Willow Aster's Blog, page 17
December 15, 2017
First Annual PLN Author 21 Days of Giveaways
Tarryn and I go back to before we published books and before we even knew what this book world was like. I love her and would do anything for her. ❤️ I also love the way she gives back to people—whether it’s people in need or other authors. If you’re not part of the PLNs yet, come join the tribe HERE.
I am excited to be teaming up with 20 amazing PLN authors to give you our First Annual PLN Author Blog Hop!
For the next 21 days, there will be giveaways each day on the different author's pages. Stop by and visit all of us, look around, check out our books—you might find a new author that you want to follow :)
After you visit, make sure you enter the giveaway. We have signed paperbacks, ebooks, advanced copies, and gift cards too! The blog hop runs from December 4th - December 24th and winners will be picked and notified after the holidays, so be on the lookout.
You can follow along the blog hop below by clicking on the author's name. Have fun exploring, commenting on the different pages—we look forward to chatting with you!
Wishing you and your families a very happy holiday season!
XO
Author
Blog Hop Date
Daisy Allen
12/4
Nicole Loufas
12/5
TL Fisher
12/6
A.D. McCammon
12/7
Fabiola Francisco
12/8
Brandi Aga
12/9
Elizabeth Hayes
12/10
Heather Bentley
12/11
HM Sholander
12/12
K. Moore
12/13
J.R. Rogue
12/14
Willow Aster
12/15
Kat Savage
12/16
Rebecca Kate
12/17
Holly Hall
12/18
Dominique Laura
12/19
Juliet Dillon
12/20
V.P. Ortiz
12/21
M.M Clem
12/22
Leah Parker
12/23
Whitney Barbetti
12/24
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b26950fe9/?
December 14, 2017
12 Days of Giveaways—Day 3: Claire Contreras
Today on the blog, we have Claire Contreras telling us about her favorite things.
Favorite Christmas Carol/Song: Santa Baby
Favorite Christmas Cookie/Holiday Dessert: Eggnog (does that count?)
Favorite Christmas/Holiday Movie: Home Alone
Best Christmas/Holiday Gift: anything thoughtful
Worst Christmas/Holiday Gift: I don't have one lol. I appreciate everything.
Best Christmas/Holiday Tradition: Waking up on Christmas morning and having coffee while the kids open presents
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for gifts?: Day. Growing up I opened everything on Christmas Eve, but I like the idea of waiting till morning.
Funniest Christmas/Holiday party moment: I can't think of one, but I'm sure there are plenty
Dream Christmas/Holiday destination: I like being home for Christmas. I would love to be home somewhere cold and with a fireplace, though. That would be a dream for me :)
Who is your Christmas/Holiday pass? (famous person you'd pick for Christmas): LOL damn... Ryan Gosling. Idris Elba.
What's at the top of your list? This year the Beachwaver is the only thing on my list lol
What book boyfriend would you want to kiss under the mistletoe? oh damn . . . Kellen Kyle.
Claire doesn’t like to talk about herself. Because of this, she asked a friend of hers to write her bio. This is what she got:
Claire is caring, smart, witty, and funny as heck. Despite being a New York Times Best Selling Author of a popular contemporary romance series, Claire doesn’t read many romance novels. However, when she sits down to write, those are the ones that pour from her fingers. Much to her displeasure, we like to say she’s a romantic at heart.
She is a breast cancer survivor who lives in Miami with her good looking husband, two adorable boys, three bulldogs, and two stray cats that she refuses to admit are hers (even though they live on her porch and she continues to feed them). When she’s not writing, she’s always lost in a book (the more suspenseful, the better).
You can follow Claire and purchase her books below:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
BOOKS:
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December 13, 2017
12 Days of Giveaways—Day 2: Christine Brae
Today on the blog, we have Christine Brae and her favorite things!
Favorite Christmas Carol/Song: NSync Merry Christmas when I’m dancing around the kitchen but anything Pentatonix especially Drummer Boy gets me in the Christmas spirit
Favorite Christmas Cookie/Holiday Dessert: Can you believe, I don’t really eat dessert?
Favorite Christmas/Holiday Movie: The Holiday!
Best Christmas/Holiday Gift: When we were just starting out – An electric can opener
Worst Christmas/Holiday Gift: When we weren’t starting out anymore – DVR player
Best Christmas/Holiday Tradition: My family of five sitting around the fire, watching Netflix
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for gifts?: Eve!
Funniest Christmas/Holiday party moment: I won the dance contest after only three gin and tonics.
Dream Christmas/Holiday destination: Anywhere with my family
Who is your Christmas/Holiday pass? (famous person you'd pick for Christmas): I just saw him
What's at the top of your list? Something blue, starts with a H and ends with a S
What book boyfriend would you want to kiss under the mistletoe? All of them
Christine was born and raised in the city of Makati, Philippines. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a degree in Economics and a Minor in Humanities. Christine is Executive Vice President of one one of the most respected advertising agencies in the country, and one of the largest agency networks in the world, with 85 offices and 9,000+ employees. (Multinational clients include Fiat, Samsung, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s, Altria, Coca-Cola, GM, McDonald’s and Pfizer.)
After experiencing a great loss in her life, Christine decided that it was time to channel her feelings on paper and see where it would take her. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same stories to tell. With an established fan base and a dedicated following, Christine has published four books: The Light in the Wound (2013), His Wounded Light (2013), Insipid (2014)., and In This Life (2016).
In development for film by Emmanuelle Chriqui and Adrian Bellani – IN THIS LIFE.
The deal was announced exclusively by Variety.com in November 2016, who had this to say about Christine Brae’s recently published romance-drama:
The book, written by Chicago-based author Christine Brae and the actors, who reside in Los Angeles, were connected via social media after Chriqui and Bellani discovered an early version of the book. Chriqui’s credits include “Entourage,” “Supertroopers 2” and “Shut Eye.” Bellani’s credits include “Moneyball,” “Person of Interest” and “Passions.”
You can follow Christine and purchase her books below:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
BOOKS:
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December 12, 2017
12 Days of Giveaways—Day 1: Leylah Attar
Today is the first day of my 12 Days of Giveaways and I am happy to feature Leylah Attar on my blog. I asked the 12 authors participating to answer some fun holiday questions and here is what Leylah had to say.
Favorite Christmas Carol/Song: George Michael's 'Last Christmas'
Favorite Christmas Cookie/Holiday Dessert: Fruitcake. One time, my parents left me with my aunt for a week. I agreed, but only if they got me fruitcake. And only if I was allowed to keep it under my bed. I could survive a zombie apocalypse without them, but a kid needs to eat, you know? Fruitcake is rich and nutritionally dense. Plus you can throw it at people.
Favorite Christmas/Holiday Movie: Home Alone
Best Christmas/Holiday Gift: Good Fruitcake
Worst Christmas/Holiday Gift: Bad fruitcake
Best Christmas/Holiday Tradition: It's not a tradition yet, but I'm working on it: getting someone else to do the dishes.
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for gifts?: Since I get the gifts for everyone including myself, I'm usually ahead of the curve. Sometimes I open my gift in advance, like in August.
Funniest Christmas/Holiday party moment: A few years ago, I thought I'd found the perfect gift for my 8 year old niece: an air-swimming Nemo. It was this huge, remote-controlled helium balloon. When the time came to open gifts, hers came floating down the stairs towards her. She screamed and screamed, and was completely traumatized. It took us hours to calm her down. Obviously fish are meant to stay in the water, especially giant, shiny ones.
Dream Christmas/Holiday destination: So many! But some place warm, where you can't tell where the ocean ends and the sky begins.
Who is your Christmas/Holiday pass? (famous person you'd pick for Christmas): I refuse to choose, mostly because this changes every year. I am a fickle, fickle Christmas/Holiday Pass player.
What's at the top of your list? Duh. Fruitcake.
What book boyfriend would you want to kiss under the mistletoe? Christian Grey - not because I fancy being tied up in tinsel (okay, maybe a little mutual, contractual tangle), but because he's the one that got me back into books and reading.
Leylah Attar is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Best Selling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She is the recipient of the 2017 Indie Reader Discovery Awards for fiction. Her books, which include Mists of The Serengeti, The Paper Swan, 53 Letters for My Lover (#1) and From His Lips (a 53 Letters novella #1.5).
You can follow her and purchase her books below:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
BOOKS:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iBooks
Audible
Goodreads
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November 24, 2017
Black Friday SALE
I am having a Black Friday weekend sale starting today until Sunday 11/26. All of my published books are on sale for only $0.99!!!
True Love StorySparrow Fisher is transforming. No longer dressed up in antiquated clothes and ideals, she is finally trying on her freedom.
Before she moves to New York City, she meets Ian Sterling, a musician Sparrow has dreamed about since she first saw him. The attraction is instant, but their relationship isn't so simple.
Over a five year span, Sparrow and Ian run into each other in unusual places. Each time, Sparrow has to decide if she can trust him, if he feels the same for her, and finally, if love is really enough.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jf8BOR
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2iHrBFJ
iBooks: http://apple.co/2Aw7IJR
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2iro2nQ
Maybe Maby
I’m having a meltdown. Not the put-her-in-the-loony-bin kind, but the rock-in-the-corner-so-I-can-breathe kind. Maybe they’re one and the same and I really do need to be put away, but I think I just need a little air. I’m bone tired. My eyes look like I haven’t slept in weeks. I’m eating my feelings and developing a pudge that isn’t gonna go anywhere if I keep binging on chocolate, nachos and wine.
I’m 28 and everyone has left me. I have no friends. My boyfriend left. My mom died, so technically she left me too. I hate my job.
I get this overwhelming 'oh my God, is this what my life is gonna be?' feeling and I want to die.
Curl up and die.
And since I don’t feel my heartbeat fading or my breathing getting even slightly faint, I panic that I’m gonna have to live.
Maybe Maby is a heartbreaking, and at times, hilarious story about coping with loss, finding love in New York, and learning to recognize hope in the middle of it all.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2zXpzfh
iTunes: http://apple.co/2yZTvHV
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zJDGC4
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2mB0wcg
In the Fields
1971—In the tiny, backward town of Tulma, Tennessee, optimistic, bookish Caroline Carson unwittingly finds herself in the middle of a forbidden romance. Severely neglected by her family and forced to flee Tulma to protect her secrets, Caroline’s young life comes crashing down around her. She finds refuge in a new town, but the past always has a way of stretching around time and stirring up trouble.
When a new love comes into her life, she has to decide if she can give her heart to someone else, or if she will always be tied to someone she can’t have.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iFuOq7
iTunes: http://apple.co/2yZTvHV
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2jrWn9j
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2j272E0
Fade to RedDancing in pop superstar Beckham Woods’ entourage was the last thing Roxie wanted. Her life with little Leo was blissfully ordinary; she didn’t have time for the drama that stirring up old memories would surely cause.
But when Roxie took a spot on an international tour with Woods and rock icon Ian Sterling, the lure of financial security and her passion for dance pulled her into an emotional storm that threatened to spin out of control and hurt the ones she loved most.
Just as she began to adjust to her new life, it became apparent that danger was in the shadows, waiting for a chance to move...
***Fade to Red is a standalone novel featuring characters from True Love Story.***
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2zduNju
iTunes: http://apple.co/2yZTvHV
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zWVJaS
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2j2UMTS
November 23, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving!
In this season of gratitude, I wanted to express my appreciation for YOU.
I will be doing a Black Friday weekend sale on all of my published books for $0.99 each. Be on the lookout for links tomorrow.
Thank you for reading my books and for all of your support. It means so much to me. XO
November 8, 2017
Whore Cover Reveal
I've been working on this book for a while now and it's ready. And I'm ready to finally share it with all of you. Whore is based on the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible—a story that has always fascinated me. God told Hosea to go marry a whore and he did. And while I used my creativity with this modern-day version, the common thread remains: this is a story of redemption and unconditional love.
I hope you enjoy it!
Synopsis
“I need a reason to exist.”
Beautiful, intelligent, independent, strong-willed, wealthy—Lilith Fontenot seems, by all appearances, to have it all. But that’s not how the highest paid prostitute in New Orleans sees herself.
A stain on society. A scourge. A waste. Outsider. Prisoner…
Any idyllic dream of the normal life she may have once imagined, Lilith buried long ago. Her only plan now is survival.
But mob boss Nico Santelli and community center owner Soti Christos have not given up on Lilith. Each has his own very specific, very opposing, plans for her, and neither will rest until it becomes a reality.
WHORE is a singularly bracing take on an ancient tale of tireless love, betrayal, and the possibility of redemption.
Release Date: December 26, 2017
Goodreads Link: http://bit.ly/WhoreGoodread
Preorder Links:
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/WhoreAmazonUS
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/WhoreAmazonUK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/WhoreAmazonCA
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/WhoreAmazonAU
iTunes: http://bit.ly/WhoreiBooks
Kobo: http://bit.ly/WhoreKobo
I'll be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card for this cover reveal celebration. To enter, go to my FB author page to comment, share the cover, and/or add Whore to your Goodreads TBR.
Thank you!
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/willowasterauthor/
One winner will be picked November 15th. Good luck!
XO,
Willow
October 23, 2017
A Time to Weep, and a Time to Laugh
As soon as I committed to write a blog post a couple times a week, the heavens opened and all kinds of drama, heartache, and wonderfulness ensued.
I'll give you the bullet points.
I've recently changed my diet completely and am feeling SO much better!
My husband is wrapping up a project he's worked on for a couple of years.
We went to a wedding and saw people we hadn't seen in forever. And we survived. No, really, I wasn't sure we would.
Our niece and her four kids had a fire in the house they just moved into a couple months ago. They lost everything, including their beloved dog. She runs a daycare out of her home, so everything is uncertain.
A new beautiful baby nephew was born.
To say that we've gone through the full gamut of emotions would be putting it lightly. It's just a reminder to me to hold onto every good moment that comes my way, be thankful for what I have, and when it's taken away, be glad for the time I had it. The people in my life are EVERYTHING.
October 13, 2017
Writing Through Loss
This won't all be heavy, I promise.
When someone you love dies, and you’re not expecting it, you don’t lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a long time—the way the mail stops coming, and her scent fades from the pillows and even from the clothes in her closet and drawers. Gradually, you accumulate the parts of her that are gone. Just when the day comes—when there’s a particular missing part that overwhelms you with the feeling that she’s gone, forever—there comes another day, and another specifically missing part.” —John Irving
When my mom passed away, I took it hard, but I thought I was doing the work to get better. I talked about her, I cried all the time, I worked on my books as a form of therapy (if you haven't read Maybe Maby, that was in the thick of it), but it was almost as if the full barrel of grieving didn't unload on me until a couple of years later. I'd gotten through all the "firsts" and even when I lost my grandma and grandpa not long after my mother, I was still stuck on her. And in a season where I should kind of be better by now...
Good things came out of it too. I immersed myself in my family. I didn't go anywhere—that sounds like a bad thing, but it was exactly what I needed. I spent lots of time with my dad. I made a ton of cakes and pies and cookies, which I'm still trying to work off.
But I'd sit to write and just sit and sit and sit. And eat and sit. Common thread: I ate a lot. What used to be 1,000 word days turned into being a real feat if I could finish 100. This story I'd been so passionate about—I even knew the way it should go, start to finish!—just sat with me.
My mom never read my finished novels. She read some of In the Fields (which I worked on long before True L̶o̶v̶e̶ Story) and wanted me to finish it, but I didn't tell her when I did. My blog though—she was my biggest fan. It's why I had such a hard time going back to blogging afterward. So this post is a tiny bit of progress...
Maybe no one has died that you're close to, but a breakup or the loss of a friendship has derailed you. While the topic of grieving is vast and I won't be able to cover it all today, I do want to talk about some things that helped me write through the loss when I thought I might be stuck forever ... because as trivial as it may sound to think about writing when you're going through such pain, for all of us writers out there, writing usually always helps. So when that's not working either, the pain often has nowhere to go.
*Talk about your loss and that person as much as you need to, but...
*Avoid triggers that make you wallow in it. It's one thing to find it cathartic to remember someone and another to know you'll go in a downward spiral every time you look at certain pictures, go certain places, or do that one thing that always takes you down.
*Read an author who inspires you.
*Write something different from what you normally write, just for fun.
*Move! If the writing isn't coming, go live life for a while! Just don't avoid writing for too long.
*Write anyway. Even if it's 10 words, do it.
*Write as if no one will read it. It's a lot of pressure to keep up with all the authors out there, but more than that, it can be daunting to keep up with your past work. Put all of that out of your brain and just write.
*Once the writing comes, write all the words. Go with it as long as you possibly can, hopefully every day forever and ever amen.
The best part of being stuck is when you get unstuck. :) The gratitude is transcendent.
XO
October 11, 2017
Inspiration
I just returned from the Write or Die conference in Seattle and I'm inspired. Tarryn Fisher put together a great event, and I think everyone went home ready to get to work. There's something about being around like-minded people that stirs up the motivation.
Here's what has stuck with me:
Write without fear.
Be consistent.
Dig deeper with your characters. (I spoke on this subject, as well as plot structure, so if anyone wants my notes, let me know)
The power of a plot twist...
I need a foreign rights agent.
So I've been working on a new book, but I also have exciting news about my newly completed book. I can't wait to show you the cover and blurb! Soon, I promise. Really soon. And pssst, my book will be out before the end of the year!
