Lily Bishop's Blog, page 10

December 18, 2013

What to Watch Wednesday – Book Trailers

I’m marking the release of my new book trailer today. This trailer is the work of DeLayne Roberts at www.drgraphicexpressions.com


You can find my trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDZjY5l_Ym8


I’m not sure what impact book trailers have, but it can’t hurt to have another method of promotion at my disposal.


Here’s an opportunity for cross promotion:  Post a link to your video in the comments and promote this post. Let’s see how many likes we can get!!


 


Filed under: Book Trailers Tagged: Book Marketing, Book trailers, Romance
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Published on December 18, 2013 05:00

December 9, 2013

Book Time: Lost and Found by Chris Van Hakes

I try to read a variety of genres and lengths, and recently I stumbled over to the new adult/chicklit/women’s fiction side of romance and discovered Chris Van Hakes. Her debut Novel, Lost and Found, is making waves, so I decided to check it out.


I found that Chris has a fresh voice with an alternating first-person style. I don’t normally read first person, and sometimes it can grate on me, but she did a good job of having distinct voices for each of the main viewpoint characters.


Here is the text of the 5-Star Review on Amazon:


I enjoyed this book tremendously, and normally I stay away from first-person stories. In fact, I almost didn’t get it for that reason, but I read the sample and I was hooked. This book embodies the new adult genre for me — characters who are finding themselves and love at the same time. There’s not a lot of description of intercourse, but it’s there, in the background. To me that’s more realistic than pretending everyone is waiting for marriage. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.



I tracked Chris down, and here is what she had to say.


Lily – Everyone always wants to know where writers get their ideas. What sparked this book for you?


Chris - I wish I had a good answer to this question, but I honestly don’t know. I read a lot, and I think I just imagine what different characters would do in different settings and interactions. I kind of believe that all fiction is fanfiction. Lost and Found is definitely partly Pride and Prejudice, which I’m a tiny bit obsessed with.





Lily – Who would be interested in reading this book?

Chris – I got a few reviews that said fans of Rainbow Rowell would like my writing, and I will take that compliment to the compliment bank. Cha-ching! I think people who like light romance and alternating points of view would like it. If you’re looking for a steamy novel, I don’t have it, but if you’re looking for a lot of romantic tension, I’ve got that.

Lily – You’ve mentioned on your blog over at www.readingandchickens.com that you don’t like to read about people “bonking”. (I love your word choice.)  There seem to be two parts of the market now, one trending towards erotica and one trending towards characters that don’t have intercourse at all. Is there still a place for a middle ground as represented in your book? Have you had readers upset on either side, expecting something else?

Chris – Ha. I actually don’t mind reading about bonking, per say. It can be sexy and hot, but at some point it gets to be…filler. I end up skimming. If it’s integral to a plot point, I don’t mind it, and I think there are some authors who do it really well. I was a big fan of Christina Lauren’s Beautiful Player, for instance, and I think even though there’s a lot of bonking in there, it works.

And yes, I think there’s definitely a middle ground. That’s what I like to read, and I can’t be the only one out there, so that’s what I write. I haven’t had any readers mention there wasn’t enough sex, but I have had a few that didn’t like the mentions of sex in the book. This is the case of “can’t please everyone, so please yourself,” I think. I write what I’m most comfortable writing for a particular character or scene. For Lost and Found, it was light on the sex. I don’t know what it will be for future novels, though.

Lily – Are you working on any follow-up books?

I am! I’m writing a new novel, another romance/women’s fiction story, called Letters from Clementine. I haven’t worked out a whole lot about it (still in first draft mess form) but I’ll probably post a synopsis about it on my blog in a few weeks. 

Thanks for interviewing me!  Here’s the amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G1X96WI
BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-and-found-chris-van-hakes/1117208694?ean=2940148705109&itm=1&usri=2940148705109
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/book/lost-and-found/id735497836?mt=11

 Lily -
Go follow Chris’ Blog, where she draws cool cartoons with chickens over at www.readingandchickens.com.
Click the follow button on this blog to find out about more books in the future.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: books, chicklit, new adult fiction, Reviews
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Published on December 09, 2013 05:00

October 15, 2013

Calling all Crazy Beatches

Disco Ball


I have struggled with what to write on this blog. What do fiction readers want to read about?  It’s hard to say. I like to read blogs about writing, but my readers who aren’t writers probably don’t.


So, in the next few weeks I’m working on a new schedule and hopefully a new theme for this forum.  In the interim, here are two snippets of a scene I am working on. I don’t think I’m giving anything away.


Lee is the hero/main character of this story, and he plays opposite Elizabeth. This is a scene at a fund-raiser that happens fairly early in the story.


I’d like your input on this scene. You’ll see two casual women at the party who make some snippy comments. Or bitchy. Are they catty enough? Too catty?


I don’t want to expand on their roles much in this party, but I would like your input. Have fun getting a sneak peak.


Lee looked up at the giant screen showing pictures of the guests that night and his eyes widened when he saw a shot of him kissing Elizabeth’s ear. He heard hooting and hollering from somewhere in the room, and from somewhere else he heard a catcall. Great.


“I guess that’s proof we’re dating,” he said in a low tone to Fox.


“Right there in HD for everyone to see, bro. Hey, at least you haven’t lost your touch.”


“I need a drink,” he grunted and walked over to the car set up in the corner.


“Bring me a beer,” Fox called back.


He was waiting in line behind a couple of women in short tight cocktail dresses when he heard one of them say, “That hot young stud with Elizabeth Banks would look even better if he’d cut his hair.”


“Are you kidding? He’s hot now! He’ll probably be in the market in a few months. He’s just a toy to mess with while she’s on the rebound. They never stick around. Besides, he’s way too young for her. My money is on James. I’ve heard he’s up for an ambassadorship. Why wouldn’t she take him back?”


The line moved forward, the women bought their drinks and turned to leave. The mouthy one saw him and flushed slightly that she had been caught talking about him, and then winked at him. She fished in her purse for a card. “Here’s my card. Call me if you want to go out sometime.”


He wanted to say something cutting to wipe the smirk off her face, but instead he took the card and winked, and she kept going. He tossed it in the trashcan as he passed. Too young. That was ridiculous. It always amused him when women bitched about men talking about their physical attributes, but when they were alone they did the same thing. He handed Fox his bottle of beer.


 


They stood to leave just as Candy and Juliette, two women that had gone to the University of Georgia with Elizabeth, came in. Instead of long skirts, they had gone for short cocktail dresses that clung to them in all the right places. Elizabeth had tried on the style before, but always felt like a hooker so she never bought them.


“Elizabeth, I liked that picture they flashed up there a few minutes ago of you and that stud you’re dating. What’s his name?” Candy asked.


“Lee. What picture?”


“You know, the one of him leaning in all kissy kissy,” Juliette said. They made smooch sounds with their mouth and started giggling.


“I haven’t seen it,” Elizabeth said, feeling offended.


“You’ll have to. Then the camera pans out for another shot and I tell you, his buns are AMAZING. When you get done with him you need to hook us up.”


“I thought you were married?”


“We’re separated, but by the time you’re done with him I’ll be divorced and ready for my own rebound man. I’m sure I could keep him in the style he’s accustomed to. As long as he does some work around the house, if you know what I mean.”


Elizabeth didn’t consider herself a prude, but she wanted to claw the other woman’s eyes out. She was about to blast her when Laura touched her arm and nudged her forward.


“We’ve got to go. Nice meeting you,” Laura called out.


“Was it my imagination, or was she just a complete bitch?”


“You didn’t imagine it. I felt like I was in middle school all over again. I wouldn’t worry about it.”


“I’m glad you were here. I was about to say something I would regret later.”


“I wonder what picture they are talking about?” Laura asked.


They came back out it in the ballroom and stopped as a life-size picture of Elizabeth and Lee dancing filled the screen. His hand appeared to be cupping her ass, although she swore she didn’t remember him doing that.


“Great,” she muttered under her breath.


“And that’s not even the best one,” she heard Lee say.


“I guess that’s what happens when you skip all the parties for six months. They come at you like piranha. Are you ready to go? I’ve had about all this I can stand.”


Copyright 2013, Lily Bishop


___________________


So what do you think? i would love your comments below. Keep checking back in the next few weeks as I move closer to release date.


 


(Picture By Sarah from Brizzzzzle, UK (Disco ball in blue  Uploaded by TheCuriousGnome) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons)



Filed under: Creative Process, No Time for Love, Writing
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Published on October 15, 2013 19:20

September 16, 2013

Create Good Art and the Rest Will Follow: Congratulations Bob Newhart

Bob Newhart I just heard today that Bob Newhart will receive an Emmy for his guest star appearance as Professor Proton on The Big Bang Theory. The taped show will air September 22,2013 at 8:00 p.m.  Bob plays an aging former kids’ show host, revisiting the befuddled character that he has played so well for so many years. Bob is the deadpan straight man who can’t understand the crazy hijinks going on around him.

Born in 1929, Bob turned 84 on September 5th. Although Bob has been nominated for other Emmy’s, this is his first win. What a birthday present!

In addition to his work as a standup comedian, Bob is remembered for his show The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) where he played a psychiatrist, and his follow-up show Newhart (1982-1990) where he played Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon. In a famous television moment, the finale of his second series linked back to his first series in a dream sequence mocking the infamous shower scene in Dallas.

We find out the entire second series was a nightmare that ends when he wakes up in bed with Emily, played by Suzanne Pleshette. The bedroom from the first series was recreated for this scene, and I remember it to this day. TV Guide chose this finale as the best finale in television history.  In my opinion, nothing comes close to the  way that the last scene of that show opened on a dark set with Suzanne Pleshette’s typical whine.

What makes Bob Newhart’s career so memorable is his ability to play deadpan in the middle of bedlam. He nailed it on The Big Bang Theory, proving he’s still got it. Professor Proton had as much trouble navigating Sheldon’s brand of crazy as Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon had with Larry, Darrel, and Darrel.

When I heard he won, I was surprised that he didn’t already have at least one Emmy award for one of his shows. I wondered whether the actors who won against him have stood the test of time. So I decided to do some digging.

It turns out, Bob Newhart’s arch nemesis is Michael J. Fox.

1985 – Bob was nominated in 1985 along with Ted Danson for his work on Cheers, Robert Guillaume for Benson, Harry Anderson for Night Court, and Jack Warden for Crazy Like a Fox. Of those, the only one that I have never heard of is Jack Warden in Crazy Like a Fox. Robert Guillaume won for Benson.

1986 – Bob was nominated along with Jack Warden, Ted Danson, Harry Anderson, and Michael J. Fox for his work on Family Ties. Michael J. Fox won.

1987 – The slate of nominees didn’t change much: Michael J. Fox, Harry Anderson, Ted Danson, Bob Newhart, and Branson Pinchot for his work in Perfect Strangers. Michael J. Fox won again.

Situation comedies ruled in the late eighties, and there were strong contenders each year. I remember all of those, with the exception of the Jack Warden show, and almost 25 years have passed. I absolutely loved Cheers, had a huge crush on Michael Fox in Family Ties, and loved Night Court. So I can’t complain about the field of nominees.

It’s difficult for comedians playing the “straight man” or deadpan to win Emmy awards. Andy Griffith never won an Emmy for his role of Andy Taylor, while Don Knotts won several times as Barney Fife. We often remember the joke, not the painstaking setup.

Congratulations to Bob Newhart for his long overdue win. As I watched that episode, I remember thinking he still has it. It makes me want to listen to the album where he’s a security guard at the Empire State Building who has his first night on the job when King Kong starts his climb. Classic.

King Kong Climbs Empire State Building

What is the moral that I take from this? Make good art. The rest will come.


Photo Credit:


SI Neg. 2002-22477.08a. Date: 10/30/2002...Comedian Bob Newhart, recipient of the 2002 Kennedy Center Mark Twain Award for American Humor, speaking at the National Press Club. ..Credit: Jim Wallace (Smithsonian Institution)



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Published on September 16, 2013 19:39

September 1, 2013

Birth of a First Draft

Yesterday morning I finished the first draft of No Time for Love, Lee and Elizabeth’s story. Lee is the brother of the hero in my first book, No Strings Attached. When last we saw him, he was dating Deena, who works for his mother. We find out his story in this book.


What happened with him and Deena? You’ll have to read the story to find out.


Lee has done as promised and started his own security firm, now called Security Solutions. He doesn’t want to focus on personal protection, but he can’t turn away a lucrative contract protecting Elizabeth Birch, the daughter of a State Senator and candidate for Attorney General. Someone is trying to kill her, and his job is to keep her safe, find out who is trying to kill her, and keep the whole thing out of the media. He’s only got one problem: Elizabeth doesn’t need or want his help and she gets in his way every turn.


Sound interesting? I hope so. Here’s a picture of my newborn, still covered in sticky fix-it-flags.


My Baby


Currently I have over 60,000 words, and about 175 pages. As I add more depth and sensory detail in coming drafts, it will get longer. But before I go too far in the revision process, my husband the lawyer has promised to give it a quick read for plot only to see if he believes the story line. Since my main character is a lawyer running for Attorney General, in ways this is his world more than mine. While I’ve picked up lingo from him for years now in the way he talks about his cases, I want to see what he thinks about the bad guys in this one. If he can believe it, then I know I’ll have something, because he doesn’t suffer fools lightly.


I’m sure together we will tweek the storyline, then I’ll get hard to work on revising. Once I’m happy, I’ll send it to my editor, who will help me make sure my language is the best it can be.


Then it will come to you. I promise.


 


If you want to keep up with news on No Time for Love, subscribe to my blog. Or if you don’t want all my posts and just want to hear about new releases, click here to get an email when I’m releasing new books. Click here to join my mailing list.


 



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Published on September 01, 2013 17:52

August 23, 2013

Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend by Nonnie Jules

This morning I welcome Nonnie Jules, who is here to talk about her novel Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend. Nonnie, pull up a chair and tell us about your new release.

Hi Lily!


Thanks so much for allowing me to drop by and share what I have going on in my book world with all your readers.  This is the second stop of my “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” Blog Tour and I’m so happy to be here with you all!


First, let me start by introducing myself.  My name is Nonnie Jules, I’m a mother of two wonderful, extraordinary daughters and ditto for the hubby.  We live in Louisiana on a farm, I guess you could call it that, and we are total animal lovers (at least my family is, I only like dogs).  It’s pretty quiet out here and that’s a good thing because it allows me to write in total peace.


I’ve been a writer since I was a child but I just recently became a published author in May of this year.  My first book “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS”, 100 Tips on Raising Daughters Everyone Can’t Help But Love,  was written in only 17 days.  People have asked how I did it so quickly when it’s such a good book, but I always respond that I lived every tip in that book, had been teaching them for quite some time so I didn’t need to research the topic.  Twas pretty easy, that one.  The book is doing very well and I’m extremely proud of it.  My goal is to have it in the hands of every person who breathes around a child.  We don’t have to be a parent to teach.  Every opportunity that you are in the presence of a child, should be a teaching opportunity for you and a learning one for them.NJ-DDNF1FinalCover


My second book “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” was due to release on August 22, 2013 but has been pushed back to either August 31st or Sept 1st for release on Amazon.  I am realizing that sometimes life steps in and causes us to miss our very important self-imposed deadlines, and we just have to roll with the punches.


“DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” is my very first novel and writing it proved to be a bit challenging.  First, I had to do research!  Yes, this time around it wasn’t going to be so easy for me.  So what I had to travel to another city for a few days at a time? So what I was having to be away from my darling babies, it was all for a good cause right?  Yes it was, because I wanted to deliver to my readers the best novel I possibly could.  Now when it’s all said and done, I don’t know that you’ll agree, but I will be anxiously awaiting your reviews.


Here is the blurb from my novel:

Marisa was a good girl, until someone got her really mad.  Living in hell with her mother and step-father was all but a daily struggle for survival.  When Marisa can’t stand the abuse any longer, she snaps and does the un-thinkable.  Will she be able to survive leaving one hell being forced into another?  Will the man she married be able to understand and forgive?  Stay tuned for the bumpy ride of “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND”.


And now the excerpt:

“She was one horrible mess.  Always looking over her shoulder, avoiding being too friendly with the neighbors, never letting her kids out of her sight for fear of human monsters lurking around corners waiting to harm them,  always fearing that someone would recognize her face.  Walter never understood why she kept to herself, avoided people as much as she could, and was just very anti-social outside of the house.  The only person she found herself being able to really open up to was Walter.  And although he wasn’t aware of it, there was still a huge wall up that he would never be able to see over or climb.  She wished it didn’t have to be that way, though.  She needed him to make her feel safer than she already did with him, but she just couldn’t…could she?  She couldn’t share THAT secret with him, right?  He would NEVER understand something so awful.  And then, what about his position?  This man was a prominent member of the community.  “What was I thinking when I married him?  That’s it!  I wasn’t thinking.  Such an idiot I am!”  Marisa thought these conversations inside her head had stopped long ago.  But no, they were being conjured up again by these dreadful feelings and she didn’t know what to do about them.  They were in control.


Once while standing in line at the bank, she thought the face of the man behind her looked strangely familiar, just like the face of the monster in her dreams.  She rushed out of the bank, knocking aside all who stood between her and the door and she raced down the street, forgetting that she had driven to the bank.  As she slowed her footsteps to catch her breath, she knew that she couldn’t go on this way, but she didn’t know how to break free of the memories.  And her life, as SHIELDED as she kept it, was still being shared by a family she loved so very much.  She couldn’t run away this time.  She couldn’t uproot her children and there was no way Walter was walking away from the world he knew.  Marisa stopped when she reached the door of her car, not even realizing she had started walking back in its direction.  She looked around the place where she stood.  Houston was her home and she couldn’t leave it, but somehow she had to find a way to rid herself of the demons that followed her everywhere she went.”


I hope you have enjoyed the little bit of me that I’ve shared and I hope that your interest has been piqued in both of my books.  Right now you can find “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS” on Amazon, Createspace and autographed copies at Nonnies Book Store.  If you’d like to enjoy the trailer to this book, it can be found on YouTube.  NJ-TGMG NEW COVER


I have a super promotion going on at Nonnie’s Book Store as well!  Anyone who purchases a copy of TGMG during the month of August will have their name entered into a drawing (once for each copy purchased) for a $25 Amazon gift card!  This book makes great baby shower gifts as well as great gifts for new moms.


“DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND”  will be on Amazon no later than Sept. 1, 2013 but if you’d like to pre-order advance paperback copies at a discounted price, please visit Nonnies Book Store and click on the “Daydream’s Daughter…” tab.  If you’d like to enjoy the trailer, you will find it here on YouTube.


Once again, many thanks to you Lily for allowing me the time and space and much gratitude to your readers who stopped by just to hear what I had to share.


Until next time, I wish you all nothing but peace, love, happiness and GREAT READS!


Contact and the many ways you can FOLLOW me:


Twitter:  @nonniejules

Facebook:  Nonnie Jules

email:  nonniewrites@yahoo.com

Blog:  nonniewrites.wordpress.com


Nonnie,  thanks for stopping by and sharing a little bit of yourself. Good luck on your new release!



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Published on August 23, 2013 05:09

August 15, 2013

Promise Kept: One Year Ago Today

Today is my birthday, number 45.  I’m not sure when “middle-age” officially hits, but I know my knees hurt more, I ache in places I didn’t even think were places, and if I were to put all my candles on my cake it would catch fire. Having said that, I”m having the time of my life.


Last year, I turned 44 and I was depressed. I had a novel that was lurking on my computer hard drive, and I couldn’t decide what to do with it.   I had a publisher who was somewhat interested, but the editor I had sent it to wanted revisions. It had to be “completely ready” before they would look at it.  The comments that she offered were vague, and I had no idea what kind of a revision that she wanted.  Some of her comments implied I needed to work on language, while others implied that the pacing was off. I couldn’t even tell how far she had read in the book. When I asked certain questions, her reply was it will be ready when it’s ready.


How helpful was that? Not Very!!!!!!


So I made a critical decision. I decided to revise it for me.  I fixed the pacing with an almost complete rewrite. I worked on language. Then, after that was done, I still wasn’t happy with the ending so I revised the last quarter of the book. Then I was satisfied. I felt good about the whole package.


It had been over a year since the editor said she would look at it with revisions, and frankly, I had moved on. Her comments had been no help to me.  I learned that the publisher in question only offered 9% royalties and no advance. I felt like I could do better on my own. So I finally settled on a title, hired a cover designer and and editor.  On May 24, I released it to the world.No-Strings-Attached-Amazon


I have been overwhelmed with the response from people who fell in love with my characters as much as I did.  I may never make a ton of money at this game, but frankly, I’m not in it for the money. Just having people enjoy a story that I wrote is enough.


Then why don’t I give it away? I worked hard at it, and I believe in it. It’s selling for $2.99, which is less than a cup of coffee.  I may eventually offer a discount or free days when I release my second book to pique interest, but personally I feel that all of the free books on Amazon cheapen the art.


So think twice before you download a free book. If you do, and you like it, do the author a favor and buy his or her next book.  Tell your friends about it. Shout it from the rooftops. Pay it forward. Haven’t bought your copy of my book yet?  Don’t put it off any longer.  Make the purchase today. It’ll be the best birthday ever!!


 No Strings Attached



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Published on August 15, 2013 06:06

August 9, 2013

And the winner is….

Image


Thanks to everyone who participated in my blog the week of the Blogger Book Fair, July 22-26.  I had a lot of posts and a ton of activity. My readers welcomed the authors that I hosted with several comments, and I am grateful.


The winner of the ten dollar Amazon gift card is Phyllis Lamken. We have been in touch, and she already has her prize.


Look for more giveaways in the future!!


 


(My apologies — I thought I published this last week but it was languishing in my drafts folder. Phyllis has had her prize since August 9th)



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Published on August 09, 2013 09:31

July 26, 2013

Blogger Book Fair: Meet L.R. Wright

Basement Level 5: Never Scared, by L.R. Wright


L.R. Wright joins us today to talk about her debut novel, Basement Level 5: Never Scared.


Welcome to my blog today. Tell us what type of stories you write. Do you read in the same genre?


I write romantic Women’s Fiction, romantic suspense, and AA contemporary romance. I definitely read what I write, but I like to read other genres as well.  I don’t write mystery, but I love a good cozy mystery and I’ve recently started reading paranormal romance.


Tell us about your debut novel.


Alexa Martinez is in danger.  Her family is threatened by her past and she must make some hard decisions to ensure her children’s safety.LRWright_Cvr


Blurb:  Alexa Martinez was raised to believe that murder, deceit, and lies were a part of life. A trained killer, she follows in her father’s footsteps, specializing in political assassinations for Martinez Security—contracted through the CIA. She thrives on the power, money, respect, and—most of all—the adrenaline rush.


Despite the danger associated with her profession, Alexa strives to give her children a normal life. But when her past catches up with her, they become pawns in a deadly game of revenge. Operating from a secret base, five levels below ground, Alexa struggles to unravel the puzzle, uncovering secrets that will alter their lives forever. Now she must make a choice—is she willing to die to give her children a life outside the bullet-proof glass?


What’s the story behind your book?


Actually, it’s pretty cliche.  I had a vivid dream about the characters escaping to an underground lair, five floors underground.  The strange part is that I continued to dream of these people for a week.  Everyone I shared the dream with, encouraged me to write the book.  Years later, I finally put it down on paper.


That sounds like a fast-paced, riveting read. Do you have an excerpt to share?


Whoever was trying to kill her didn’t know her very well, or they’d have sent enough men to do the job…


As Alexa neared the street, a shadowy figure turned into the alley. She froze. The sun had already gone down, so she wasn’t sure if he’d noticed her. Cautiously, she slipped behind a trashcan and leaned against the wall of the store.


“Did you see her?” a male voice asked.


“No, I didn’t,” responded another man. “I checked the whole store. She’s nowhere in sight.”


“How did she slip past us?”


“I don’t know.”


She closed her eyes and wondered how she was going to get out of this. Grabbing an empty pop bottle, she pitched it behind her. Footsteps raced toward the sound. Once they were passed her, she bolted for the street as fast as she could go. It seemed too easy, but she went with it—until she ran right into a third man, who grabbed and hauled her off her feet. She struggled, kicking and punching him. Finally, he lost his grip and dropped her.


She immediately socked him in the balls. It stunned him, but not enough to disable him. He grabbed her hair as she slammed him in the knee with her good foot. His leg buckled, but his grip remained steady. She grabbed another stray bottle and bashed him in the face. Releasing her, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.


Another man advanced toward her and she kicked him in the chest. Yanking her knife from its hiding place, she thrust it into his neck. As a third man charged her, she pulled the knife out and plunged it into that man’s leg.


A groan pulled her attention back to the first man, who was struggling to his feet. She slapped him across the cheek with the butt of her gun. He slumped back to the ground. She leaned down and peered at his face. “Who the hell sent you?”


What is your goal as an author?LR_Wright_Pic


I just want to retire from my 9 to 5 to write.  I guess hope springs eternal.  If I can’t write full time, I really just want to write realistic stories.  I want to write heroines that have been through something or have done things that have real consequences.  Oh, and I want to write a book that will be made into a film.


Are you working on anything new? Give us a preview of what’s to come!


I’m working on a few different novels.  I’ve completed my second novel, IT’S COMPLICATED.  It’s a romantic coming-of-middle-age novel about a woman torn between two brothers with each of them offering her something she feels she needs.


Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book?


My favorite book is Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. She’s also my favorite author.


Where can readers find you and your work?


My blog:  www.thebasementlevelfive.blogspot.com


Website:  www.lwrightauthor.com


Facebook: Leslie Wright Author


Twitter:  @LWrightAuthor


Publisher:  www.blackopalbooks.com


Basement Level 5: Never Scared can be found at:


Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/155672


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XO3H9M


B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/basement-level-5-l-r-wright/1109472392?ean=2940014569019


All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-basementlevel5neverscared-786346-149.html


Is there anything else you’d like to say before we finish up?


Thanks for having me!  I appreciate the opportunity!


______________


L.R. would love your comments below. Remember, by commenting you can enter into the drawing for one Amazon $10 gift card that I will give away at the end of the week. Maximum of one entry per day per reader. If you don’t want to comment on this entry, you can also can submit the feedback form asking you how you find books to purchase. The link to the feedback form is:


http://lilybishop.com/2013/07/22/amazon_giveaway-july-2013/



Filed under: Blogger Book fair, Guest Authors
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Published on July 26, 2013 09:00

Blogger Book Fair Characters and their Careers: Kiru Taye

?????????????????????????????????????????????An Engagement Challenge by Kiru Taye

Kiru Taye comes to us from the UK today to let us hear from her main character Ijay Amadi about her career as a Brand Strategy Consultant.  Take it away Ijay.


Hello, readers. My name is Ijay Amadi and I’ve been invited by the lovely Lily Munro to tell you a little about my job.


My job title is Brand Strategy Consultant. In a nutshell, I work with my client’s to find innovative ways to enhance the branding for their businesses or products. A lot of what I do involves analysis of research data and using that to plan for future trends. To do this it’s important that I understand the current markets and trends.


I love my job. But my current assignment comes along with more than the usual challenges. On a professional level, this is my first assignment in Africa. My former projects have dealt with businesses in Europe. So now I have to understand the culture of doing business in Nigeria as well as understand my client’s business.


Secondly and perhaps the biggest challenge is that my new client, Paul Arinze, is also a man I had a sizzling one-night stand with a few months previously. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not pining over him. No way. I’ve long moved on and am currently engaged to another man. It’s just that I worry about our working relationship. Will he be thinking about our night together while I’m presenting research reports? Will he be remembering the way our bodies writhed in the age old lovers’ dance?


Phew. Did somebody turn up the temperature in here? Sorry, Lily, I’m going to have to get a glass of water. Thinking about Paul always leaves me needing to cool off. But Kiru spills the beans about what happens between us in her book. So pick up a copy to get the goss.


It’s been nice chatting. Catch you all later.


 Blurb:


When savvy PR consultant Ijay Amadi meets successful Industrialist Paul Arinze, the only things on her mind are to forget the pain of her failed relationship and enjoy the delights his branding touch and soul-searing kiss promise. It’s a one-time only event. Perfect.


However, Paul is annoyed to wake up and find her gone the next morning. He isn’t ready to forget the dark-haired beauty or their scorching night together just yet. So he plans to have Ijay right where he wants her—in Abuja, working on his latest business project by day and enjoying the pleasure of his bed by night.


Except when Ijay arrives, she’s wearing another man’s engagement ring. With the explosive desire between them threatening their priorities and loyalties, the stakes get higher by the minute. Who’ll be left standing at the altar when Ijay walks down the aisle?


Click here to read the full Chapter One


eBook Available at:


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | All Romance eBook | Kobo | Diesel | WHSmith


Paperback Available at:


Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Createspace


 Reviews:


Are Café Recommended Read


“Engaging contemporary novel. Paul’s character caught my attention because…his is tortured by his past. No woman has tapped into his hidden side until he meets Ijay. The descriptions (of Nigeria) created a visual backdrop that went far in bringing the story to life.”


  Everybody Needs A Little Romance – 4.5 Flaming Hearts


This book drew me in right from the beginning.  The story was engaging and it was easy to be vested in the characters. Her characters are engaging because they are interesting and complex. I was pleasantly surprised by a few things in the story and loved the ending; it was a fabulous end that tied everything together. My favorite book by this author so far.


 About Kiru Taye


A lover of books, as a teenager Kiru Taye used to read novels under the blanket during lights-outs in boarding school. These days, with a young family to take care of, she’s still sacrificing sleep for the pleasures of a good book.


During the day though, she transforms her wildly vivid imagination into sensual, atmospheric romance stories with passionate characters.


When she’s not writing or reading, she’d hanging out with family and friends or travelling. Born in Nigeria, she currently lives in the UK with husband and children.


You reach her via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest


Follow her blog for latest news and giveaways: http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.com


Read book excerpts and free short stories on her website: http://www.kirutaye.com


Giveaway


To celebrate the summer, I’m giving away 2 $10 gift cards to 2 lucky winners. All you have to do to enter the prize draw is to leave a comment on this blog post and visit my blog to enter the rafflecopter prize draw. This contest is open internationally. Entrants must be 18 years and over. Contest ends 31 August, 2013. Winners are chosen randomly via rafflecopter.


_____________


Kiru, thank you for stopping by. That sounds like a spicy hot read for this summer. My book also opens with a one night stand and the couple also ends up working together, so I will have to check it out.


Remember, today, July 26 is the last day to enter the giveaway that I’m hosting for the blogger book fair.


Follow our other career posts in this series: Here is the schedule.


Kiru would love your comments below. Remember, by commenting you can enter into the drawing for one Amazon $10 gift card that I will give away at the end of the week. Maximum of one entry per day per reader. If you don’t want to comment on this entry, you can also can submit the feedback form asking you how you find books to purchase. The link to the feedback form is:


http://lilybishop.com/2013/07/22/amazon_giveaway-july-2013/



Filed under: Blogger Book fair, Blogger Career Fair, Guest Authors Tagged: Blogger Book Fair
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Published on July 26, 2013 05:38