S.B. Alexander's Blog, page 4

June 20, 2016

The Coloring Book Craze

I’ve taken a step out of the written word and into one of the hottest trends in publishing–adult coloring books. Fans can now color scenes out of Dare to Kiss. How cool is that? JL Colored Pic


At first, when my book publicist came up with the idea, I thought really? But as I thought more about it, I figured it would be a cool way to engage readers and fans. Personally, I love to doodle when I’m listening to lectures or webinars. Doodling helps me focus.


I did some research and found that the adult coloring craze, which took off in 2015, is going strong. As of this writing, nine of the one hundred books on Amazon’s bestseller list are adult coloring books. I also found other Romance Authors like Debbie Macomber and Sarah J. Maas have brought to life characters and scenes from their bestselling series onto the pages of coloring books. However, before I took the plunge, I polled my Maxwell Series Fans. I was over the moon to hear how excited they were that they could color their favorite scenes out of Dare to Kiss. So I engaged their help to pick out scenes to put in the coloring book. 


But coloring goes deeper than a marketing tool. Search adult coloring books on the Internet, and every article has the same theme. It’s a way to unwind and relax. But the craze isn’t anything new. According to an article at Fox News Health, Psychiatrist Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, prescribed coloring to his patients to calm and center their minds. Doctors today continue to follow Jung’s lead and still recommend the activity to combat anxiety.


So why not color? It’s fun, relaxing, and has some great psychological benefits. It’s also a way to stay connected to one of your favorite books. Just ask Maxwell Series Fan, Jennifer Lowe. “For me, it was a way to connect with the Maxwell Series, but also to get the creative juices flowing,”  And the colored pictures are courtesy of Jennifer Lowe. She’s done a fantastic job in staying in between the lines. Coloring Book Clear


I can’t thank my fans enough for all their help and excitement. They’re the best!


Do you want to try your hand at coloring? Just download the picture out of the coloring book here: Page01-Illustration.


Once you have your masterpiece completed, post it on my FB page. You’ll then be entered into a drawing for a signed paperback of Dare to Kiss and The Dare to Kiss Coloring Book.


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Published on June 20, 2016 12:40

February 14, 2016

Dare to Love Pre-Order Sale – $0.99

dare_to_loveThe much anticipated 3rd book in the Maxwell Series is only 2 days away. Pre-order your copy now for only $0.99 before the price goes up after launch.


Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon CA  Amazon AU  ITunes


Sexy, confident, college playboy, Kelton Maxwell has his future right in the palm of his hands. Women want him. Guys want to be him. And he’s got one foot in the door at Harvard Law. All he needs now is just one prestigious internship at a highfalutin law firm to seal the deal. Nothing can stand in his way.


Until…


A blast from the past smacks him right in the face, bringing back memories he tried to forget. Kelton swore he’d never go back–never put himself through that again. He’d rather pledge his allegiance to the devil himself before he drops to his knees to worship a woman—especially her.


He won’t dare to get close.


Won’t dare to let her in.


Can’t dare to love.

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Published on February 14, 2016 16:10

January 22, 2016

People Frequently Ask Me: How did you get into writing?

In the last three years, I’ve answered this question several different ways. But I always start off with, when I was a little girl. My dream was never to write books. In fact, my dream was to play baseball. However, back in the seventies girls weren’t exactly welcomed on a boys’ high school baseball team. But that topic is for another day.


bg-writing-00-1024x1024I’ve always wanted to write a book. I just loved math more than I did English. So, I graduated from college with a math degree. For me, English was challenging, although I had several teachers recommend to me that I pursue English and not math. Still, I loved reading. Growing up, my favorite author was Stephen King. Over the years, I had a multitude of tastes in genres from mystery to suspense. It wasn’t until three years ago when I started reading Paranormal Romance. At that point, I was like, I could write a book with vampires. Within four months, my first book, On the Edge of Humanity, was written.


The how I got there involved several steps:



I checked out just about every writing book at the library and devoured the art of novel writing.
I took classes at Writer’s Digest University.
I found and worked with a great editor who coached me every chapter in my first book, telling me what was working and what wasn’t working.
I hired a writing coach. Best thing I ever did. She keeps me on track by helping me set up goals for each manuscript. In addition, she continues to help me swim through the ever-changing publishing industry. Most of all, she’s a great motivator, keeping me inline to ensure I meet my deadlines.
In between writing my first book, I surfed the net, reading blogs, finding a cover artist, formatter, and all the other elements that go into publishing a book.

In essence, I was a sponge on everything entailed in writing a book. It’s been three years since I published my first book. I now have five books published, and a sixth one that will be released in February 2016. I do believe if I didn’t work a full-time job, I would have several more out on the market. Regardless, I found what I love to do.


Writing started out as a hobby. Now, I treat my writing as my business, and in another blog post I’ll share my business plan along with other elements that have helped me, hoping they can help you.


Follow your dream by taking one step at a time.


Best


Xoxo


Susan

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Published on January 22, 2016 11:11

January 18, 2016

Are you ready for Kelton Maxwell the lovable, wild triplet?

Dare to Love – Book 3 in the Maxwell Series will be released February 16, 2016.

dare_to_love

Sexy, confident, college playboy, Kelton Maxwell has his future right in the palm of his hands. Women want him. Guys want to be him. And he’s got one foot in the door at Harvard Law. All he needs now is just one prestigious internship at a highfalutin law firm to seal the deal. Nothing can stand in his way.


Until…


A blast from the past smacks him right in the face, bringing back memories he tried to forget. Kelton swore he’d never go back–never put himself through that again. He’d rather pledge his allegiance to the devil himself before he drops to his knees to worship a woman—especially her.


Dare to Love - Girl in Field teaser Feb 2016


He won’t dare to get close.


Won’t dare to let her in.


Can’t dare to love.


Add Dare to Love to your TBR on Goodreads


Checkout the Book Trailer on Youtube


Dare to Love is a stand alone book, but if you haven’t met Kelton Maxwell then check out Books 1 & 2 in the Maxwell Series Dare to Kiss and Dare to Dream


If you are a Maxwell Series fan, then come join us on FB in Maxwell Mania. We’d love to have you.


 

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Published on January 18, 2016 13:36

July 17, 2015

DARE TO DREAM IS LIVE!

Kade and Lacey’s story continues in Dare to Dream. The book answers all the questions from Dare to Kiss with a little darker feel. You’ll get Kade’s POV, family chemistry, romantic chemistry, suspense, mystery and all the elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Early reviewers have said, “It’s a rollercoaster […]
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Published on July 17, 2015 10:58

Dare To Dream Is Live!

Dare-To-Dream-2500x1563-Amazon-Smashwords-Kobo-AppleKade and Lacey’s story continues in Dare to Dream. The book answers all the questions from Dare to Kiss with a little darker feel. You’ll get Kade’s POV, family chemistry, romantic chemistry, suspense, mystery and all the elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Early reviewers have said, “It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. The storyline exploded from page one.”


It’s now available on the following e-book platforms.


Amazon    B&N    iTunes    Kobo

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Published on July 17, 2015 00:43

June 15, 2015

Ready for Dare to Dream?

Want to learn more about the book? Check out the trailer.
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Published on June 15, 2015 13:52

Ready for Dare to Dream?


Want to learn more about the book? Check out the trailer.

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Published on June 15, 2015 00:51

June 5, 2015

Dare to Dream – Cover and Trailer Reveal – USA Today!

I couldn’t be more excited to announce that Dare to Dream will be released on July 17, 2015. I”m equally excited that the cover and trailer was unveiled on USA Today this week. USA Today Link
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Published on June 05, 2015 08:27

Dare to Dream – Cover and Trailer Reveal – USA Today!

I couldn’t be more excited to announce that Dare to Dream will be released on July 17, 2015. I”m equally excited that the cover and trailer was unveiled on USA Today this week. USA Today Link

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Published on June 05, 2015 01:03