K.F. Breene's Blog, page 13

Cover Reveal!! Freedom by S.A. Wolfe

COVER REVEAL     
Freedom by S.A. Wolfe
(Fearsome #2)
Publication date: 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

*This is a stand-alone sequel to Fearsome. No cliffhanger!

Dylan Blackard is back in town and certain everyone knows his secrets; there’s nothing left to hide. Putting away his notorious reputation as the wild guy with a womanizing past, he’s now on a new path. As long as he gives up his old vices, including women, he can keep himself on the straight and narrow and be the good guy, living up to everyone’s expectations.

However, obsessing about his own ability for self-control is making Dylan one humorless, cranky hermit. That all changes when his brother hires a new employee, the stunning Emma Keller, who will be sharing an office with him and all of his tightly wound nerves.

Emma, a spunky young woman from New Jersey, isn’t about to feel sorry for Dylan and his situation. She is beyond distracting to him, and that is enough to turn his emotional balancing act upside down. Not only is she smart, and a smart aleck, she’s also very determined to pull the sexy Dylan Blackard out of his self-imposed isolation.

From the moment he meets her, he feels alive again, but Emma doesn’t come as a gift with a pretty bow – she comes with major baggage – a family history embedded in its own turmoil.

Will Emma be the tipping point that causes Dylan to regress into his old destructive behaviors….or is he actually pursuing her for keeps?

*Due to adult language and sexual content, this New Adult Contemporary Romance is intended for readers over the age of 18.

   AUTHOR BIO S. A. Wolfe lives with her wonderfully loud, opinionated children and awesome husband. She is a voracious reader and passionate about writing, and when those two activities don’t keep her locked away in her room, she loves hiking mountains as much as she adores all the thrills New York City has to offer.
Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter



    

Cover Reveal!! Elements Series (1 & 2) by Mia Marshall

COVER REVEAL  
Broken Elements  - On Sale now! 99 cents!
(Elements series)Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
 “It’s happening again, Aidan. We didn’t stop it, after all.”

As an elemental, Aidan Brook holds the power of water at her fingertips. A descendant of the earth’s oldest magic, she can cause tides to ebb and flow, put out house fires without calling 911, and give anyone who’s annoying her an impromptu shower.

But even her magic has its limits. After it fails her one terrible night, she hides from the world and everyone she once loved, trying to escape the memories that haunt her. Ten years later, her exile is brought to an abrupt end when her former best friend appears on her front porch. An elemental killer is once again murdering her friends, and she must return to the scene of her own crimes.

Lake Tahoe proves more than she bargained for. Between a sadistic killer, some clever FBI agents, an annoyingly attractive landlord, and way too many new roommates, she has a pretty full plate. Add in a past she’s desperate to escape and her own uncontrollable powers, and Aidan Brook is having a very, very bad month.    *  Amazon   
 Shifting Selves is a 2013 RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee!!! Shifting Selves - On Sale now! 99 cents!(Elements series)
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Aidan Brook's world was shattered when the actions of a brutal murderer revealed long-buried secrets about her past--secrets even she didn't know. A powerful elemental, Aidan discovered she possesses the wrong kind of magic. It's a secret that could cost her sanity—or even her life.

What she needs is some peace and quiet. What she gets is a phone call from a division of the FBI so secret it doesn’t even have a name, asking for her help with a series of shifter disappearances.

Before Aidan can settle into a new routine of pancakes and evenings by the fire, the case develops claws. She quickly finds herself caught between uptight bears, deadly mountain lions, overprotective parents, and unhappy federal agents. Throw in a stalled romance with an enigmatic shifter and the slow dissolution of her chosen family, and it’s hard to say which will drive her mad first: her magic, or her chaotic life.

 * Amazon   AUTHOR BIO    Mia Marshall has been a genre reader from the first moment she cracked open The Wizard of Oz series and discovered it was even better than the movie.

A few decades after that, she decided to create her own imaginary worlds. Broken Elements and Shifting Selves are the first two books in the Elements urban fantasy series. The third book, Turning Tides, will be available May 2014. Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter

Review: Just Looking by Jianna Higgins

Book Review   Just Looking by Jianna HigginsGenre: Contemporary Short Story Reviewer: K.F. Breene

  Amazon * iTunes (FREE!!)

 **Finalist in the Kindle Best Indie Book Awards 2013** 
Back Jacket

The day has arrived when Alice can no longer live on her own. She forgets to take her meds, and she was caught feeding teabags to her cat. Her long suffering daughter delivers her to a retirement home, but getting her to stay will be a battle of wills.


- The breeze followed them inside until the automatic doors whooshed shut behind them. Corridors like hungry mouths headed in every direction.

Alice chewed on her bottom lip and planted her feet. She gulped. "This place is going to swallow me whole," she whispered.

Karen blew on her hands and smiled. "Oh good, it's much warmer inside. Well, this is lovely isn't it?"

"These cream walls are going to put me to sleep. Permanently. Is that what you want?" Alice wanted to have a tantrum on the floor, kick and scream like a toddler. But the floor looked uncomfortable and getting down there was just too hard. -


Ideal for anyone who wants a light read and can't be bothered with novels.
I bought this book because it was a finalist in the Amazon Indy Book Awards, looked cute, and was only a dollar. Last night I "cracked" open my iPad mini to give it a quick glance while waiting for Dr. Who to buffer. The first paragraph had me distracted immediately:

"I'm not getting out of the car, Karen. Take me home." Alice looked back at the red brick building engulfing the car's windscreen. She lowered her eyes and ran a finger across the paper-thin skin of her other hand. The spots looked like they belonged on a leopard. Her heart fluttered in her chest like a tiny bird flapping its wings.

This book is about a cranky old lady that is at an age where she can no longer take care of herself. Her daughter brings her to an "old folks home", intending to check her in for round-the-clock care. The extremely short story views this polarizing experience through the eyes of Alice, a woman who doesn't want to give in to being old, and doesn't want to give up her independence in her living arrangement.

I must say this book, however short, is well done. The writing and story flow smoothly, with fresh descriptions and life-like dialogue. You feel the despondency of the character, fearing to start this last chapter in her life in a foreign place. A sterilized, shared, unfamiliar place. With an immediately engrossing style, and a relatable main character, Alice, this book gives the reader an insight into what it must be like to uproot your whole world, and move it into a place such as what is awaiting the character.

Overlaying the depressing and lifelike undercurrent is a gloss of humor that I enjoyed. This woman may not have remembered what she had for breakfast, she may not be steady on her feet, and she may not be solely able to take care of herself, but damn it, she doesn't have to go quietly!  She responds to her sad and put-upon daughter with sass, refusing to be pandered to or pushed around. She tries to flee, only to be thwarted by her frail body. Every avenue of escape is pondered, and what goes wrong is as depressing as it is hilarious.

The questionable issues with this story were the, sometimes, kid-like dialogue and the surface-level feel of it all. While most of the dialogue was humorous, sometimes it was too kid-like for a woman of her age. I get the crankiness, but older woman wouldn't know some of the slang this author used. Didn't mean I didn't enjoy it, however. And being that the story was so short, it was only hinting at what it could be. It wasn't about much, and it didn't really delve into anything. If it was priced higher than a dollar, I'd be hard pressed to recommend it, because you don't get much bang for your buck, however enjoyable. Good thing it is now free :)

4 stars!

Growing Pains Boxed Set - 99 cents For a Limited Time!

  Growing Pains Boxed Set:Lost and Found, book 1Overcoming Fear, book 2Butterflies in Honey, book 399 CENTS - limited timeAmazon I am thinking about the fourth book in the Growing Pains Series, which will follow Cassie's journey toward love.


Even though her parents blamed each other, and especially their kids, for their lives gone wrong, Cassie always had Sean to take the brunt of the emotional abuse. He sheltered her, and looked after her, her whole life, doing whatever he had to to make sure his little sis had what she needed.

Now that Sean has found Krista, and has a new person to look after, Cassie is feeling the sting of loneliness descend on her for the first time. She loves Krista, and has rooted for Sean to get his crap together and snatch Krista up since the beginning, but...

Now what?

When your only family starts a new family, you realize how important it is to find someone for yourself.

The problem is, where is Cassie going to find a guy that will look out for her, and govern her when she gets too reckless? Someone who won't take offense when she gets in a temper and throws a remote... She needs to find a guy that can live up to her brother's infallible soft heart while still having a heavy dose of masculinity and dominance. She doesn't want a jerk, but she doesn't want someone she can walk all over, either.

What's the fun in getting your way when there's no challenge in it?!

She hates to admit it, but she needs to find a guy like her brother. Only...not her brother. Ew.
****

And its going to take place in my home county-- Sonoma. There will be wine, people. There will be wine.



In order to test out the marketing strategy of releasing a boxed set right before the fourth book (which isn't written yet), I thought I'd give it a test run now. If it doesn't work...well, I'll know for future.

Bottom line, get the Boxed Set for super cheap right now, because this deal will only go on for about two weeks!

Mary Waibel, Promo and Giveaway!

Today Mary Waibel stops by to talk about her new release,
Different Kind of Knight, #3 in the Princes of Valendria series.

~~~~~~~


KFB, thank you so much for hosting me today. I'm thrilled to meet and chat with you and your awesome followers in the comments!
Hi! I'm Mary, and I'm the author of the Princess of Valendria series [YA Fantasy]: QUEST OF THE HART, CHARMED MEMORIES, and (recently released) DIFFERENT KIND OF KNIGHT. These are  companion novels―stand alone stories set in the world of Valendria. While each follows a different couple, there are some spoilers if you read them out of order. Just so you know :-)
The series started out as a twist on a famous fairy tale. QUEST OF THE HART is a reverse Sleeping Beauty, where the prince is the one under the sleep spell and the princess has to go on the quest to rescue him. Told from dueling points of view of the heroine and the villainess, this story follows Princess Kaylee as she works to save her betrothed, Prince Devlin. There is magic, and spells, and swords, and dragons, and a lot of things you'd expect if you've watched the Disney movie―but, they all come with a twist.
When I finished QUEST OF THE HART, I knew I needed to tell Prince Trevor's (Kaylee's brother) story. It didn't really fit a fairy tale, but it did remind me of another story. See, Trevor's story was really Bri's story, and it was a case of mistaken identity that made me think of THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER. Ironically, a twist I added to CHARMED MEMORIES in revisions has made some people link it to another classic fairy tale, but I'm not sharing that here, as it's a spoiler, and, well, I'd rather not give that little detail away :-)
As with CHARMED MEMORIES, I didn't set out to twist a particular fairy tale, or any other book, for DIFFERENT KIND OF KNIGHT. Nope, I just wanted to tell Prince Brody's story. See, I kind of fell in love with him a little in CHARMED MEMORIES, and knew I had to tell the story of how he found his happily-ever-after. And it couldn't be with just any girl. No, she had to be strong, skilled with a sword, a leader in her own right-A DIFFERENT KIND OF KNIGHT. And that's how Princess Rielle came to be.
I know you're all asking. Is this the end of the series? And the answer is…No. :-) I will be going back to Arabella (the villainess from QUEST OF THE HART) and telling her story. It's still in the drafting stage, but you can get updates on this and all my other work, by signing up for my newsletter over at marywaibel.blogspot.com.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to ask question in the comments. Thanks, agai
n, KFB



Blurb:

Through a twist of fate, Princess Gabrielle became First Knight of the King’s Elite Guard, a position always held by the second born male. She's spent years proving to the Minsters of Faldaera she is capable of leading the king’s Army.
When mythical creatures plague her kingdom, Rielle is sent to capture Captain Brody, the alleged culprit behind the attacks and the man who broke her heart four years ago.
Brody, Crown Prince of Delphine, is living in self-imposed exile, atoning for the sins of his father. But Fate has different plans for him. Tired, beaten down, and ready to give up on life, he is tossed into the path of the one person he would do anything for―Princess Gabrielle.
With a traitor in her ranks, and a mark on her head, Brody joins forces with Rielle, hoping to keep the woman he loves safe. Happily-ever-after is not guaranteed, and mythical creatures aren’t the only danger the couple face. As battles rage, Rielle has the chance to prove herself a capable leader, but will doing so cost her the love of her life?~*~*~*~*~*~Special Offer From MUSEITUP PUBLISHING available until 2/14/14  





  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Disclaimer:I forced this book on Sally Sparrow, wondering what she thought of it. I am a huge fan of Ilona Andrews, and wanted to spread the love.  Books that we both read, we'll each post a review. Sometimes we'll be in sync, usually for different reasons, and sometimes we'll probably fight. Neither of us hold back, so we'll see how these dueling reviews go. Could be fireworks in the future :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Magic Bites by Ilona AndrewsGenre: Urban fantasy

Reviewer: Dueling Reviews; Sally Sparrow and K.F. Breene




Amazon * B&N * iTunes







Back Jacket

When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…

 Sally Sparrow:


I’ll admit that fantasy is not my first choice in reading material. Fantasy requires complete attention, a block of dedicated reading time that I don’t always have, to allow myself to be pulled into the story. If the storyteller is good, I will ignore everything else in life and just read, entering the storyland world with my whole being.
Ilona Andrews is a good storyteller.
Magic Bites is the first in an ongoing series, and so entrancing that I am having a tough time adjusting to real life. It has been 24 hours since I finished reading it and I still miss the characters. I have been thinking of them all day. They pop up in my mind in quiet moments, and I battle the urge to steal away to start the next book. Can I cancel all of my commitments and responsibilities for the next week or two so I can read the rest of the existing series? I very much want to. Alas, being an adult doesn’t allow such indulgences. 
The heroine, Kate Daniels, is a total badass. She lives alone and works as a sort of bounty hunter in a world where magic reigns and guns rarely work. She is physically strong, in a way usually reserved for fictional men, extremely intelligent and quick thinking, and a superior fighter. In short, a warrior without an army. 
The story begins when she learns of the death of her guardian Gary, close friend of her late father, and the only remnant of family she had left. Kate begins to investigate Gary’s death, and brings us along for the ride.
Kate’s world looks largely like ours, but is set in the future. Waves of magic, akin to power surges that last for hours, settle on the land as a sort of atmospheric blanket that obliterates all things technological - cars, electricity, guns, etc. The magic can erode anything made with technology, such as buildings, and thus the cityscape is in a constant state of degradation, giving it a sense of post-apocalypse.
This book has lots of different elements, and they work together beautifully. There are vampires, were-animals, warriors, humans, and the occasional zombie. Battles are waged, alliances are made, friendships are formed. There is even a little romance, although if you are looking for graphic sex scenes you won’t find them here. 
Ms. Andrews weaves a gripping, engrossing tale. She gives us a new language for the magical elements, but doesn’t define the words. There is no telling. We learn the language via context cues, thus exemplifying a writing skill I truly admire.
My only gripe with this book - other than it eventually coming to an end - is the use of a name that means both a street and an area of the city.  Unicorn Lane is a road, but it is 30 blocks long and eight blocks wide, and broken up by cross-streets.  I surmised the neighborhood known as Unicorn Lane encompasses this area, radiating out from Unicorn Lane itself, but the sameness of name bothered me to the point that I had to reread that section.  A small issue in the whole scheme of the story, and one possibly not bothersome to other readers. 
 Magic Bites would make a great read when you have some time to dedicate to it -- a snow day, beach day, weekend without commitments. Otherwise you just might find yourself calling out of work and canceling plans.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

BOOM! 5 stars!

   Let's take a break for some dueling banjos, shall we?

 
    We now resume our programming...   KfB’s take: 
These days it is hard not to be completely jaded with shape shifters, vampires, and all other supernatural bally-woo, because they all seem sculpted from the same mold. A mold already shoved in our faces with books and movies and weird fan clubs. I can barely turn a page of urban fantasy or paranormal books anymore without immediately losing interest. Why read? I already know the world, the character traits, and the outcome of the story--it isn't original. Well, now, here we are. With the Kate Daniels series. A breath of fresh air.  This book has all the usual suspects--vampires, shape shifters, etc--but explained in a completely different way. With a backdrop soaked in magic one minute, then shoved back into technology the next, the world with which we are presented is unique, believable, and so dang creative I am in awe (and envy). Plus, we get blood magic, runes, myths, Gods walking the Earth...it is everything good about fantasy and paranormal seen through a new lens. A funny, wise-cracking lens. I also enjoy the author’s realistic view of people and relationships. The heroine is a strong, independent, pain in the ass. In fact, most females worth our time in this series are strong, which I greatly love. Not being a willowy dame myself, I appreciate a heroine that can be emotionally damaged, without needing a man to prop her up like a puppet while she cries herself a puddle of tears.

Who does that and actually has friends, anyway? And what non-abusive guy gets off on that? Not one I care to idolize, that’s for sure. 
The romance in this book is subtle. There are engaging nuances sprinkled throughout the action; respect and an identified equality in both parties that will grow as the series progresses. But with an alpha male, and an alpha heroine that kicks so much ass you want to give her a medal, mushy doesn’t come naturally. And within this world, you appreciate that quality so much more than the insta-love you’ll find in New Adult books. 
I would be lying if I said Ilona Andrews wasn’t a huge influence to my writing. Her style, her characters, and the push to keep reading long into the night are something I inspire to emulate. My goal is to be as good as her, which is a goal far, far in my future-- if I can ever strain to reach it. If you like my characters, and have a hard time putting my books down, then you will want to give her a try. I am but a student following a master, hoping to snatch up any nuggets of enlightenment that drop my way.
 4.5 stars         

Review: Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Reviewer: KF Breene



Disclaimer:
Please note that I am an author now. I have worked at this writing gig, trying to get better. I have a different critical understanding of a story than I used to. I have always been critical, but now maybe I'm absurd.




Back Jacket:

Before the multi-million, runaway bestseller The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown set his razor-sharp research and storytelling skills on the most powerful intelligence organization on earth--the National Security Agency (NSA), an ultra-secret, multibillion-dollar agency many times more powerful than the CIA.

When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage...not by guns or bombs, but by a code so ingeniously complex that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence.

Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Susan Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.

From the underground hallways of power to the skyscrapers of Tokyo to the towering cathedrals of Spain, a desperate race unfolds. It is a battle for survival--a crucial bid to destroy a creation of inconceivable genius...an impregnable code-writing formula that threatens to obliterate the post-cold war balance of power. Forever.

Let me preface this by saying that I have read a few books by Dan Brown. DaVinci Code was first, as you might imagine. And I did actually like it. The information, true or not, fascinated me. The action kept my focus. I turned pages in a mad rush, and when I reached that last page, I decided, "Why not? Let's try another one."

Angels & Demons was next. I probably took the path most often traveled with this author. That one wasn't so great, but whatever, it didn't throw me off his bandwagon all together. From there I hit the Lost Symbol, which also wasn't great. I probably would've stopped there, but I decided to try one more, grabbing Deception Point when I was in the airport one year.

Deception Point kept my interest. It wasn't a knock-down, oh-my-god-give-me-more book, but it was fast, entertaining, and I dug it. Cool. Maybe I'll try another one down the road.

Oh lookie--Apple has Digital Fortress on sale for next to nothing. I might as well download that bad-boy and turn some pages real quick.

The first thing I noticed about this book was the style of writing. Dan Brown writes as though he is drifting over the story, telling you what's happening from all vantage points and characters. If a character has a reaction, it is expressed in italics. This doesn't bother me, I thought while reading, I can get used to this. 

His dialogue is somewhat stilted, not exactly how someone might talk, and his description of the character reactions are usually overdone. For example, if the character was shocked, he might say, "She was shocked. She almost fell out of her chair." It gets a little silly, and actually had me wondering if I didn't make a terrible mistake with this book.

Then he gets to what he's good at. Research. It is like a light comes on in his writing. He could be in the middle of describing, for the umpteenth time, how steadfast the commander is, or how smart and pampered the beautiful Susan is, or how everyone loves the genius hero, which gets old, but when he gets to the meat of his research, he explains it with a newfound passion. He immediately turns engaging, drawing you in, explaining the inner workings. Your face gets closer to the page, suddenly paying attention.

And then back to the story telling. The light dims.

The book is something Michael Bay might produce; a fluffy story without much substance filmed using excellent camera work, filters, explosions and guns. Don't get me wrong, I like Michael Bay. He is entertaining, and this book could've been, too, I'm sure, but with any Dan Brown book, you have to like what the research is about. While the code breaking information was interesting at first, it isn't enough to keep the average reader enthralled. So how does he inject this sense of urgency in his stories that Michael Bay injects in his movies?

Trickery. I learned something new.

 In an action sequence in a movie, the editing is fast and furious. Explosion <cut to different angel> Hero reaction <cut> Gun coming--oh god! <cut> Hero dives <cut>

Fast cuts, one after the other, giving you small doses, driving up anxiety. That's what Dan Brown does. Each chapter is left with a cliffhanger, most of them weak, but each giving you foreshadowing. A chapter might only be a couple pages. Some were not even one full page. One scene was chopped up into fourths and stuffed between a different scene from another character's POV, which was also chopped up. You might have a 350 page book that actually has 300 pages of writing.

It worked. I have to hand it to him. I might actually use it at dull parts in a story.

The last thing with this book that I feel needs work, and that he might be better at now since this book was written in 2007--passive writing. He has extremely passive writing. What does this mean?

Dan Brown: She was a tall woman. Her hair was long and brown. *Notice the 'was'.
Me: Her height topped those around her, standing out as the tallest woman in the room. Her brown hair fell down her back in a glossy sheet.

Even his action sequences had all sorts of passive writing, slowing it down.
<Cut>
But not to bother
<Cut>
He had those cuts in place
<Cut>
To keep things rolling.

Very tricky.

Anyway, I can't say I really loved this book. I also can't say I'll read one of his books again. But the way he cut it up did keep it moving. And I was engaged when he was talking about his research. So...hmm.

Let's do it this way--would I recommend it? If it's $2.99, sure, why not. It'll pass the time. If it's $9.99--probably not.

Brief Interview with Not So Brief Answers

1.      What is your favourite book that you have written?
 

The Skyline Series is my favorite. I can start reading it, and just get lost. You’d think I’d be tired of something I wrote, but not this one. I’ll lose a few days at a time because I want to keep reading about Jenna and Josh until it’s done, then I’ll think about it after that. It has everything I like in a romance—an alpha hero, a strong heroine, action, sex, and two people wrestling for control and losing themselves in each other in the process.
The two of them are dynamite and kerosene, and it tickles me when Josh tries to do that alpha bullying thing and Jenna digs in her heels, raises her chin, and gives it back just as hard as he tries to give it.  I love it!

2. What is your favourite book by another author?
There’s that ‘u” in favorite again. I feel inclined to use it just to fit in…
I’m going to go way back and say the Rowan by Anne McCaffrey is my favourite. At least one of them. There are other books I love, and Ender’s Game (which is currently on the big screen) is one of them, but I still have that old, tattered McCaffrey book. It was my first saunter into fantasy with elements of romance and I totally dug it. It kind of opened the fantasy/SciFi door.
I also have to give a shout-out to John Saul because he dominated my youth. I was even a member of his fan club! So weird, but there you go. At one time I’d read all his books. They were a bit weird, but they moved fast, they had action, and he had a strong voice. Voila—young me is entertained.
I should pick up another of his books and see if I still dig him. Huh.


3-what do you like to do in your spare time when not writing?
Hang out with friends, go to lunch with my kid (because I’m not a huge fan of the park), and I like the results of exercising. Not actually exercising…just the feeling afterwards. I haven’t gotten it much lately. Probably should force myself to do that…
The problem is, I like the act of drinking wine with friends so much more. The next day usually sucks, but oh the fun two girls with a bottle of bubbles can have. When I have a choice between the two, guess which one I’ve been choosing lately.
I should make better choices…

4-Are there any authors that inspired you to write?
The whole romance genre inspired me to write. I’ve always been an avid reader, but more of a math and art girl. I’ve never been a writer outside of essays and reports in school/college. But then I got married.
What is it about “I do” that convinces a man he no longer has to pick up after himself? How can a guy go from helping with the dishes, laundry, and other household chores, to suddenly deciding he works, and therefore, does not need to worry about domestic shenanigans anymore?
Well listen here, bub, I work, too. Get your butt up and put your stuff away—I’m not going to do it for you!
And for the record, I hate nagging. Hate it. I usually end up doing things myself because I am tired of asking Sir Douche-A-Lot to help me out. Why don’t men realize that if they just do it, we won’t keep asking them to do it?
If a man mops the floor in the forest, does it make a sound?
Moving on…
Wait, nope—I got more. Round two.
I married a guy from Ireland. Irish guys (the ones actually from Ireland—not the Americans with a “kiss me I’m Irish” tee-shirt on) are as stubborn as they come. I am not kidding—you tell an Irish guy what to do, and he will do exactly the opposite just to spite you. My guy is sullen and silent when he gets mad, too. I have a fiery temper; I rant and rave…and immediately get over it. He holds a grudge.
Him ignoring me makes me absolutely crazy! We had fireworks in the early days. I sat on him once, just to get a response. He didn’t even speak to tell me to get off! When it comes to enacting the silent treatment, the man has a gift!
Okay, vent over. I feel better.
Anyway, back to why I started writing.
After I’d gotten married I settled into stability. Stable job, out of college and mostly stable social life, and stable house life—except for the aforementioned sitting on the husband, obviously. I hadn’t had kids, yet, so was still having fun, but I was also…bored.
Too much stability makes Jane a very jumpy gal.
So even though Fantasy is actually my favorite genre, I’d read a couple romance books and got that longing for the perfect man. You know the ones I mean; those guys that couldn’t possibly be real because they are a figment of our (women’s) imaginations, and women and men think oh-so-differently…
I didn’t care. I wanted one.
But how to get one?  
Live it through the written word, that’s how. Which is why a lot of people read, sure, but this longing I had was different. I didn’t want someone else’s perfect man, I wanted my own. I wanted to create the world around him, too. I also wanted to dress myself up—make myself prettier with a nice set of boobies. I, personally, wanted to snag the unattainable. Me. Not through someone else’s leading lady.
Thus began my writing career. My desire to be someone else, just for a while, turned into the main character.
But remember—I’m not an avid romance reader. I didn’t know the rules. Plus, I am a math person—I have a healthy dose of logic. Too perfect is boring and too far from reality for me. I couldn’t get a good enough grip on the characters and the world without a little traction.
So Jessica (in Jessica Brodie diaries—the first thing I wrote) embodied my silly attitude and love of taking the piss (Euro slang for ‘make fun of in good humor’). William (the hero) is hot and nearly perfect, but still has his faults. He’s ideal, but just real enough that he’s believable. Kinda.
I don’t think the Jessica Brodie diaries are my best work writing-wise, but people love them because she’s a clown and the stuff she says is nuts.
Yes, I know what this says about me. Thanks for pointing it out.

5-Do you listen to music while writing if so who or what genre?
Sometimes. I tend to like to listen to Enya, Enigma or Mozart. I will listen to other things sometimes, but when a good song comes on it takes me out of the moment in the story. With the three listed above, I can come up for air and am happy to hear it, but it won’t actually suck me out of the book. And that’s all I have to say about that. <name that movie>

6-Have you any upcoming books you'd like to tell us about?
Oh lordie. Yes. Lots. Except the telling about part. I’m long-winded enough.
I keep trying to convince people that I am not a writer. I think a writer is a certain person with a dark, artistic soul. Since I am a jackass, I don’t qualify. What I am, though, is a reader that wanted to take control of the world I escaped to. For this reason, I can’t just throw something onto the page and send it to print. Not even close.
I will write a first draft, and then walk away. I might leave it for months. I’ll come back then, after I’ve written or worked on something else (or not), and read it. I’ll edit it, change it, rewrite, and get it to a place where I like it. Then I walk away again. And come back. And read/edit it again. If I make a ton of changes, I do it again. And again. Until I love reading it, I don’t show it to anybody.
Right now I have two fantasy books, two paranormal books, a contemporary romance, and a few more novellas in the Darkness series, waiting for one or more pass-through. One might think I am stockpiling for a nuclear fallout or something.
Please refer back to calling me nuts. It wasn’t very nice, but…well, here we are.
Next up for your reading consumption is a few more books in the Darkness series. I explore some new paranormal concepts, and in books to come we delve more firmly into the world Sasha has uncovered. Plus, there is the romance element, and some…physical stuff…to explore. So those will be next to hit the electronic shelves.

7- Tell us some interesting facts about yourself?
I don’t know about interesting facts, but I’ll give you some kookie ones.
It amazes me that anyone cares, but I’ll pretend like you do. For just this last question, though. I’m getting tired of myself…
I did say I was a jackass, so you were warned.
Many of the character quirks in my books are taken from life. Sometimes my life, sometimes things I see around me. For example, in Growing Pains, Krista talks to herself in a British accent. I do that. I have no idea why (I am American) but it seems so much less mundane when I throw an accent at my muttering.
I have a hybrid slang. My husband is from Ireland and I’m a Californian. I might say, “Dude, I don’t need any more, I have loads. No seriously, I’m good.” I might even throw a “y’all” at someone for spice. I like learning about various cultures and pick up the slang as I hear it. In the fantasy book coming out soon (maybe) the lead character is trying to fit into a culture that speaks English. Her personal quest is to learn the various dirty words. I so did that when I tried to learn French in school! She is then tickled with the many forms of the f-bomb. 

What else… I love accounting work, but I stress and freak people out to no end. Many accountants are quiet, liking to stare at their spreadsheets and bend over their figures. I’m a bold, brash b*tch, so those shenanigans do not fly. I often sing and dance around the place, needing a little color in my day. It takes people a while to figure out that I’m rarely serious. It takes them a little longer to realize that nerdery can be fun, too. To some degree, anyway.
And yes, I am a huge nerd. Also a jock. Also a douche. Also a…<insert word of choice here>. I’m not sensitive, so if you want to poke a little fun, you’ve found the right girl J
 
 
 

The Boss is in a Contest!

The Boss has been nominated for the Biggest Knockout in the Sweetbooks Blog. I don't have nearly as many readers as I probably need to win the poll, but hey, I don't mind being an underdog!

So if you want to support this silly little book and vote, follow the link below:

http://sweetsbooks.wordpress.com/2014...

Showing vs Telling; Why Many Indy Writers Don’t Make

The biggest critique I have for Indy authors is that they tell the story instead of showingyou what’s going on. What does this mean?

Telling: It was a dark and stormy night.

Showing: Outside the wind howled. Rain slapped the windows in angry whips. Janice looked up from her desk with wide eyes, clutching her blanket tightly. Lightning cracked, momentarily illuminating wildly swaying trees punching at the cloud covered sky. A peal of thunder rumbled through the rafters, drowning out the surge and crash of the waves far below. (I just added the ocean element on a whim)  

As a writer, writing “it was a dark and stormy night” is insanely easy. A short sentence requiring no visualization equals a quick write.

A great many (great, great many) Indy writers tell you what’s happening. They tell you about that dark and stormy night. Whole books are told. The character goes from one place to another. Does one thing. And then another. Meets a guy. Kills a dragon. Kisses the girl. The end.

The writer tells you all of this. Sometimes there is a conflict, sometimes not.

It is insanely boring.

My first drafts always have a lot of telling. Since it is a faster way to get a story down, and I often have no idea what will happen next when I’m writing, I put words to paper as fast as possible. I think of it as a quick and dirty place marker.

On my first read-through, I am generally irritated because I have to re-write half the thing. I have to expand, add sensory input, and get more involved. Showing is way harder than telling. It takes more time, focus, and feeling. As a writer, you have to get involved. You “see” what’s going on. You feel it unfold. And that takes its toll, especially if there is a lot of emotional depth. Just look at the difference in length of the examples above—showing takes more words. It took me focusing, picturing, creating a mood, and then writing it down. Seven words versus sixty.

The thing is, though, showing is not only great for the reader, it can act as a diving board for the author. The waves far below place Janice on a cliff. So now there’s a rolling, surging ocean, a house possibly precariously balanced on a cliff, and Janice, freaked out about the intensity of the storm. This is an interesting setting. What will happen?

Cue writer’s imagination.

That’s a different post, though. Back to the reader—showing lets the reader fall in. The reader goes on a discovery. She visualizes right along with the writer. She is sitting there, in that house, as rain batters the window in angry sheets. It’s interesting. It keeps the reader involved, and an involved reader wants to turn the page.

In order to figure out when I’m doing more telling than showing, or when things aren’t working, I let my focus be the guide. On a revision, if my eyes glaze over, or I want to skim, there’s a problem. I stop, go back, and re-write. Often times I have no idea what the cause is, but I know something is making me lose interest. Re-write. I need to add more feeling, or reaction, or setting.

There is a flip side to this, of course. And that is too much detail. It isn’t a fine line, but it takes practice to get the balance right.

I’ve cut out almost entire chapters because the side story was taking too long. I just wanted the characters to have a little nooky. Or wanted some action. It’s like swiping a table out of the way to kiss the hero. That cut chapter was the proverbial table. I’ve lost humorous situations I absolutely loved, and worked hard on, because they took too long. At the end of the day, if you’re going to publish, you need to keep the reader in mind. The first draft is for you, the other drafts are for your readers.

All this is why many revisions are key. Either you already know this stuff and can do it in your sleep, or (if you’re an accountant moonlighting as a writer, like me) you need to do multiple revisions to figure out what doesn’t work, and fix it. Usually, for Indy writers, it’ll be that telling versus showing situation that sinks them. Not enough detail, and not enough sensory input. Put yourself in the character’s shoes, have a look around, and describe what you see and feel. This way, your reader will see and feel it, too. And that will keep them reading.