Alison G. Bailey's Blog, page 6
October 14, 2015
Beneath the Surface with Amy Harmon
I’m beyond thrilled to have Amy Harmon as the guest post this month. Amy is one of the authors I admire the most, not only for her writing talent, but for the person she is. Her books are unique, thought-provoking, poignant, and lyrical. She’s the type of author that makes me want to be a better writer.
They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Feed him, and he’ll keep coming back for more. Interestingly enough, no one has ever said that about women. That’s because the way to a woman’s heart is through her mind. Oh sure, we love a great set of shoulders and a great smile. We love confidence and a good work ethic, and a healthy bank account still turns most women’s heads. But if a man is quick-witted and wise, thoughtful and intelligent, he can be severely lacking in the looks department, have less than a nickel to his name, and still win a woman over, I guarantee it.
Woman are complicated, much more complicated than men. We want men to notice our pert breasts and long legs, yet when they do we are disdainful of the attention, accusing them of having one-track minds. We wear masks and camouflage, spend way too long in front of our mirrors, spend far too much time worrying about our appearances, yet when it all comes down to it, we desperately want men to see the woman beneath the costume, beneath the plumage.
In my novel, A Different Blue, our leading man, Darcy Wilson, plays the cello and idolizes Saint Patrick. His eyes are grey and his hair slightly unruly. His shirts come untucked and he is on the tall, thin side with a tendency to be a bit stiff and old-fashioned. He can go on and on about history and all its inner workings and hidden ironies. Add to that a stuffy English accent and an earnestness that our leading lady is entirely unfamiliar with, and you have two characters who, on the surface, couldn’t be more different. In fact, Wilson is so far outside Blue’s Echohawk’s wheelhouse that she can’t help but notice him, even though, in the beginning, she is highly irritated by him. However, we all know that irritation is a great indicator of chemistry. Irritation happens when there is friction. Friction is the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another, and frankly, friction is very, very stimulating. Friction becomes fascination. Fascination becomes obsession. And the slower this process takes place, the more heat and tension is created.
James
Mcavoy inspired Darcy Wilson from A Different Blue
I wanted to make Darcy Wilson the kind of man a reader can slowly fall in love with because I think that’s what women really want. They want to be convinced. I didn’t want him to be flashy or devastatingly handsome. He definitely isn’t a billionaire in a sharp suit or an alpha male who makes women pant just by raising a delicious eyebrow. He isn’t the kind of man you expect to win you over. Yet, he will. He’ll win you over, just like he did Blue, and he’ll do it subtly, unexpectedly. He makes Blue Echohawk search for her own answers, challenges her preconceived ideas about the world and about herself, and, through a series of history lessons, slowly unravels her, revealing the wounded and complex character beneath that so many women can relate to. He will make you think, and therefore, make you think about him. And we women love to think.
Yes, we want our men to notice our exteriors, but even more, we want them to peel back our shiny layers to the girl underneath it all. We want them to see us, to challenge us, to consider us equals, and even, to learn from us, which is what happens in A Different Blue. Blue and Wilson seep into each other’s cracks. They figure each other out, and in the process, the reader discovers themselves as well. This isn’t the typical, taboo, student/teacher love affair that people cluck their tongues over and yet can’t wait to read. This is a story of a friendship built on a shaky foundation, a relationship that is tested and tried, that shouldn’t have even begun, nonetheless thrived! This story is about a union formed from the meeting of minds and the clashing of wills and intellects, and interestingly enough, that is where the magic lies. In the end, broad shoulders and smoldering eyes can only get a man so far. If a man can capture a woman’s mind, he’ll capture her heart.
Amy Harmon
New York Times Bestselling Author
hor
October 5, 2015
What A Week!
It started off rotten with me being sick. I laid in bed for 2 1/2 days wishing someone would put me out of my misery. What I thought was the flu turned out to be an infection in my left leg.
No idea how that happened. Once the drugs kicked into high gear I felt well enough to attend the Savannah signing.
The signing was great and made me feel even better than the giant antibiotic pills the doctor had prescribed.
And then the rain came . . . and came . . . and came . . . Fortunately, my family and I didn’t sustain any damage and we are all safe. I appreciate all the messages asking about us. Charleston is strong and will bounce back All we can do is move forward, lend a helping hand where needed, and get back to life.
GIVEAWAY PAGE HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH SEPTEMBER WINNER!
Don’t forget to enter the monthly giveaway. Comment anywhere on the site to enter.
Have a great week.
~Alison
September 23, 2015
Tying Up Loose Ends
It’s hard to believe September is almost over. I saw a Christmas commercial the other day, and frankly, it pissed me off. Cool your jets advertisers! I’ve got Halloween candy to devour.
The Rest of 2015
Book Signings
I cut back on my signings during 2015 and will be doing the same for 2016. While I love meeting all you guys and spending time with author friends, I’m just not able to attend all the signings I get invited to. I wish I could.
On Oct 3, I’ll be heading to Savannah for Sassy in Savannah.
Oct 24-Sexy and Sassy, Greenville, NC
(Click photo for link)
Looks like October will be very sassy.
Book #5 News!
This will be me for the rest of the year.
Let’s see, what can I tell you about book #5?
It’s a Contemporary Romance.
The characters are older than in my previous books.
I’ve fallen in love with these characters faster than any other ones I’ve written.
It’s a unique approach to the subject matter.
It’s very romantic and sensual.
It will have all the feels and then some that you expect from my books.
I have the cover designed and it will be gorgeous.
I think that’s about all I can say at the moment.
GIVEAWAY!
Don’t forget the monthly giveaway. Comment as often as you like, anywhere on the site to enter. I never tell the winner what their prize is. I like to keep it a surprise. But here’s an example of what might show up at your door if you’re a winner.
Guest Post Schedule
Each month I’ll be having a guest post from someone in the book world.
Oct 13-Amy Harmon
http://www.authoramyharmon.com/
Nov 3-Brittainy Cherry
https://www.facebook.com/brittainy.c.cherry
Dec 1-Rachel Blaufeld
My entire book collection is now exclusive to Amazon
(Click photo for Amazon link)
Hope everyone has a great week!
~Alison
September 15, 2015
My Blog and Welcome to It
I’ve met a lot of great people since entering the indie book world. I want to showcase those great people to my readers. So, once a month I’ll be featuring a guest post from a person in the book world, some you’ll recognize and others will be new to you. Hope you enjoy learning about some of your favorite authors and discovering news ones.
To kick things off, I headed north to New York City and Ashley Pullo.
The Golden Rule for Authors: write what you know.
~by Ashley Pullo
We’ve all heard it, and we seem to understand the abstract meaning, but how does a writer take what they know and create fictional stories?
With my previous series, Discography, I penned the male point-of-view three times, developed characters with unique professions, described vacations to destinations I’ve never been, and humbly followed a Marine to Afghanistan. Emotionally, my narratives go through things I’ve never experienced, and unlike what I know, they always tend to find a happy ending within the confines of a book. I DON’T KNOW THESE THINGS – Am I breaking the rules? God, I love breaking rules!
I tend to enjoy stepping outside the formula box when it comes to a style or narrative concept. But I’m no fool – structure is structure, and every well-written novel is a tiny piece of the author’s imagination rooted by things they know. Living in New York City, I take advantage of the millions of stories unfolding before me every day. By drawing inspiration from my surroundings, reading countless current news articles, and observing the day-to-day lives of New Yorkers, my writing is in fact, fictional episodes set in the place I know.
This past June, I spent an entire month in a place I refer to as my “incubator.” Truth? My incubator has snacks and Netflix, but other than the few distractions, it’s a place where I let the creativity fight with reality. During this time, I did what I love to do – I developed thirty-seven characters for an unnamed series. Pages of characters. Pages of notes. Playlists. Clothing ideas. News articles. Secret Pinterest boards.
When my incubation period was complete, and I’d finished season three of Orange is the New Black, I soon realized that I had no idea what I was going to write about – but I did have a pretty f**cking awesome outline describing the people of New York City. As a long-time follower of the blog, Humans of New York, I was inspired to capture that same vibe while crossing over to Women’s Fiction.
New Amsterdam is a new series coming this fall featuring three petite novels: Tess (October) Julia (November) and Darby (December). Each novel introduces realistic characters and relevant narratives found within the cement jungle of Lower Manhattan.
Write what inspires you.
Ashley Pullo resides in New York City with her husband, two children, and Boston terrier. She’s an independent author, an entertainment blogger, and an advocate for cultural literacy.
Follow Ashley
https://www.facebook.com/ashleypullo
https://www.wattpad.com/user/AshleyPullo
Discography Series – Available Now (Contemporary Romance)
(Click photo for Amazon link)
New Amsterdam Series – Coming this fall (Women’s Fiction)
Add To You TBR List
PARTY ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT- SEPTEMBER 21!
Come celebrate the release of New Amsterdam!
Details at https://www.facebook.com/ashleypullo
September 9, 2015
Southern Style
The Perfect Series was set in Charleston, SC. I tried my best to describe my gorgeous hometown, but no words can capture the true heart, soul, and beauty. You gotta see it.
September 2, 2015
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Have a great week!
~Alison
SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!
Comment anywhere on the site, as often as you like to enter.
August 29, 2015
Release Week Blitz: The Path by Tawdra Kandle
Summer’s almost over, but there’s still time for #OneLastBeachRead. And you’re in luck because the perfect way to end the summer is now live and available everywhere!
THE PATH
Abby Donavan came to the small beach community of Crystal Cove to start over. After a painful affair broke her heart and derailed her burgeoning career, taking over management for the just-opened bed-and-breakfast was the safe choice. In this sleepy town, Abby figured she could bury her memories and forget the pain.
When the chance to have her own hotel falls into her lap, though, she can’t resist the temptation. Making the old 
Riverside Inn into the showplace she’s always dreamed of running offers the second chance she never expected.
Abby didn’t expect another kind of second chance to land on her doorstep at the same time. Ryland Kent wants to help her bring the Riverside back to life, and his passion for restoration is irresistible. But as much as she wants to ignore it, she can’t help seeing another spark in his eyes . . . one that offers to reignite her own flame.
Sometimes the path to a happily-ever-after is anything but smooth.
Buy it now!
iBooks/Amazon/All Romance Ebooks/Nook/Google Play/Kobo/Smashwords
And join us here today at the HUGE release party, featuring both Tawdra and author Olivia Hardin!
If you haven’t read the first two Crystal Cove Romances . . . now is the perfect time.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00020]](http://tawdrakandle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/The-Posse-ebook-new.jpg)
THE POSSE is free for a limited time only!iBooks/Amazon/Google Play/Nook/Kobo
“It is rare for characters to stay with me for weeks or months, but these are etched in my mind and heart.” Amazon review
And don’t miss THE PLAN. Emmy and Cooper’s story has both sizzle and heart.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00020]](http://tawdrakandle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/The-Plan-ebook.jpg)
iBooks/Amazon/Nook/Google Play/Kobo
“Real. That’s all I can feel for this story. Real. Real life. Real love. Real emotion. Real characters. They stick with you from the first book, to this second one in the series.” Amazon review
Tawdra Kandle writes romance, in just about all its forms. She loves unlikely pairings, strong women, sexy guys, hot love scenes and just enough conflict to make it interesting. Her books include YA paranormal romance, NA paranormal and contemporary romance, and adult contemporary and paramystery romance. She lives in central Florida with a husband, kids, sweet pup and too many cats. And yeah, she rocks purple hair.
Follow Tawdra: Facebook/Twitter/Tsu/Pinterest/Instagram/Website/Newsletter/Amazon
August 27, 2015
Cover Reveal: Chains by T. H. Snyder
Title: Chains
Author: t.h. Snyder
Genre: BDSM
Cover Design: Pink Ink Designs
Photography Credit: Pink Ink Designs
Model Credit: CJ
Release Date: September 2015
This novella is a standalone and part of The Club series.
WARNING: The content in this book contains explicit sexual content. This book is intended for mature audiences only.
To learn more about The Club, visit http://www.theclub.website or www.facebook.com/theclubseries.
Jesika Maxwell, a fashion photographer, has never wanted for anything. She is a true sweet and beautiful southern belle who craves more out of life than her family can provide.
Looking for new adventures and experiences she accepts an invitation from a colleague. The moment she steps foot into The Club, her world immediately changes. Everything she once feared is now staring her in the face.
Connor Samson, a successful attorney, has the world within his grasp. He’s wealthy, talented, and desired by many. His wants and needs are satisfied, yet there is one thing…one person he yearns to have as his own.
Trying to live his life and forget about her, he blocks out all feelings and moves forward with a cold dominant heart. That is until a woman from his past walks into The Club and changes everything he’s ever known.
Will she be willing to accept him as he is and allow him to break down her walls?
Will he be willing to show her the world he knows and allow his heart to love?
This is a multi-author project; you can find all The Club books at http://www.theclub.website/
t. h. snyder is my pen name. I was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania Sept 1979. For nine years I worked in the field of higher education while earning my Bachelor and Master Degrees in Management from University of Phoenix.
I’m a single mother to two amazing children that are my world. I became an avid reader in spring of 2012 and since has read over 300 books. My genre of interest ranges from Romance to thrilling Paranormal.
This is more than just a hobby for me, it’s a passion to read the words of great authors and bring life to their stories with my reviews and character castings.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorthsnyder
Twitter – https://twitter.com/thsnyder4
TSU – https://www.tsu.co/thsnyder
Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/t.-h.-snyder/e/B00EV65L0I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1439842275&sr=8-1
Goodreads Author Page – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7152850.T_H_Snyder
Website – www.thsnyder.com
Newsletter – http://thsnyder.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=e934d28fcc40e569a51789da8&id=251533756d
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August 20, 2015
Sweet boys
I get a little sentimental this time of year with school starting. The other day I was at Wal-Mart and it was crawling with moms and their, what looked to be, college freshman. As I walked down the household cleaner aisle, one mom was telling her 6 foot tall son the difference between laundry detergents. He looked like a deer in the headlights as he nodded, agreeing with whatever his mom said.
That got me thinking about when my parents first took me up to college. The scene in Stop!, when Hollis says goodbye to her parents in the dorm parking lot was loosely based on my experience. Then I thought about my first day of high school.
Have I mentioned my mind rambles sometimes?
So, the first day of high school I was beyond nervous. Because of health issues, I hadn’t been in a regular classroom in about seven years. For grades 3, 4, and 5 I had a homebound teacher. I then went to a special school that accommodated kids with disabilities from grades 6 through 9. Midway through my freshman year, I decided it was time to experience public high school. It those days it was called mainstreaming and you had to jump through a few hoops during the process. After a lot of paperwork, meetings, and interviews I found myself in tenth grade homeroom. Most of the students grew up together and had been classmates since kindergarten. I didn’t know a soul.
I sat in the front row, scribbling in my notebook so I’d look busy, as everyone filed in the class. The bell rang, the door closed, I looked up, and saw him walking straight toward me. He was really tall, brown hair, pretty cute, and sat in the desk behind me. As the room filled with chatter, I don’t remember hearing him say anything, but I was very nervous about my surroundings.
Once the teacher was done with announcements, the chatter started back up. I resumed scribbling in my notebook.
Finally, the bell rang and everyone jumped up ready to start their first day as official high school sophomores. I stayed in my seat, waiting for most of the class to empty. The boy behind me got up and walked out the door. I remember him wearing a blue and gray Fort Johnson High football jersey.
GO, TROJANS!
I thought things were going pretty well. I made it through homeroom and had already mapped out where my classes were, so I could head straight to my first one without getting lost. A quick stop at my locker and I’d be good to go.
I stepped into the hallway and toward my locker. There he was, the tall boy. His locker was right next to mine.
Standing in front of my locker, I reached up, grabbed the handle, and tugged. And tugged. And tugged. And tugged. I could not get the $%#*(@! locker open.
Side note: I’m a planner. I’d gone to my new school a few days before classes started to look around. I knew where the cafeteria, the bathrooms, and all of my classes were. The one thing I didn’t think about was how to open the damn locker.
With each tug the bang of the door got louder and I got more anxious. Tears were bubbling up. Then out the corner of my watery eyes, a big hand appeared at the top of the handle.
“I think you have to slide it up to open it,” he said, as he pushed on the handle and opened my locker.
I turned my head, looked up, and said, “Thanks.”
The next day, I paid attention when the roll was called and found out his name was Larry Langley.
For the remainder of our high school career, Larry and I only said the occasional “hey” to each other. We weren’t really friends, just two kids in the same class. I have no idea what ever became of him. I hope he’s had a happy life.
As each school year begins, I think of Larry and his kind gesture that I carry with me to this day. He might be the reason why I love writing nice guys.
Have a wonderful week and good luck to all the students heading back to school!
~Alison
SALE ENDS SOON!
Present Perfect (Book #1)
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/km2b3bn
B&N http://tinyurl.com/ktg8fy3…
iTunes http://tinyurl.com/qckdsa4
Kobo http://tinyurl.com/o4su7kw
Past Imperfect (Book #2)
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/pumtvb8
B&N http://tinyurl.com/oyvh4pm
iTunes http://tinyurl.com/o8ule6a
Kobo http://tinyurl.com/pfjfdsu
Presently Perfect (Book #3)
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/oxrrhpe
B&N http://tinyurl.com/qefsstq
iTunes http://tinyurl.com/pg5foq2
Kobo http://tinyurl.com/nqkeoqc
Stop!
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/oh5ugne
DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE AUGUST GIVEAWAY!
Comment as often as you like anywhere on the website.
August 13, 2015
Stop! Collaborate and listen…
Why yes, I just made a Vanilla Ice reference. Writing and publishing Stop! has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as an author. At first the story was going to focus on 4 different characters being held against their will in school by a gunman. The idea came to me while watching the news and seeing so many stories of violent crimes being committed by younger offenders. As I outlined the story it took a different direction and I’m so glad it did.
In the synopsis for Stop! I hesitated including the word “bullied”. Nowadays the word is used so much I think the impact has been watered down. But Stop! is not simply a bullying story. It’s a story about acceptance of both self and others. It’s a story about being brave enough to be who you were truly meant to be. It shows the long-lasting ripple effects of our words. It’s a story about genuine love and friendship.
Hold My Heart by Tenth Avenue North was my theme song for Stop!
(Click Photo for Playlist)
Since the age of 8 I’ve lived with a chronic skin condition called graft vs host. It was brought on by some rejection of the bone marrow transplant I had. Tweet, from Present Perfect and Hollis from Stop! represent two huge aspects of who I am. I know firsthand what the stares feel like, what it’s like to be disliked because of our skin, and struggling with accepting yourself because everywhere you look smooth, clear, perfect skin is touted as beauty.
Camp Discovery is a place where kids from ages 8-16 who live with chronic skin conditions can go and spend the summer not being judged or stared at. Each year the American Academy of Dermatology sponsors six weeks of camps in five locations across the U.S. There is no cost for the kids to attend Camp Discovery. All costs, including transportation, are provided by the American Academy of Dermatology through generous donations from its members, other organizations, and individuals. The American Academy of Dermatology is proud to offer this experience to about 380 children each year.
Please take a moment to check out their site.
Amazingly Talented Readers
My Cast
Hollis- my niece, Paige, who was also the cover model.
Risher- Ryan Guzman
Benton- Benton Sorensen
Go check out his YouTube channel. He’s fantastic and inspiring.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmoCB8P0LgouwdSAM_3_Wzw
The line that always makes me laugh… comes from Hollis’s best friend, Maggie.
“You know what I mean, right? When he revs my cho-cho.”
SALE! SALE! SALE!
All 4 books are only 99 cent for a limited time. Grab ’em. Gift ’em. Sale ends soon.
Present Perfect (Book #1)
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/km2b3bn
B&N http://tinyurl.com/ktg8fy3…
iTunes http://tinyurl.com/qckdsa4
Kobo http://tinyurl.com/o4su7kw
Past Imperfect (Book #2)
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/pumtvb8
B&N http://tinyurl.com/oyvh4pm
iTunes http://tinyurl.com/o8ule6a
Kobo http://tinyurl.com/pfjfdsu
Presently Perfect (Book #3)
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/oxrrhpe
B&N http://tinyurl.com/qefsstq
iTunes http://tinyurl.com/pg5foq2
Kobo http://tinyurl.com/nqkeoqc
Stop!
Amazon http://tinyurl.com/oh5ugne
