Niecey Roy's Blog, page 14
July 31, 2013
De-Mystifying the KDP Select Free Days!
Greetings and thanks to Niecey Roy for hosting me today! Whoo Hoo! I’m super excited to be here and share with everyone some valuable information I gathered during a recent promotional campaign I designed for my contemporary romantic comedy, She’s Got Dibs. Published by The Wild Rose Press (official release date: August 23, 2013), She’s Got Dibs became eligible for five free days during the end of June, 2013 through Amazon’s Kindle Select Program. I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on the KDP Program and how it works in conjunction with sales and marketing, what I did to prepare for my free days and the end result.
Before I get to that, though, I should also state am absolutely positive I would not have achieved the rankings I did without the help and support of my fabulous writing peers. Besides hosting me on numerous blogs, they shared my FaceBook posts, retweeted my tweet campaign and shouted my links out to the webiverse. It was a humbling experience to witness such a generous outpouring of support.
I should also state the following information is based on my experience. No guarantee is implied every author will have the same results. Many factors influence the success of any book promotion.
Blog Tour:
I was on a total of eight blogs during the book’s five free days, however, I also blogged prior to the free dates at four additional sites in an effort to build momentum. A note about the bloggers I chose for my campaign. I searched out blogs I thought would be an ideal match for She’s Got Dibs. Since the story is a romantic comedy with a high level of steam, I tried to find blog sites that matched this theme. I also went outside the box and asked for spots at some places I’d not previously been hosted in an effort to widen my scope. Most bloggers were very accommodating and agreed to host me without hesitation. When available, I made sure to click the FaceBook and Twitter icons connected to the post so the appearance would be broadcasted on both Twitter and my FB timeline. (Note: I highly recommend doing this when visiting blogs because FB friends will repost on their own timelines.) I also made sure to be available as much as possible to field comments and interact with visitors in an effort to build an audience.
Twitter Campaign:
I used Hootsuite to upload a Twitter campaign on each of my five free days. While the initial set up with Hootsuite is quite labor intensive, once the program is downloaded and your campaign is designed, it’s quite easy to repeat the steps for additional promo. (Note: I have step-by-step instructions on how this is done. If anyone is interested in receiving a copy, please leave me a comment with your email and I’ll send them along.) Based on how well this promotional tool worked, I will definitely be using Hootsuite moving forward. I was able to track my tweets and learn which were most effective by how many “clicks” each tweet received (each of my tweets was linked to my Amazon buy page). For those of you still on the fence about the monetary investment, Hootsuite does allow a person to test their program free for seven days.
My Twitter campaign consisted of thirty-two tweets in total, scheduled to post at half-hour intervals, starting at 7:00AM PST and ending at 10:00PM PST. I used these same thirty-two tweets all five days. About one-third of the tweets were straight promo (i.e. #FreeEbook Amazon 5 Stars Award Winning #ConRom She’s Got Dibs #newrelease @TWRP @KindleFreeBook), one third were quoted lines from the book (i.e. The guy definitely had the smolder covered…and those incredible ice-blue eyes. Yikes! #FreeEbook She’s Got Dibs) and still the last third were writing quotes from famous authors (i.e. “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” — Jack London She’s Got Dibs #FreeEbook).
Two additional things bear mentioning regarding Twitter campaigns. First, hastags. If you’re thinking of doing a Twitter Campaign, I suggest searching out which hashtags best match your promotion. These are available through Twitter, but can be difficult to find. I used the Twitter search bar and typed in tags I thought would be a good match (i.e. #romcom) and to see if that tag existed. If the hastag hit and I liked the list that appeared, I used the tag in my campaign.
Second, @addresses are a valuable tool. Chances are good if you insert them into the tweet, the @address recipient will retweet your tweet. Some of these places have thousands of followers. Others even have tens of hundreds of thousands. If just one retweets, your campaign has the ability to reach a lot of tweeters.
Free Ebook Listings Sites:
These places are sites that will list your free or discounted ebook either for free or a nominal fee, depending on the amount of exposure you’re looking for and your advertising budget. Check these links for a comprehensive list of places to start, but be forewarned that one link sometimes leads to another, which leads to another and another so it’s easy to get a little lost in the research.
http://www.thekindlebookreview.net/author-resources/ http://authormarketingclub.com/members/submit-your-book/
A couple of things which garner consideration. First, while all of these places require the author/listee to fill out a form of some kind, this doesn’t necessarily guarantee the book will be listed…unless, of course, you pay for the listing. Because I’d not listed with any of these sites before, I opted for the free listing at each site. I wanted to gauge the results without spending any money. Second, make sure you give the site plenty of notice. I think I contacted most of them three weeks out, but most places require a minimum of at least a few days to post your freebie, some much longer. Third, check the prerequisites. Some sites won’t post a listing unless the book already has a minimum required number of reviews (like three or more), or if the story is adult or doesn’t fit the site’s genres. Much like subbing to a publisher, all the sites are different and they all have rules.
Of the eighteen sites I submitted to, only five listed She’s Got Dibs and, of those, only one really had the cover in a location that was visible. The other four sites I had to really search to find the listing…enough that if I was a reader looking for that day’s free reads, I would have never found the book. Each morning the free books for the day are updated so chances are good if your book is listed on its first free day, it will get pushed down the site and be virtually lost by day five.
If and when I have a free or discounted book in the future, I plan to pick and choose between these free sites with a little more discrimination. One thing I noticed is there was a direct correlation to books that stayed higher in their rankings on Amazon, to those that were predominately featured on these sites. (i.e. had a cover shown with the blurb and a higher spot on the blog). I would highly recommend if the money is available to invest in this advertising campaign. Most of the sites will reserve a spot for as little as $5.00. I believe the most expensive rate was $15.00, but I’m not 100% sure because I visited so many. Next time, I will do a little more research regarding the amount of followers at each site, list my book at fewer places and pay the fee. This will guarantee my book will be listed and, most importantly, be listed predominately.
FaceBook Promo Pages:
I joined a few of these groups leading up to and during my free week. I’m not sure how effective a tool these pages are, but I did post promo blips at six FaceBook pages geared specifically toward author promotion and release news. While I didn’t post at all six pages every day, I did post on three pages per day until the final day when I did a blast on all six. One thing I would like to mention in regards to FB promo pages—it’s important not to over post. Keep in mind the participants in these groups are generally authors themselves. If the exact same information is posted day after day, for several days in a row, the post tends to lose its effectiveness. In my experience, it’s better to scatter the posts around a bit so no one is repeatedly inundated with the same information.
Below is a breakdown of my rankings and how they moved over the course of the five free days.
June 24—Day before first free day, She’s Got Dibs had a ranking of #264,099.
June 25—Free Day #1
8:00 AM #8904 Overall #40 Women’s Fiction #53 Contemporary Fiction
Noon #712 Overall #32 Women’s Fiction #38 Contemporary Fiction
8:00 PM #254 Overall #17 Women’s Fiction #15 Contemporary Fiction
June 26—Free Day #2
8:00 AM #136 Overall #8 Women’s Fiction #7 Contemporary Fiction
Noon #91 Overall #7 Women’s Fiction #6 Contemporary Fiction
8:00 PM #53 Overall #4 Women’s Fiction #3 Contemporary Fiction
June 27—Free Day #3
8:00 AM #36 Overall #3 Women’s Fiction #2 Contemporary Fiction
Noon #31 Overall #3 Women’s Fiction #2 Contemporary Fiction
8:00 PM #36 Overall #3 Women’s Fiction #2 Contemporary Fiction
June 28—Free Day #4
8:00 AM #40 Overall #4 Women’s Fiction #3 Contemporary Fiction
Noon #37 Overall #3 Women’s Fiction #2 Contemporary Fiction
8:00 PM #39 Overall #3 Women’s Fiction #2 Contemporary Fiction
June 29—Free Day #5
8:00 AM #27 Overall #4 Women’s Fiction #3 Contemporary Fiction
Noon #22 Overall #3 Women’s Fiction #2 Contemporary Fiction
8:00 PM #28 Overall #3 Women’s Fiction #2 Contemporary Fiction
Follow Up Information:
Amazon rankings: Since the end of my KDP Select Free days, She’s Got Dibs has remained below the #20K mark in its rankings at Amazon, with dips as low as #6K depending on the quality of the reviews received and where these reviews have been featured (USA Today Happy Ever After, Goodreads, Amazon and several book bloggers). These results far exceed what I expected, especially since I’ve yet to celebrate my release date. It will be interesting to see what happens once She’s Got Dibs is actually released. My publisher automatically sends out all titles to a list of high profile reviewers and, in addition, She’s Got Dibs will be made available in print and listed at additional on-line vendors such as ARe Café and Barnes and Noble.
Reviews: Prior to my KDP free days, She’s Got Dibs had a total of four reviews. Afterward, it had received a total of fourteen. Also, the book’s stats at Goodreads skyrocketed. Prior to the free days, She’s Got Dibs was not listed on anyone’s “to be read” list. Afterward, 162 people had added it and the book had received a total of 29 ratings and 16 reviews. These numbers have continued to climb. As of today’s date, She’s Got Dibs has received 45 reviews on Amazon, 362 people have added it to their “to be read” list on Goodreads, it has received 110 ratings and 39 reviews. Once again, these results far exceed any I had achieved with my first release.
AJ Nuest
The KDP Select Free Days can be a very valuable tool to any author hoping to build a following. If you would like to discuss any of these issues, please don’t hesitate to email me at ajnuest@yahoo.com and I will be happy to share my experience with you in more detail. And, as always, if you have any information regarding a specific promotional tool you’ve utilized which has achieved great results, please don’t hesitate to share.
My thanks to Niecey once again for hosting me and I hope you find this information worthwhile when planning your next promotional campaign.
AJ Nuest
WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ GOODREADS ~ AMAZON ~ PINTEREST
THE GOLDEN KEY CHRONICLES COMING SOON!
Click here to purchase: She’s Got Dibs, Jezebel’s Wish
Thanks everyone, for joining today 
Don’t forget to check out AJ and her books at the above links. And thank you, AJ, for this information. I know that I, for one, really needed something like this!
Wishing you Sexy Smooches & Happily Ever Afters
xoxo, Niecey Roy
Fender Bender Blues , a romantic comedy
Print & e-Book available at Amazon
Print available at The Wild Rose Press
Available everywhere May 3, 2013
nieceyroy@gmail.com
http://www.nieceyroy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor
https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy
July 28, 2013
Guest Post by Mary M. Ricksen author of Tripping Through Time
Guest post by author Mary M. Ricksen
Blackie
Determination, that’s what it took, that and believing in the impossible.
We didn’t know about puppy mills when we saw him in the window of the local Pet Store at the Mall. I must have stopped there five times and gone in to pick up that fluffy black puppy. He was a pure bread German Shepherd and he was adorable. I fretted when I saw others look at him, or have him taken out to play with. I had to have that baby dog.
We’d just lost our first German Shepherd, he was rescued from a place where his owner had died, and my heart had a hole in it only a baby doggie could fill. It took some talking to get my husband to agree to buy him. I don’t know what it was, but when I looked into those big golden brown eyes there was a connection. I knew he had to come home with me. My heart about burst when I held him in my arms. He smelled so good, like a baby of any kind usually does. Little dog kisses washed me face and I fell in love.
That night we had spaghetti for dinner and the little boy just tried to dive into a plate of it. I gave him a tiny piece of meatball and he attacked it. He chewed merrily through the evening on all of his new toys and rawhide strips. We had a great evening and he slept on the end of our bed. Little doggie breaths and grunts made us smile. My husband wanted to call him Blackie and though I had better names I let it be Blackie, just because he got me the dog.
Then morning came. The night and day difference scared me to death. The little fellow was so lethargic and I barely got him outside to go when the first bouts of diarrhea hit. What didn’t come out of that end came out of the other and he coughed a lot too. I freaked, so we rushed to the pet store and they sent us to a local veterinarian. He diagnosed kennel cough, gave us medicine and we went home feeling much better.
He didn’t improve and I brought him back to the vet again and again. His kennel cough turned into pneumonia and antibiotics were added. He didn’t eat at all and I tried every food I could think of. He got even worse and finally the vet told me he had distemper. He suggested we put the puppy down, would give me another dog. Put him down! What! I had this little bundle of sweetness in my heart already. Put him down, not on my watch. So here’s what I was stuck with. Lots of medicines and something from the pharmacy called parapectolin. I had to sign for it but it was an over the counter medication at that time. It had a small amount of codeine in it and it kept the poor baby sleepy, but it stopped the runs. How could I get him to eat?
I went and bought baby food, there were several kinds of meat foods and I added water to them to thin them down. I used a large syringe to draw up the food and them I put the tip of it behind his back teeth in that little area dogs have back there. I forced syringe by syringe full of food down him mouth and gave him the other medications and carried him in and out to do his duty. He slept most of the time.
I cared for him for six months and then one day he tried to eat out of my plate. I bought dog food and for the first time in six months, he ate on his own. Eureka! Victory! He got better every day and he became a wonderful family member. He was a wonderful dog and we loved every minute of the ten years he lived.
He ended up to be a huge dog at 140 lbs. Black as night the only marking on him was a small white patch on his chest. What a beautiful and affectionate animal he turned into, he seemed grateful for every day of life. I was grateful for every day of his life and I will never stop missing him. Someday I hope to see him in heaven, I know he will make it there, I hope I do too!
So, to me the moral of the story is. Never say die!
Hey everyone, it’s Niecey here. I just want to say thank you for such a moving post, Mary! Just, wow! And thanks to everyone who’s joined today. Mary M. Ricksen is also a fellow author with The Wild Rose Press. Her novel Tripping Through Time is on sale for a limited time .99 cents right now at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon and B&N.
~~ The Wild Rose Press ~~ Amazon ~~ Barnes & Noble ~~
~~ Excerpt ~~
What the hell…? She knew this wasn’t still in
some part of that nightmare trip she’d taken. It was
too real, the place too old-fashioned. She heard
crickets and saw lightning bugs twinkle outside the
window. A fly buzzed over her head and she listened
to a mosquito or two, droning in their search for the
rich, red blood beneath her skin.
She didn’t hear the blast of car horns, tire
sounds on pavement, or the grinding noise from
trucks changing gears as they flew up and down the
hilly countryside. It was so quiet, no music, no
talking, nothing. Then she heard a latch lift and
something large and furry jumped up onto the bed,
knocking the breath out of her.
Anxiety left her speechless as the light from the
open door spilled into the room and onto the bed she
lay in. The dog lay next to her, warm and wild
smelling, doing her no harm. The large figure
approaching her now made her breathless, anxious.
She knew it was a man; his silhouette was outlined
by the light behind him.
When he reached the bed, he bent toward her,
only to pick up the tiny piece of candle still barely
burning. He lit a stained-glass covered lantern and
placed it on the bed stand beside it. Keealyn stared
into a pair of green eyes that reminded her of misty
mornings.
Clean-shaven, his thick, dark chestnut hair
flowed past the collar of his navy muslin shirt. It
was opened halfway down the front, to reveal a
smooth muscular chest. Very tall, lean, and brawny,
well-defined biceps, triceps, and pecs filled his shirt.
He had a slim waist and strong shoulders. His worn
blue jeans were held up with a handmade leather
belt, hung low on his hips. His skin seemed to glow
in the lamplight in a warm, bronzed tone.
He was gorgeous.
July 26, 2013
Passion’s Sacred Dance by Juli D. Revezzo
Thanks, Niecey for inviting me here today. My debut paranormal romance came out this week, and while you might think it’s easy for someone who’s read the genre for some time to write one, I like to challenge myself. This particular story deals with a continuation of a battle fought eons ago by the Tuatha dé Danann and their enemy Balor. Eons encompass a long period of time, wouldn’t you say? Researching the myths, alone, present some interesting challenges, but what about researching, say, the food the characters might be fond of? Our heroine is a modern day gal so she thinks nothing of popping by McDonald’s or the grocery store on the way to work. In centuries past meals weren’t quite so easy to handle.
As for the food Stacy’s ancestors—or her hero the semi-immortal Tuatha dé Danann warrior Aaron—might’ve had readily to hand prior to the advent of the modern day grocery? It’s not really so hard to picture, if you look into it. I’d read about seed cakes for years, mostly from Marion Zimmer Bradley’ Avalon saga. So that came readily to mind. I picture them hand-churning butter, perhaps storing their meats in a smokehouse. Her ancestors likely dined on Irish Stew, potage, and roast boar, duck, and other fowls the further back into their history we go.
There’s a site online called Gode Cookery that suffices to make one hungry. 
A quick jaunt through its pages and you’ll find tasty dishes like Frose, which is just pork and eggs (ham and eggs anyone?) and Dauce egre: (sweet and sour fish—though I bet it’s nothing like the sweet and sour you might get at the local Chinese food restaurant)
Frose: http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec75.html
Dauce egre: http://www.godecookery.com/goderec/grec74.html
Haddock, oil, vinegar, mace cloves, a little onion. Mmm…doesn’t seem so bad. Oh, maybe the fish would’ve been a little hard to get your hands on in the 1st or 16th centuries, and maybe you would’ve had to cook these things almost immediately, but they sound tasty and just the kind of meal to keep a warrior and his beloved fueled for whatever the gods might throw at them, don’t you think?
I worked little tidbits like this into my novel Passion’s Sacred Dance, my debut from The Wild Rose Press.
Would you like a little (ahem) taste? Okay:
~~ Blurb ~~
Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise–but can she trust him?
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help–even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron’s budding love might only complicate things.
~~ Excerpt ~~
Aaron planted his stance against the ground like the roots of a great oak tree, and pulled out his harshad. He flipped the handle over in his hand and two flail-like ends emerged. The ends cut through the glass wall, and snaked around the lawyer’s throat like metal ropes, before tightening.
The lawyer’s face began to turn red. Rendered immobile, he stumbled easily as Aaron gave the handle a hard tug. Stacy screeched as she tripped along with him. Aaron stepped through the wall, pried Bradley’s fingers from Stacy’s flesh, and shoved her protectively behind his back.
“Do me a favor,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “Call the number I gave you yesterday. They’ll do us more good than 9-1-1.”
Stacy turned and ran for the hall as the lawyer hissed out, “You should learn not to get involved, unsavory one.”
Aaron swallowed his relief when he heard Stacy slam the door against the wall. He turned his attention back to the cackling lawyer.
“I would give you the same warning, human.” Aaron studied the man in earnest, his voice calm.
“You have no idea what you’re involved in.”
“I should say the same to you.”
“Oh, I know the depths of their malevolence.” He tugged Bradley’s shirt collar down to reveal the glowing green eye tattooed on his chest. The lawyer’s breathing became more shallow, and sweat trickled from his temple.
“Do you know what you’re dealing with? Think long and hard about which side of the debtors’ line you’ll be on when the battle comes.” He slung the lawyer around, towards the back door. “Tell your masters this ground will carry my brand when all is said and done, or I shall gladly hound them to the ends of their unnatural lives!”
(FYI, the harshad is a special sword-like weapon made for Aaron’s army by the gods).
Would you like to read more? If so, Passion’s Sacred Dance is available now at Amazon and coming soon to The Wild Rose Press store and other retailers.
~~ VISIT JULI ~~
Website ~~ Amazon Page ~~ The Wild Rose Press ~~ Facebook ~~ Google + ~~ Pinterest ~~ Shelfari ~~ Twitter
~~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~~
Juli D. Revezzo is a Florida girl, with a love of fantasy, science fiction, and Arthurian legend, so much so she gained a B.A. in English and American Literature. She loves writing stories with fantastical elements whether it be a full-on fantasy, or a story set in this world–slightly askew. She has been published in short form in Eternal Haunted Summer, Dark Things II: Cat Crimes (a charity anthology for cat related charities), Luna Station Quarterly, The Scribing Ibis: An Anthology of Pagan Fiction in Honor of Thoth, and Twisted Dreams Magazine. She recently released her debut paranormal romance novel, Passion’s Sacred Dance.
Thank you for having me here today, Niecey! It’s been a real treat!
It was great having you today, Juli Always nice to have a fellow TWRP author join me on my blog. For everyone visiting today, don’t forget to check out Juli’s website and author pages to find out more about her. Thanks for stopping by!
Wishing you all Sexy Smooches & Happily Ever Afters,
XOXO, Niecey
Niecey Roy
Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy
Print & e-Book available at Amazon Print available at The Wild Rose Press
Available everywhere May 3, 2013 nieceyroy@gmail.com
http://www.nieceyroy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor
https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy
July 23, 2013
Aliens Love A Luscious Big Booty…
I have the most interesting conversations with my husband. Everyone who knows him agrees with me: he’s a crack up A lot of the time I find myself rushing to a notepad or the computer to write down something he’s said before I forget…and then those conversations inadvertently end up in one of my WIPs.On Aliens:
Mick: I’ve been doing some research on alien abductions.
Me: Why? *shudders*
Mick: Because we need to know.
Me: I worry that your obsession means you’ve already been abducted once in your lifetime (only semi-joking here).
Mick: I know… But I read online that if you have a luscious big booty you are more likely to be abducted by aliens. *says this with a serious face*
Me: *breaks into uncontrollable laughter* So you’re safe?
Mick: Probably.
Me: You’re not serious…right?
Mick: Yeah, I’m serious. There’s a survey.
Me: God, I love you. I need to write this down. *grabs phone and pecks out a note-to-self*
END
Keepin’ it real. ha ha!!!
Of course, the female protagonist of my new novel, a first book in a contemporary romantic series, has a sudden, slight obsession with aliens. I guess you know where I’m going with that one
Have an Alien-tastic Wednesday!
Sincerely,
Niecey Roy
Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy
Print & e-Book available at Amazon
Print available at The Wild Rose Press
Available everywhere May 3, 2013
nieceyroy@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor
https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy
July 22, 2013
Death Knows My Name ~~ by Casse Narome
MAYNE ST LECLAIR has spent her adult life closed off emotionally from the world around her. She learned very early on that those who get close to her end up dead. She knows she is cursed, but what she doesn’t know is why.
ECTAIN “ERIC” EDECK knows the pain he has caused Mayne but the connection is undeniable. Can Mayne get past the hurt and fall in love or has her heart been broken too many times?
Is death playing some sort of cruel joke on Mayne St LeClair or is watching her suffer breaking Death’s heart?
Goodreads-
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E00RHOI
~~Author Bio~~
Casse Narome is the alter-ego of a self-proclaimed awesome weirdo who spent her childhood reading and daydreaming. As an adult that is also 
how she spends her time only now she writes her daydreams down for everyone to read. Casse is never serious, has been accused of wishing her life was a sitcom, laugh track and all, has a bad habit of talking out loud to herself and she is fine with being a little insane. She spends way too much time online, too much money buying books and laughing at her own jokes. You will find her on Twitter being very random and spewing her opinions. When you see her online, tell her to get back to her writing! Or just engage her in a hilarious random conversation. She blogs book reviews and the adventures of being a writer.
www.CatholicKittie.blogspot.com & www.CasseNarome.blogspot.com She is an avid tweeter www.twitter.com/catholickittie She is also on Facebook www.facebook.com/CasseNarome
Links
Publisher-
Amazon Author Page- http://www.amazon.com/Casse-NaRome/e/B00C0K7T4S
Facebook- www.facebook.com/CasseNarome
Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/catholickittie
Blog- www.CasseNarome.blogspot.com & http://www.catholickittie.blogspot.com/
Casse Narome
The Reborn: The Book of Dain – AVAILABLE NOW!
Death Knows My Name – Coming Soon from Soul Mate Publishing
Facebook.com/CasseNarome
@CatholicKittie
Amazon.com/author/cassenarome
Not Just Another Fairy Tale ~~ Snow White, Love is Poison by Katherine Pine
I don’t usually post reviews, because I am not a professional reviewer, but a writer who also happens to be a book worm. Reviewing other people’s writing is a really hard job. I know this, because after becoming published I’ve visited with and gotten to know some really great reviewers who take their job very seriously and who post their reviews, knowing their review will either sway a reader to choose to read that book, or perhaps never to read any books by that author. So, in saying that, I would just like everyone to know I’m writing this blog post not as an author, not as a reviewer, but as a bookworm who wants to share a great book I’ve just read.
I’ve been reading Katherine Pine’s Fallen Angels series, and am impatiently waiting for Book 3 in that series. I visited her website to see if there was any news on Book 3 and that’s when I saw her Snow White series. I downloaded it right away because she’s an amazing writer and I couldn’t wait to see what she’d done with it.
She did NOT disappoint with Love is Poison. It’s absolutely brilliant. I LOVED this spin on Snow White!!! Honestly, I didn’t think it could be “spun”, because it’s Snow White and that’s that. Katherine Pine’s version of this fairy tale favorite was a surprise. Snow White is not the ordinary fairy tale princess we all grew up with for many reasons, and the strength in Katherine Pine’s version of Snow White is something I found refreshing. Her character is complex and touching, and equally frustrating in the fact that I wanted to jump into the story and help the princess kick ass. She was great! I was hooked from page 1 and, when I realized I had neared the end of the book, I was bummed. As with all series, I had to choke down a cliffhanger, but I’m okay with it…provided I have something to read in my hands soon!
I don’t want to give away details, because I want people to go out and read the book for themselves. I only say this — you will not be wasting your time. In fact, you will probably become a Pine fan, as I did, immediately after reading even just one of her books (especially this one). Her writing is breathtaking. It really is. She’s a gem and it’s only a matter of time before the big dogs (the large publishing houses) take notice. So seriously, get your own copy by clicking on the picture above, or click HERE.
Wishing you Sexy Smooches & Happily Ever Afters,
Niecey Roy
Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy
Print & e-Book available at Amazon Print available at The Wild Rose Press
Available everywhere May 3, 2013 nieceyroy@gmail.com
http://www.nieceyroy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor
https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy
July 18, 2013
A Pirate’s Tale by Stacey Rourke ~~ Book Blast ~~ Author Spotlight
Sidekick Chronicles Vol II: A Pirate’s Tale by Stacey Rourke
Book Info-
Title: The Sidekick Chronicles Vol. II: A Pirate’s Tale
Series: The Gryphon Series #3.5
By: Stacey Rourke
Published: July 19th, 2013 by Anchor Group
Blurb-
The call of the sea.
The promise of adventure.
For Rowan Wade, the need to return to his swashbuckling ways is enough to betray the only woman he’s cared for in over three hundred years.
With vengeance in his heart, he’s determined to exact his revenge on those that mutinied against his father.
The arrival of an unlikely ally challenges Rowan’s plans. Her goal isn’t to stop him, but to lead him on a journey of self-discovery to unravel the mysteries of the twisted path that led him to the Dark Army.
Will it be enough to make the pirate shift course? Or will he be lost forever in a rum-induced haze? Hoist ye colors and prepare to set sail with the Gryphon Series’ favorite pirate!
Purchase A Pirate’s Tale
Goodreads ~~ Amazon Kindle ~~ Smashwords ~~ Barnes & Noble
Book Trailer-
About the Author-
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.
Stacey Rourke is the author of the YA Fantasy Gryphon Series and the non-fiction autobiographical I’m Not Crazy, I’m on Lupron; a Journey Through Infertility. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of the Gryphon Series as well as other literary projects.
Visit Stacey Rourke
Website ~~ Blog ~~ Facebook ~~ Twitter @Rourkewrites.
July 7, 2013
A peek into Demon King’s Desire by J.L. Sheppard
I asked author J.L. Sheppard to stop by and share a few fun facts about herself, as well as about her novel, Demon King’s Desire.
Q&A:
Favorite Food: Anything pasta, bread and meat!
Favorite Songs: Like a Stone, Audioslave; A Natural Disaster, Anathema; Let Down, Radiohead; If I Knew, Bruno Mars; If I Ever, Shai.
Favorite Vacation Spots: Maui & Santorini
Favorite Spot: On my couch, where I write.
Favorite City: Miami, of course (because I live there), but also love Paris & NY.
Favorite Books: Books I’ve read and re-read multiple times… Demon from the Dark, A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole; One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost; The Choice by Nicholas Sparks; Renegade by Diana Palmer; Vampire Interrupted by Lynsay Sands
Demon King’s Desire, Elemental Sisters SeriesParanormal Romance
Rating: Hot
Length: 247
Available Now!Reviews:
“If you love a good paranormal romance, then I can’t recommend this book highly enough. This series ranks up there with some of my favorites, Black Dagger Brotherhood, Midnight Breed, and others so I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Since Jenna has four sisters I look forward to a lot more to come in the future.”
- Paranormal Romance Guild: 5 Stars; Reviewed by Linda Tonis
“Demon King’s Desire by J.L. Sheppard was so enthralling with dynamic characters and an action-packed storyline that I couldn’t put it down.”
- Sizzling Hot Books, 4 Hearts, Reviewed by Robin”… Distrusting demons, weres, faeries, vamps and all sorts of other paranormal creatures, Jenna’s lost sisters, and a conspiracy to destroy humankind and you have one hot explosive story!”
- My Secret Romance Reviews: 4 Stars; Reviewed by Lee Ann
Demon King’s Desire by J.L. Sheppard
~~Blurb~~
Jenna’s lived as a mortal, but is far from one. Lucas, the demon king, is hell bent on fighting evil. When their paths collide, she discovers she’s part of a new breed of immortals prophesied to save or destroy human life, and he discovers she’s the woman he’s been dreaming of for centuries, his fated mate.
~~Excerpt~~
“Come in,” she said after he knocked on her door.
He slowly opened the door and found her sitting on the bed with a towel wrapped around her. He instinctively turned around dropping the bag with Jenna’s new clothes on the floor. He closed his eyes hoping to wipe away the memory of her in her towel, but he couldn’t. She looked so mouthwatering with her silky smooth skin.
Oh God, he thought. “I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say to come in.”
“I did.”
“But you’re only wearing a towel.”
“What is it with you guys and towels? It’s not like I’m naked.”
“No, you aren’t,” he said, still turned away from her. “But, Jenna, you do realize the effect you have on men, don’t you?”
“Excuse me,” she said. He could hear her walking toward him.
“Lucas,” she said. “Turn around.” He did as she asked. “Now look at me, Lucas.”
Again, he did. He stared into her eyes and admired the dark brown hue as he ran his hand over the side of her face, feeling its lovely softness. Jenna was all beauty, he thought. She deserved better than him, a monster, a demon.
“You are so beautiful, Jenna. Any man in this world would give up his life to touch you once, just like this,” he said as he continued to caress her cheek.
She gasped. “I can feel it. I never noticed it before, but I can feel it now.”
“What, Jenna,” he asked. “What can you feel?” She could feel what he did because when he was around her, it was hard to keep his emotions in check and hide from her how he truly felt.
“What you’re feeling… I think it’s awe.”
He leaned down and took her lips in a passionate kiss. As with the other times, he couldn’t help himself. He kissed her, and with equal passion and anticipation, she kissed him, their tongues entwined in a battle of desire.
Purchase Demon King’s Desire
~~ Amazon ~~ Barnes & Noble ~~
Burdened By Desire, Coming Soon
~~Biography~~
J.L. Sheppard was born and raised in Miami, Florida where she still lives with her husband. Her lifelong dream was to write a book, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she set her heart and mind into writing her first completed novel, Demon King’s Desire, which was published in January of 2013. Besides reading and writing, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.
Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr
Thanks for stopping by, J.L. and I hope everyone enjoyed the excerpt!
Sincerely,
Niecey Roy
Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy
Print & e-Book available at Amazon
Print available at The Wild Rose Press
Available everywhere May 3, 2013
nieceyroy@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor
https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy
A peak into Demon King’s Desire by J.L. Sheppard
I asked author J.L. Sheppard to stop by and share a few fun facts about herself, as well as about her novel, Demon King’s Desire.
Q&A:
Favorite Food: Anything pasta, bread and meat!
Favorite Songs: Like a Stone, Audioslave; A Natural Disaster, Anathema; Let Down, Radiohead; If I Knew, Bruno Mars; If I Ever, Shai.
Favorite Vacation Spots: Maui & Santorini
Favorite Spot: On my couch, where I write.
Favorite City: Miami, of course (because I live there), but also love Paris & NY.
Favorite Books: Books I’ve read and re-read multiple times… Demon from the Dark, A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole; One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost; The Choice by Nicholas Sparks; Renegade by Diana Palmer; Vampire Interrupted by Lynsay Sands
Demon King’s Desire, Elemental Sisters SeriesParanormal Romance
Rating: Hot
Length: 247
Available Now!
Reviews:
“If you love a good paranormal romance, then I can’t recommend this book highly enough. This series ranks up there with some of my favorites, Black Dagger Brotherhood, Midnight Breed, and others so I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Since Jenna has four sisters I look forward to a lot more to come in the future.”
- Paranormal Romance Guild: 5 Stars; Reviewed by Linda Tonis
“Demon King’s Desire by J.L. Sheppard was so enthralling with dynamic characters and an action-packed storyline that I couldn’t put it down.”
- Sizzling Hot Books, 4 Hearts, Reviewed by Robin
“… Distrusting demons, weres, faeries, vamps and all sorts of other paranormal creatures, Jenna’s lost sisters, and a conspiracy to destroy humankind and you have one hot explosive story!”
- My Secret Romance Reviews: 4 Stars; Reviewed by Lee Ann
Demon King’s Desire by J.L. Sheppard
~~Blurb~~
Jenna’s lived as a mortal, but is far from one. Lucas, the demon king, is hell bent on fighting evil. When their paths collide, she discovers she’s part of a new breed of immortals prophesied to save or destroy human life, and he discovers she’s the woman he’s been dreaming of for centuries, his fated mate.
~~Excerpt~~
“Come in,” she said after he knocked on her door.
He slowly opened the door and found her sitting on the bed with a towel wrapped around her. He instinctively turned around dropping the bag with Jenna’s new clothes on the floor. He closed his eyes hoping to wipe away the memory of her in her towel, but he couldn’t. She looked so mouthwatering with her silky smooth skin.
Oh God, he thought. “I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say to come in.”
“I did.”
“But you’re only wearing a towel.”
“What is it with you guys and towels? It’s not like I’m naked.”
“No, you aren’t,” he said, still turned away from her. “But, Jenna, you do realize the effect you have on men, don’t you?”
“Excuse me,” she said. He could hear her walking toward him.
“Lucas,” she said. “Turn around.” He did as she asked. “Now look at me, Lucas.”
Again, he did. He stared into her eyes and admired the dark brown hue as he ran his hand over the side of her face, feeling its lovely softness. Jenna was all beauty, he thought. She deserved better than him, a monster, a demon.
“You are so beautiful, Jenna. Any man in this world would give up his life to touch you once, just like this,” he said as he continued to caress her cheek.
She gasped. “I can feel it. I never noticed it before, but I can feel it now.”
“What, Jenna,” he asked. “What can you feel?” She could feel what he did because when he was around her, it was hard to keep his emotions in check and hide from her how he truly felt.
“What you’re feeling… I think it’s awe.”
He leaned down and took her lips in a passionate kiss. As with the other times, he couldn’t help himself. He kissed her, and with equal passion and anticipation, she kissed him, their tongues entwined in a battle of desire.
Purchase Demon King’s Desire
~~ Amazon ~~ Barnes & Noble ~~
Burdened By Desire, Coming Soon
~~Biography~~
J.L. Sheppard was born and raised in Miami, Florida where she still lives with her husband. Her lifelong dream was to write a book, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she set her heart and mind into writing her first completed novel, Demon King’s Desire, which was published in January of 2013. Besides reading and writing, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.
Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr
Thanks for stopping by, J.L. and I hope everyone enjoyed the excerpt!
Sincerely,
Niecey Roy
Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy
Print & e-Book available at Amazon
Print available at The Wild Rose Press
Available everywhere May 3, 2013
nieceyroy@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor
https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy
July 5, 2013
Christine Elaine Black ~~ Food in Medieval England
Thanks for having me on your blog, Niecey. Like me, I know you love facts about food and today I’m bringing a bit of information about eating in the middle ages to celebrate the release of my latest book, A Rose for Lancaster. By the time you read this you’ll be glad you live in modern times. lol
Back in 1486 the nobles ate goose and maybe a swan or two. Even a bird called a woodcock was fair game. (pardon the pun) Cooks used butter and saffron for taste and for a golden brown color.Venison (deer) was featured on medieval tables and gave us a famous saying. Sadly the peasants were banned from eating the best bits and got the entrails and unwanted organs (called ‘umbles’). Mixed in with other leftovers, the poor ate ‘umble pie’. Nowadays, if you are down on your luck and are forced to live a lower standard of life , it is said that you are eating ‘humble pie’.
In Medieval England a large mince pie was filled with meat scraps, fruits and spices, then baked. In Victorian times they changed the recipe and opted out of the meat.
We’re lucky today to have so many choices of food at our fingertips. It’s hard to imagine the huge gap between the nobility and the poor, especially when it comes to food. I like mince pie but as for a swan or a woodcock, I’ll pass on those delicacies for now.
Great to be here visiting with you, Niecey. Keep those food facts coming!!
Christine Elaine
Buy Links:
A-Rose-for-Lancaster-on-Amazon
ChristineElaineBlack-AmazonBuyBooks
A Rose For Lancaster
A York woman and a Lancaster man are forced into a marriage contract to please King Henry VII.
Blanche Langley is swept into King Henry VII’s ambitious maneuvers to secure the throne. Tensions flare as a plot to overthrow the king is discovered. York forces gather to make one last effort to win the throne. Will Blanche betray her king, and her husband, Giles Beaufort?
~~ Excerpt~~
I heard a commotion at the far end of the hall as my household men jostled a group of strangers dressed in riding clothes stained with mud. My immediate thought was to rush out of the hall to my rooms but as head of the house at Langley mansion I must deal with the arrival of newcomers.
The steward talked with hasty gestures designed to delay the men, but they pushed past him and strode to the front of the hall.
I rose off my chair, regretting my choice of attire. The men looked roughened by hard riding and I had no wish to attract attention. They paused in a semi circle and shuffled their feet.
“What’s the meaning of this intrusion?”
A young man broke through the line of ruffians, boldly staring at my person. The sight of his proud stance, even though his dress left much to be desired, irritated me.
“We seek the mistress of the house.”
I flinched. He wore the livery of Lancaster and carried a missive bearing an official seal sending a shudder through my bones.
“You carry a message for Lady Langley?”
The young man held the parchment tightly. “It must be delivered in person.”
I dreaded the content of the letter. King Henry had the power to remove me from my home and pass ownership to another noble, driving me into destitution.
“Follow me, if you will.” We moved through the passageway leading to my father’s private room, used for dealing in matters of our estate. My steward discouraged the others from following and I faced my unwelcome guest with impatience.
“I am Lady Langley.”
My hand reached for the letter but he eyed me dubiously and refused to hand over the message.
“I seek the mistress of Langley. The woman betrothed to baron Somerset.” The strength and timbre of the voice belied his years, and cloaked in confidence his bearing held effortless grace. Steel gray eyes met mine without a shred of humility.
“Give me the message.” His hesitation irritated me into sharp speech, a thing I did when vexed by servants. “Now, damn you!” I tore open the missive and read it twice before laughing in contempt.
“Somerset is reported dead. I can no more marry him than I can marry Richard of England.”
“You are Lady Langley?” The cheeky lout stared at me with a curious quirk on his lips.
“I am Blanche Langley, mistress of this house.”
“Indeed,” he mused.
“The king orders me to marry the baron of Somerset within the month. Does he not know the man died?” I shrugged in confusion.
“I am Giles Beaufort, heir to Somerset.”
Thanks again for guesting on my blog today, Christine! Hope everyone enjoyed the excerpt. To look inside the book, just click the book cover image above or click HERE
Sincerely,
Niecey Roy
Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy
Print & e-Book available at Amazon
Print available at The Wild Rose Press
Available everywhere May 3, 2013
nieceyroy@gmail.com
http://www.nieceyroy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor
https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy
