I love this question and here’s why. I am a HUGE fan of authors who can create their own worlds, something original and clever, which has its own set of rules the characters living it have to go by that cannot be broken or bent. This is incredibly hard to do, for I’m attempting to do that with my own series. There are some people, however, who have mastered it. J.R. Tolkien for example, but I’d say my favorite author right now is J.K. Rowling. The world she created for Harry and the others is so intricate, inspirational, and complex that it will be hard for anyone in the literary world to match that scale, and for that, she is amazing to me.
2. If you could have a conversation with one of the characters in your most-recently released novel, which one would it be and why?
Oh, hands down, it would be Mathias. First off, we don’t learn exactly how old he is, so that would be my first question. And second, I’d want to know more about the history of his race, stories about the hunt for more females like Chantal, and exactly when he knew he was falling for her. I’d also want to know why his brother is so up-tight. He he . . .
3. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your characters personalities?
Oddly enough, the entire idea for this series came from nightmares I used to have frequently when I was young. I don’t know why − I never had a horrible past or anything like that − but I’d have violent, twisted dreams that would play out as if it were a story, where I was the main character. During these times, I’d wake up at night, and if I wasn’t screaming my head off, I’d be sitting in my bed terrified. One day, I saw a shadow in my room that resembled a figure of a man. At first, I was terrified, but when I realized it was just a shadow, he became an imaginary friend.
As I became older, I wondered what would happen if that shadow hadn’t been just a shadow . . .
And Legacy of a Dreamer picks up from there.
Chantal is a mixture of myself, a bit of each of my sisters, and a big part of the kick-ass girl, Miss Buffy Summers. In fact, one of my sisters is on the cover of the book! In all seriousness, Chantal has been a part of me since I was very young. Since the idea came to me for this world many moons ago, Mathias has also been a slow work-in-progress, but I’m extremely happy with how he’s turning out, especially in the second book, which I’m writing now.
4. What is the best thing (in your opinion) about being a writer?
The ability to tell my stories is the best thing about being a writer. I have always been a storyteller. I’d make up ghost stories or write countless tales in my journals at home. Even when I became older, writing became a way of coping with whatever crap life had dealt me. The ability to have my stories out there for people to enjoy means a lot to me. It’s almost cathartic in a way. Kind of like “here, have a dish of this craziness” to the world.
*sigh*
Makes me feel so much better.
5. How did you find your agent/publisher?
I actually entered a competition through The Writer’s Coffee Shop at the GREAT encouragement of some friends of mine. It happened to be a Romance competition, and I thought my story based on my nightmares kind of fit, so I entered the first eleven chapters, not thinking I’d win a darn thing. But as it turns out, the folks over there loved it and offered me a contract. And here I am!
6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?
“Write how you see it.”
In this series, there are a ton of fight scenes and creatures that are only visible in my head – basically things that haven’t been adapted in Hollywood or anything. The person I actually asked this advice from was Cassandra Clare, the author of the Mortal Instruments series. She’d read something I’d written at one time and said she loved it. I asked her advice and that’s what she said: “Write how you see it.”
For me it’s huge from her because she writes in the same kind of action packed, alternate universe type genre, and I’ve never wavered from it. I picture the scene in my head like a movie, slow it down, and describe it. So far, it’s helped a ton.
7. Biggest mistake you’ve made as an author?
In this book, probably naming the villain Damon. I didn’t realize the guy in Vampire Diaries was named Damon, but what the heck! Oh well . . .
Other than that, I’m sure I’ve made mistakes with my research when I reference things. I try to be a good investigator, but the internet can be very tricky and point you to false information. I’ve done that in the past, but not with anything I’ve published.
Holiday-themed questions:
1. What would the lead character of your latest novel want for Christmas?
She’d probably want some new clothes. The poor girl has been an orphan most of her life, and what she did have was kind of destroyed, so I’m thinking she’d want something to wear that didn’t look like army digs worn by a seven-foot muscled man. (she needs some pretty shit-kickers)
2. Favorite Christmas music?
Anything off the White Christmas album. That movie was a family tradition of mine growing up, so those songs bring out my holiday spirit. My kids don’t get it, especially when I play “Sisters” for them. It has nothing to do with Christmas, but I sit there singing away, decorating my tree, while my kids argue with me over my song choice. Those are the moments worth living, I think.
3. What was the best gift you ever received?
I could say my kids, which is a given. But I won’t go sappy on you. I think the best gift I received was back in 2005, my in-laws bought me an IPod. Just a little Shuffle 2GB, but I was stoked. And why was I so happy? Because I had four kids, three of them still in diapers, and I had ZERO time to read. With the IPod, I could download audiobooks and listen while I cleaned up poop. That’s actually how I “read” the first Twilight book, I believe. That tiny box of miracles got me through night shifts at the hospital, late night feedings, and a mountain of laundry a day. I could pretty much say it was priceless.
To find out more information about Allie and her writing, visit http://alliejean.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authoralliejean
OR
http://www.facebook.com/alliejeands
Twitter: @AllieJeanDS
Legacy of a Dreamer – Dreamer Series, Book #1: http://bit.ly/SY2QUi
Allie Jean was born with an overactive imagination. At a very early age, a child, her days were spent inventing stories, directing her sisters in made-up plays or telling elaborate ghost stories. Her mind never took breaks, or shutdown, even when she slept. When her eyes shut at night, she would have vivid dreams complete with extensive, elaborate plot lines, and good overcoming evil villains.
Now, living in California with her husband of ten years, her love of storytelling had taken a back seat with the arrival of their four children. As a busy wife, mother and working full-time outside the home, somehow she has been able to write down her relentless character’s story. Her once secret hobby and private world, is now released for other’s to enjoy.
Author to Author Giveaway!
Second prize package added if we get 2,000 entries!
Prize pack of ebooks:
Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean (16+)
Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan (16+)
Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan (16+)
Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes (16+)
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by L.V. Lewis (18+)
Riverbend by Andrea Goodson
Serial Summer by Angel Lawson (18+)
MORE by T.M. Franklin
Valerie, Daughter of the Dragon by Robert S. Fuller, Jr.
Ghosts of our Pasts by N.K. Smith
My Only by N.K. Smith
The Six by K.B. Hoyle
Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred
Click The Link Below To Enter The Drawing:
Sensual Word Menu
Reblogged from Writers In The Storm Blog:
By Sharla Rae
When I was supposed be writing my blog for today I was catching up on new favorite TV series, Game of Thrones. I thoroughly enjoyed the chopping off of heads, sex, creepy zombies of the North, sex, war, slaughtering of animal, and did I mention steamy sex?
There’s just one problem. Afterward, I ran to my computer to write a blog and came up empty.
Sensual Word Menu:
I absolutely love lists like this. They're very helpful when a brainfart steals the word you're searching for in your mind but can't quite come up with.
Q and A with Sandi Layne, Author of Eire’s Captive Moon
Éire’s Captive Moon will be released January 10, 2013. It’s available for pre-order through TWCS.
1. Who’s your favorite author, and why?
I don’t have just one favorite, alas. Jane Austen is a favorite because her stories are wonderful character studies about a few unique women and the men who love them. Stephen King is a favorite because he also does rich characters and wonderful plots that involve multiple perspectives. Francine Rivers is a favorite because her inspirational historical fiction novels are well researched and communicative.
2. If you could have a conversation with one of the characters in your most recently released novel, which one would it be and why?
I’m going to go with the book that is up for release next month, okay? I would enjoy having a conversation with Tuirgeis from Éire’s Captive Moon. First, he was a real person and could help me with my research. I’d love to pick his brain. Also, he’s the key player in the third book of the series and he might like to have some input in how I intend to portray him. I’d be very interested in knowing his true motivations as well as his feelings regarding the Irish people of the day.
3. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your characters’ personalities?
From all over. I’ve written a lot of books and each one requires different handling. I never use a real person as primary inspiration for a protagonist’s character. (Occupation, sure, but not characteristics.) Sometimes, the personality grows on me as I flesh out their backstory in my private “seminars” that I hold in my living room. Yep, that’s how I get characters to make sense. I give seminars on them to my furniture. Often, it’s about how characters should fit together, and then I make them do that, using different traits to complement or antagonize one another. Or both.
4. What is the best thing (in your opinion) about being a writer?
This is going to sound really, really egocentric, but okay. Best thing about being a writer is creating stories that people will read – knowing that your words are going out there and perfect strangers will be paying attention to them. At least for a few minutes.
5. How did you find your agent/publisher?
I self-published for many years before I was approached by my publisher. A few times. One of their editors had read one of my novels and liked it. I am extremely grateful to her.
6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?
That a writer is competing for the entertainment dollar against other forms of interactive media. Therefore, one should write in such a way as to engage the senses and attention of the audience. You might write for yourself, but if you want to make money, you have to remember who is paying you. They want to be entertained.
7. Biggest mistake you’ve made as an author?
Editing a proof galley while I was on cold medication. Stupidest. Thing. Ever.
Holiday-themed questions:
1. What would the lead character of your latest novel want for Christmas?
A new mortar and pestle set.
2. Favorite Christmas music?
I love the classic hymns. Adeste Fideles (of course, in the Latin) is lovely. But I also have a fondness for Straight No Chaser’s 12 Days of Christmas.
3. What was the best gift you ever received?
I really have no idea. I have had memorable gifts and memorable holidays, but what I remember most is the last time my siblings and their families and me and mine converged at my mom’s house for Christmas. It was crowded and fun and exuberant and magical. I felt richly blessed to be there.That was the best gift, really.
Having been a voracious reader all her life, Sandi never expected to want to write until the idea was presented in a backhanded manner. Once the notion occurred to her, though, she had to dive in the deep end (as is her wont) and began by writing historical fiction. She has since written more than twenty novels—most of which will never see the light of day.
Sandi has degrees in English and Ministry, has studied theology, spent years as an educator, has worked in escrow and sundry other careers, but research is her passion. She won an award for Celtic Fiction in 2003, but as well as history, she is also fascinated with contemporary research and has self-published several novels in the Inspirational Romance genre.
She has been married for twenty years to a man tolerant enough to let her go giddy when she discovers new words in Old Norse. Her two sons find her amusing and have enjoyed listening to her read aloud—especially when she uses funny voices. A woman of deep faith, she still finds a great deal to laugh at in the small moments of the everyday and hopes that she can help others find these moments, too.
Sandi Layne Website Facebook Fan Page
Author to Author Giveaway!
Second prize package added if we get 2,000 entries!
Prize pack of ebooks:
Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean (16+)
Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan (16+)
Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan (16+)
Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes (16+)
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by L.V. Lewis (18+)
Riverbend by Andrea Goodson
Serial Summer by Angel Lawson (18+)
MORE by T.M. Franklin
Valerie, Daughter of the Dragon by Robert S. Fuller, Jr.
Ghosts of our Pasts by N.K. Smith
My Only by N.K. Smith
The Six by K.B. Hoyle
Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred
Click The Link Below To Enter The Drawing:
December 13, 2012
Q and A with Angel Lawson, Author of Serial Summer
1. Who’s your favorite author, and why? Impossible to answer question. I’ve always been a fan of Stephen King and Barbara Kingsolver. I love Harry Potter and the world building and I’m currently rereading The Hunger Games for the third time and even though I know the outcome I’m still on the edge of my seat.
2. If you could have a conversation with one of the characters in your most-recently released novel, which one would it be and why? Ruby, because we could talk about zombies and going to Comic Con.
3. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your characters personalities? I try to think about what I know or what I want to learn about. This summer a trip to the beach my family has always visited (since my mother was a child) prompted a story I never realized was in my head. Right now I’m drawing on my past as a caseworker and some of the grittier details from that period of my life. But I also love researching new things. Airstream trailers, Parkour, palmistry.
4. What is the best thing (in your opinion) about being a writer? Permission to get lost in your mind. I’ve always been a daydreamer. Now I have an excuse.
5. How did you find your agent/publisher? I queried for about 6 months and got either form letter rejections, a couple of requests and very little feedback. During that time I started looking more and more into Self-publishing and it really seemed like the best fit for me and my personality.
6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given? Always write. Keep writing. And then write some more.
7. Biggest mistake you’ve made as an author? I wish I’d done a bit better editing job on my first book. It had some mistakes that I’ve gone back and fixed. I hate reading reviews where it comments them. I was overwhelmed though and had read it so many times. At some point you have to trust those working with you. I think at this point I’ve set up a pretty good system to catch errors. I hope.
Holiday-themed questions:
1. What would the lead character of your latest novel want for Christmas? Probably the assurance of a ghost free Christmas. Oh, and to make out with Connor.
2. Favorite Christmas music? Feed the World-BandAid. I loved Duran Duran. My best friend and I had a whole dance to the song with hand movements. Very Napoleon Dynamite.
3. What was the best gift you ever received? Ugh. I have no idea. I remember getting Barbie Townhouse one year. Oh and a doll that you could put in the bathtub. My mom told me it was too expensive and I couldn’t have one. Santa to the rescue!
Angel Lawson lives with her family in Atlanta and has a lifelong obsession with creating fiction from reality, either with paint or words. On a typical day you can find her writing, reading, plotting her escape from the zombie apocalypse and trying to get the glitter out from under her nails.
You Can Find Angel’s Book(s) Here:
You May Contact Angel Lawson Here:
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/lawsonwrites
Twitter Name: @lawsonwrites
Blog or Website: http://www.angellawson.com/
Email: me@angellawson.com
The Author to Author Blog Hop is hosting a giveaway for a prize package of eBooks from our contributing authors. Enter below, and the winner will be notified by e-mail. You have a chance to enter every day on any of the participating authors’ blogs – so keep checking back. (Note: eBooks labeled 18+ will not be awarded to a winner under the age of 18.)
The Author to Author Blog Hop Giveaway Prize Package includes:
Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean (16+)
Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan (16+)
Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan (16+)
Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes (16+)
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by L.V. Lewis (18+)
Riverbend by Andrea Goodson
Serial Summer by Angel Lawson (18+)
MORE by T.M. Franklin
Valerie, Daughter of the Dragon by Robert S. Fuller, Jr.
Ghosts of our Pasts by N.K. Smith
My Only by N.K. Smith
Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred
Click Link Below to Rafflecopter Page:
Q and A with L. V. Lewis (Yours Truly), Author of Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever
Author Q&A First Round – L. V. Lewis, author of “Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever”
1. Who’s your favorite author, and why?
I have many that I love, but if I had to choose a favorite from among them, it would be Walter Moseley. I fell in love with “Devil in a Blue Dress” from his Easy Rawlins Mystery series, which was adapted into a movie starring my Hollywood boyfriend, Denzel Washington as Easy, and my other Hollywood boyfriend, Don Cheadle as Mouse, because the writing was so crisp and his stories so colorful. Processing the stories Moseley writes about pre-civil rights era Los Angeles through my vivid imagination became like an addiction for me. I couldn’t get enough of this world he’d created and these wonderfully drawn characters, particularly the fact that they looked like me, and I could relate to situations they found themselves in.
2. If you could have a conversation with one of the characters in your most-recently released novel, which one would it be and why?
From my novel, Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever, I think I’d like to have a conversation with Tristan White (and maybe his Twin, too). Because the story is written from Keisha Beale’s point of view, I really didn’t get to delve and wallow around in Tristan’s psyche as much as I would have liked to. This character has deep-seated issues resulting from the death of his mother, which lends itself to his relationship choices as an adult. It would make for a fascinating case study that I would tackle in a heartbeat if given the chance.
3. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your characters’ personalities?
I get my ideas and inspiration for my characters’ personalities literally from all over the place. I’ve always been fascinated by people and what motivates them, what makes them uniquely the persons they are. I’ve also always been a dreamer. I like rolling what-if scenarios around in my head. I think most of my characters are amalgamations of several different people I’ve either met in real life, or had the opportunity to study from afar through second-hand accounts, research, and observation. I don’t do the elaborate character creation sheets that many authors employ, but I make myself draw them up completely in my head before I begin to write their stories. I’m an all-over-the place kind of writer who wishes she was more methodical and organized.
4. What is the best thing (in your opinion) about being a writer?
Creating something from nothing is the most satisfying thing for me about being a writer. I take the kernel of an idea and build on it until it becomes a full-blown story. There is nothing more fulfilling in my life at this time outside of enjoying my husband, family and friends. Writing is like that third thing in my life after my most important things. It is a passion that has taken hold after years of lying dormant and being drowned out by all the other noise in my life. It is perhaps the most exhilarating purpose for which I rise daily, and am most thankful for being able to do.
5. How did you find your agent/publisher?
I’ve known her since she was born, literally, because she’s ME! I am proudly self-published, and the only people I collaborate with are me, myself and I. Of course, I happily use the talent and resources of Amazon, CreateSpace, Dreamstime, and a whole host of other social media sites on the internet that I’ve brought together to make this happen. Don’t get it twisted, I would love to have an agent and publisher to take some of the pressure off me for having to be the end all and be all of my writing career, but until that happens, I will happily keep creative and professional control of my own writing career.
6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?
Write your draft, and get it as good as you can get it. Then walk away from it for a while and come back and edit it again. I had to employ this technique with my novel because I couldn’t afford to hire an editor, so I self-edited. Since it’s been on Amazon a while, I have finally had an editor look at it. I’m going to correct some of the glaring grammatical, punctuation, and plot continuity errors she’s finding and re-post a second edition some time in December. Now the trick is to take it down at the right time, because I don’t want to lose my place on the African American Top 100 List on Amazon. 
7. Biggest mistake you’ve made as an author?
The biggest mistake I’ve made as an author is trusting a virtual stranger who offered to pre-read for me who subsequently treated me as if I were Hitler re-incarnated for writing my current subject matter. In fact she told me that she would have thought I was a member of the KKK for writing what I’ve written. Believe me, it is not that serious. African Americans have been poking fun at their own stereotypes for centuries, and I’ve not had one African American reader approach me with as much indignation as their ethnic counterparts. Before the story was even published, I received eight “reviews” on good-reads labeling me as a racist, and a bevy of other unkind things.
I am not naïve enough to believe that everyone will love what I’ve written, but I caution readers to take in consideration the title of my book. Read the summary. If you don’t like parody, satire, or extreme ethnic humor, don’t read this book, even if it is free. But that is not all the book is about. It is a parody of that other famous book told from the POV of a young woman who grew up in the hood and is now trying to make her own way in the world. She just happens to take a detour when she meets a handsome, white dominant venture capitalist who finds her irresistible.
There are people out there who believe they have the right to vilify you for writing a fictional account of a controversial subject matter. This is censorship at its worse. Criticize me for my writing, the technical parts of it, not for my subject matter. Just because I choose to write about something, it doesn’t mean that I’ve lived it, or that it’s my true world view. It is called fiction for a reason.
Okay, I’m off my soapbox now 
Holiday themed questions:
8. What would the lead character of your latest novel want for Christmas?
Keisha Beale would want Tristan White as her real boyfriend for Christmas, not just her Dom.
9. Favorite Christmas Music?
I love the old R&B versions of Christmas Songs, and those brought into the mainstream by R&B musicians: “This Christmas” by Donnie Hathaway, “Merry Christmas, Baby,” by Otis Redding, “Santa Clause Go Straight To The Ghetto,” by James Brown and the like.
10. What was the best gift you’ve ever received?
A Barbie Doll that looked like me 
L. V. LEWIS – AUTHOR BIO
L. V. Lewis is a married, mother of four who lives in South Georgia, and works in the Florida Panhandle. A new author who decided that stories like Fifty Shades of Grey needed a little more diversity and comedy in them, she penned Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever as a parodied response to those wildly popular books from a woman of color. A voracious reader since kindergarten, L.V. loves nothing more than to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine. She and her husband are political junkies, a hobby that is time consuming, but free. Now that Lewis has teens who think they don’t need their parents anymore, she has taken up another time-draining career of writing. However, she is happy to report that, for once, her extra-curricular activity costs far less than her husband’s. Her love for writing is only eclipsed by her love for her family.
Purchase L. V. Lewis’s “Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever” here:
L. V. Lewis’s Exhaustive List of Contact Info:
Contact Info: lv.lewis148@gmail.com
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6553830.L_V_Lewis
Blog: http://lvlewis.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lv_lewis
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lv.lewis.148
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/lvlewis148/
The Author to Author Blog Hop is hosting a giveaway for a prize package of eBooks from our contributing authors. Enter below, and the winner will be notified by e-mail. You have a chance to enter every day on any of the participating authors’ blogs – so keep checking back. (Note: eBooks labeled 18+ will not be awarded to a winner under the age of 18.)
The Author to Author Blog Hop Giveaway Prize Package includes:
Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean (16+)
Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan (16+)
Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan (16+)
Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes (16+)
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by L.V. Lewis (18+)
Riverbend by Andrea Goodson
Serial Summer by Angel Lawson (18+)
MORE by T.M. Franklin
Valerie, Daughter of the Dragon by Robert S. Fuller, Jr.
Ghosts of our Pasts by N.K. Smith
My Only by N.K. Smith
Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred
Click Link Below to Rafflecopter Page:
December 11, 2012
Q and A for Sherri Hayes, Author of Behind Closed Doors
1. Who’s your favorite author, and why?
My favorite author is Diana Gabaldon. I love her Outlander series. She has this amazing ability to create complex characters, and intertwine their lives, believably, with historical events.
2. If you could have a conversation with one of the characters in your most-recently released novel, which one would it be and why?
I spend so much time with my characters—I feel I know most of them inside and out. The one character that is probably an exception to that in my latest release, Need (Finding Anna, Book 2) is Diane Cooper, Stephan’s aunt. She stays in the background most of the time, trying to mend the wedge that has grown between her husband and the nephew she helped raise. It would be good to hear from her perspective, the family situation, and how she’d like it to resolve itself.
3. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your characters personalities?
I always base my characters personalities on their histories. Just as in real life, what a person has experienced affects who they are and how they react to things.
4. What is the best thing (in your opinion) about being a writer?
I love seeing the story unfold. I don’t plot my stories. When I begin a story, I decide on a starting point, sit down, and write. Many times, I’m just as surprised by the twists and turns in the stories as my readers are.
5. How did you find your agent/publisher?
My publisher found me. They were just starting up, and looking for authors. After reading one of the stories I’d posted online, they asked if I had anything I’d be interested in submitting to them. Two weeks later, I had a contract. I’ve been with them now for over two years, and have my fifth full-length novel set to release in February.
6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?
Write for yourself, no one else.
7. Biggest mistake you’ve made as an author?
I don’t think I’ve made any big mistakes, thankfully. Little ones, sure, but nothing major.
Holiday-themed questions:
1. What would the lead character of your latest novel want for Christmas?
Since my last book is part of an ongoing series, I’m going to be a little vague and say that Stephan would want his heart’s desire for Christmas. As to what that is…you’ll have to read the books to find out.
2. Favorite Christmas music?
I like the classics. There’s nothing like Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole singing holiday favorites.
3. What was the best gift you ever received?
The best gift I ever received was probably a boom box. Yeah, I’m dating myself, but that’s what they were called. I love to sing, and it had large speakers, a tape player, and it was portable. I used it for years.
You Can Find Sherri Hayes’ book here:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/behind-closed-doors-sherri-hayes/1109628645?ean=9781612130927
TWCS: http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/46
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/behind-closed-doors/id500387206?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Sherri is the author of four novels: Hidden Threat, Slave (Finding Anna Book 1), Need (Finding Anna Book 2), Behind Closed Doors (A Daniels Brothers’ Novel), and a short story, A Christmas Proposal. She lives in central Ohio with her husband and three cats. Her mother fostered her love for books by reading to Sherri when she was a child. Stories have been floating around in her head for as long as she can remember, but she didn’t start writing them down until five years ago. It has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found helping her husband in his woodworking shop.
The Author to Author Blog Hop is hosting a giveaway for a prize package of eBooks from our contributing authors. Enter below, and the winner will be notified by e-mail. You have a chance to enter every day on any of the participating authors’ blogs – so keep checking back. (Note: eBooks labeled 18+ will not be awarded to a winner under the age of 18.)
The Author to Author Blog Hop Giveaway Prize Package includes:
Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean (16+)
Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan (16+)
Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan (16+)
Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes (16+)
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by L.V. Lewis (18+)
Riverbend by Andrea Goodson
Serial Summer by Angel Lawson (18+)
MORE by T.M. Franklin
Valerie, Daughter of the Dragon by Robert S. Fuller, Jr.
Ghosts of our Pasts by N.K. Smith
My Only by N.K. Smith
Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred
Click Link Below to Rafflecopter Page:
December 10, 2012
Q and A with T. M. Franklin, Author of the MORE Trilogy
Q&A with T.M. Franklin, Author of the MORE Trilogy
1. Who’s your favorite author, and why?
Oh, that’s a tough one. It depends on my mood, and honestly, I’m a bit fickle. My favorites change based on what I’m reading at the moment, I think. I love authors that evoke some kind of emotional response – those that make me laugh out loud or cry or just think for hours or days after I finish reading.
I’d say my favorite comedic writer is Janet Evanovich. She’s got such a talent for writing outrageous humor that’s pee-your-pants funny. (No, I haven’t done that, but it’s been close!) For historical fiction, I’d have to go with Diana Gabaldon, who wrote the Outlander series. She blends fantasy with real historical events in such a compelling way. And the last thing I read that really made me cry was actually a fan fiction contest entry. The contest is anonymous, so I can’t say much about the story, but hit me up after the winners are announced on December 15th and I’ll be glad to share the wealth.
2. If you could have a conversation with one of the characters in your most-recently released novel, which one would it be and why?
Probably Tiernan. Caleb and Ava are pretty much open books, but Tiernan is a man of mystery. It would be fun to try and get inside that big shaved head of his.
3. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your characters personalities?
Many places. Some are based on people I’ve known in real life. Others’ personalities simply develop from the part I want them to play in the plot. Generally, the characters I like get personality traits I like and admire, while villains get the opposite.
4. What is the best thing (in your opinion) about being a writer?
Telling stories and actually having people read them. We all like to say we write for ourselves, but the fact of the matter is, if there’s nobody to read the stories, what’s the point?
I’d say the best thing is when someone reads and gets what you’re trying to say. I recently got a review for MORE that said, “That is exactly what this book is: a fun read. This is the ‘sit down on a cool fall day, cuddle under a blanket, and get lost in another world that might actually be our world’ kinda book.” – So You Think You Can Write.
This is exactly what I was trying to write – not a Pulitzer Prize winner or some great piece of literary art (not that I even could!) – just something fun to read. So this comment thrilled me!
5. How did you find your agent/publisher?
My publisher approached me after learning from one of their authors (Thank you, Sydney Logan!) that I was working on a manuscript they might be interested in. They asked for a synopsis and the first three chapters of MORE, and then the full manuscript. They offered me a contract for the trilogy and that was that.
6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?
It’s not really writing advice per se, but more about dealing with negative reviews. It can be paralyzing when you’re trying to write and see a negative comment or review of your story. You get to second guessing every little thing and it can be very distracting, not to mention disheartening.
I read a blog post recently by Rachel Thompson, an author and social media expert. One of the things she said about negative reviews is so simple but so true – not everybody likes everything. It’s all subjective, to a certain extent.
Go check out the Amazon reviews for some of your favorite books. Even Divergent and The Hunger Games – huge commercial successes with broad fan bases – have one-star reviews. Now, this is not to say that negative reviews should be ignored, because the fact is, sometimes they’re right. I’ve had negative comments about my book that I’ve had to admit were spot on, and I hope they will help me grow as a writer and make the next book better. But I think the trick is to keep it all in perspective. Take what is constructive, and let the rest go.
7. Biggest mistake you’ve made as an author?
Oh, there have been many. The biggest one recently was using the word “cellular” in MORE when I meant “molecular.” My son was gracious enough to point it out. He’s also been recruited to pre-read the next book so I don’t make a similar mistake again.
Holiday-themed questions:
1. What would the lead character of your latest novel want for Christmas?
Oh, Ava’s had a busy time of it – running for her life and learning there’s another Race living in secret among humans and all – so I think she’d just like to have a quiet Christmas at home with her family and maybe Caleb. Some time with nobody trying to kill or capture her, and no conspiracies she’s in the midst of. I have a feeling she might get that, too. Guess we’ll see in Book 2. J
2. Favorite Christmas music?
I love my Michael Bublé Christmas album from last year. Don’t judge me. It’s catchy.
3. What was the best gift you ever received?
Probably my laptop. I don’t know what I’d do without it!
T.M. Franklin started out her career writing non-fiction in a television newsroom. Graduating with a B.A. in Communications specializing in broadcast journalism and production, she worked for nine years as a major market television news producer, and garnered two regional Emmy Awards, before she resigned to be a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. Her first published novel, MORE is now available. Book 2 in the MORE Trilogy, The Guardians, will be released in 2013.
Contact Information
Website: TMFranklin.com
Facebook: TMFranklinAuthor
Twitter: @TM_Franklin
E-mail: TMFranklinAuthor@Gmail.com
To purchase MORE, Book 1 in the MORE Trilogy
The Author to Author Blog Hop is hosting a giveaway for a prize package of eBooks from our contributing authors. Enter below, and the winner will be notified by e-mail. You have a chance to enter every day on any of the participating authors’ blogs – so keep checking back. (Note: eBooks labeled 18+ will not be awarded to a winner under the age of 18.)
The Author to Author Blog Hop Giveaway Prize Package includes:
Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean (16+)
Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan (16+)
Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan (16+)
Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes (16+)
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by L.V. Lewis (18+)
Riverbend by Andrea Goodson
Serial Summer by Angel Lawson (18+)
MORE by T.M. Franklin
Valerie, Daughter of the Dragon by Robert S. Fuller, Jr.
Ghosts of our Pasts by N.K. Smith
My Only by N.K. Smith
Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred
Click Link Below to Rafflecopter Page:
The Second of Second Acts Is A Winner!
Startstruck Romance and Other Hollywood Tails: A Second Acts Novel was a better sophomore offering from Julia Dumont in my humble opinion.
Our busy high class dating service owner, Cynthia Amas, returns as she scores her most famous client yet, former A-list actor, Jack Stone. He presents her biggest challenge, to find him a woman who doesn’t want him because he’s famous. Try as she might to find him the woman he seeks, only she seems to fit the bill. Complicating matters further is another of Cynthia’s old romances, musician Pete Blatt.
Author Dumont flexes her classically trained writing muscles in this book more than her previous offering, Sleeping with Dogs and Other Lovers. Cynthia’s life plays out like a Divine Comedy, complete with many of the cast of characters in book one, to include her mother, her BFF Lolita, and sometimes Friend with Benefits, Max.
The author employs a breakneck wit in this book that was weighed down by the gifted dogs in the first installment. She intersperses a lively plot with love scenes that read like a work of art, not an anatomy class laden with crass smutty words.
This story does what book one didn’t do seamlessly. It imbues the kink with a humor that doesn’t overpower the romance.
I give Starstruck Romance and Other Hollywood Tails 4 out of 5 stars.
December 9, 2012
Q and A with Lissa Bryan, Author of Ghostwriter
1. Who’s your favorite author, and why?
Asking an avid reader to name one favorite author is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. There are so many authors I love, and they all taught me something about writing. But the one that sticks out for me is Emily Brontë. Wuthering Heights is an amazing novel. Every word—even the names— she selected to convey the proper mood for the scenes, and Brontë made every line a poem. I’m not that skilled and I probably never will be, but I try to follow her example in choosing words that enhance the mood I want to convey.
2. If you could have a conversation with one of the characters in your most-recently released novel, which one would it be and why?
I would pick Seth Fortner from Ghostwriter. He was a man both haunted and haunting, terribly damaged by his experiences in WWI, but as Sara says in the novel, he had a sweet poet’s soul.
3. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your characters personalities?
They seem to grow organically. A story begins in my mind with the simple question, “What if…?” As the story develops, so do the characters who tell it. They start as faint outlines, but as I get to know them, they seem to become people with a mind of their own, who sometimes steer the story in a different direction than I intended. And most of the time, they’re right.
4. What is the best thing (in your opinion) about being a writer?
Sharing with others these characters who have lived in my mind for so many years. There’s no greater reward than seeing people love the characters I’ve created.
5. How did you find your agent/publisher?
They found me, actually. I was writing fanfiction, having made the startling discovery that other people re-write books and movies, too and there are massive online communities dedicated to it. One of my stories became popular and that brought me to the publisher’s attention. They contacted me and asked if I’d ever considered writing a novel.
I’d never thought being published was a possibility. I thought that only happened by sending out hundreds of manuscripts and facing the inevitable rejection. I’m not bold enough or thick-skinned enough for that, and I was content with just letting my stories out “into the wild.” And then that email came and everything changed for me.
6. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?
I used to correspond with a published author and she gave me the best advice I’ve been given. She told me that every scene, every line, every word must drive the plot forward, or reveal something important about the characters. If it can be cut without affecting the story line, you should delete it.
This is difficult, to say the least. Writers tend to be in love with their own words, which is great because that passion shines through to the reader. But we have to look at our own work with a critical eye. However beautifully written, a scene that doesn’t drive the plot forward is dead weight.
In Ghostwriter, I had a long scene about the anarchist bombings of 1919. I really liked it, but it didn’t survive the first round of edits. I tried to make excuses for it, saying it added historical detail necessary for the reader to understand the time period. I finally faced up to the fact that it didn’t really advance the plot; in fact, it slowed it down. I could convey the necessary information in just a couple of lines.
Stephen King calls it “killing your darlings.” And that’s what it feels like, sometimes, but it’s necessary.
7. Biggest mistake you’ve made as an author?
“Show, don’t tell.” It’s something that I’m working hard to learn. With every book, I find a new area where I need to improve. Harsh reviews may sting, but there’s often valuable insights into where your work can be improved.
8. What would the lead character of your latest novel want for Christmas?
Justin Thatcher is the lead character in my latest novel, The End of All Things, a romance set in a post-apocalyptic world. He’s very practical, so he’d probably ask for a gun or canned foods.
9. Favorite Christmas music?
Carol of the Bells is my favorite Christmas song and my favorite version of it is Christmas in Sarajevo by the Trans-Siberian orchestra. Every time I hear it, It gives me chills.
10. What was the best gift you ever received?
Gift cards for book stores. It’s like giving me the universe in one small package. It gives me travel to another time and place, new “friends” I’ll meet in the pages of a novel, new ideas or new perspectives, and maybe —just maybe— what I read will spark that question “What if…?” and my imagination will catch fire with a new idea for a story of my own.
Contact: http://lissabryan.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/lissa.bryan
https://twitter.com/LissaBryan
To purchase: http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/69
http://www.amazon.com/Ghostwriter-Lissa-Bryan/dp/1612131212
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ghos...
The Author to Author Blog Hop is hosting a giveaway for a prize package of eBooks from our contributing authors. Enter below, and the winner will be notified by e-mail. You have a chance to enter every day on any of the participating authors’ blogs – so keep checking back. (Note: eBooks labeled 18+ will not be awarded to a winner under the age of 18.)
The Author to Author Blog Hop Giveaway Prize Package includes:
Legacy of a Dreamer by Allie Jean (16+)
Lessons Learned by Sydney Logan (16+)
Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan (16+)
Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes (16+)
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by L.V. Lewis (18+)
Riverbend by Andrea Goodson
Serial Summer by Angel Lawson (18+)
MORE by T.M. Franklin
Valerie, Daughter of the Dragon by Robert S. Fuller, Jr.
Ghosts of our Pasts by N.K. Smith
My Only by N.K. Smith
Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred
Click Link Below to Rafflecopter Page:
If You Like Quirky, OTT Humor with Your Kink – Have At It!
If You Like Quirky, Over-the-top Humor With Your Kink – Have At It!
As Cynthia Amas launches “Second Acts,” her matchmaking service in Southern California hoping to do for her friends and clients what she can’t seem to do for herself, her own sex life gets more interesting. She handles the needs of her exclusive clients without a hitch, but can’t seem to navigate her own love life, as her irresistible bad-boy ex comes back into her life. These two have a seven-alarm connection so steamy it jumps off the pages. Juggling the aforementioned might be enough for even a regular gal, but Cynthia also has to thwart her mother’s attempts at meddling in her business. Her first client and new BFF who owns a Beverly Hills dog-grooming salon has her own cadre of elite purebred dogs that have either real or imagined gifts that, although comical, really pulled me out of the story somewhat.
Cynthia’s personal life with her mother, her professional life at “Second Acts”, and amorous life with Max begin to converge and cause all kinds of hilarity that will keep you in stitches. I personally, like a story that can be humorous, amorous, and magical all at once, but I’m not sure if Second Acts: Sleeping With Dogs and Other Lovers pulls this off believably. I think the writer may have wanted to draw some parallel through the metaphor of having the dogs in the story to the behavior we sometimes attribute to men, but the way in which the dogs were used in this story didn’t quite accomplish that.
This is a funny, quirky read for those who like a lot of humor with their kink. If you can suspend belief to get into this steamy contemporary romance, then this book is definitely your cup of tea.
BroadLit via NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of the book, Sleeping with Dogs and Other Lovers, for the purpose of review.
I give Second Acts: Sleeping With Dogs and Other Lovers 2.5 our of 5 Stars
