Meglena Ivanova's Blog, page 12

A MOMENT TO SHARE with Casey Keen

Dear FRIENDS and FOLLOWERS,



Happy New Year to you! I wish you all the very best for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2014. I look forward to helping you improve your Social Media this year so that by the end of 2014 you can be more proud of yourself and be happier much more of what you have accomplish!

With my best wishes to you and your family, I’m presenting my firs and very new 2014 interview with the amazing Casey Keen author of I’ll Be Damned and Saved by the Spell. She was born in Philadelphia, PA and grew up in the suburban outskirts of this amazing city. She loves anything paranormal and/or supernatural. For those of you who don’t know, this Philadelphia is an awesomely haunted place! This healthy paranormal addiction has provided her the motivation to write her first book, “I’ll Be Damned”. She graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and she is currently working on the Anna Wolfe Series.

Casey Keen

Hi Casey, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Tell me a little about yourself and your background? What were you like at school? Were you good at English? What are your ambitions for your writing career? Which writers inspire you? Or something that you feel you need to share?

As a child, I’ve always been more creative than logical. Growing up, I loved to color, draw, create, scrapbook, etc. I excelled in English, and struggled with math. Challenges inspire me, and writing two novels has proven to be the biggest one yet!

I was born in Philadelphia, PA and grew up in the suburban outskirts of this amazing city. I love anything paranormal and/or supernatural – seriously I live in Philadelphia! This healthy paranormal addiction has provided me the motivation to write my first book, “I’ll Be Damned.” I graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and I’m currently working on the continuation of the Anna Wolfe Series.

What was your life like before becoming an author?

The same as it is now, only with less time!

When did you decide to become a writer?

Casey Facebook page of The Anna Wolfe Series, A Paranormal Romance

About two years ago. My inspiration to write came from the genre itself.

When I read my first Paranormal Romance series a little over a year ago, I fell in love with the whimsical tone of it.

Something about imaginary creatures, places and romances sparked my creativity and continues to tug at it!

I feel like a child again — envisioning the world, and my imagination, in endless possibilities.

Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?

The idea for the novel comes first and then I fill in the details. I like to build from the outside in!

Why do you write? What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I love writing because it’s fun and liberating being able to create my own world! My advice for aspiring writers is to take a chance! If you want to write… sit down and do it! Don’t let your fear or other people’s criticisms hold you back. Trust me… it’s one of the greatest enjoyments in the world!

So, what have you written?

I have written two novels over the past year and a half and of course, poems and such in high school.

Where people can buy or see them?

My books can be purchased through Amazon, in any country! Links are as follows:

I’ll Be Damned: http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Damned-Anna-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B00FM0NRKI/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383924242&sr=1-1&keywords=i%27ll+be+damned
Saved by the Spell: http://www.amazon.com/Saved-Spell-Anna-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B00FS1RPLS/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383924242&sr=1-2&keywords=i%27ll+be+damned


Give me an insight into your main character from your last novel /first novel/. What does he/she do that is so special?

Anna Wolfe is the main character in both novels and she is special because the entire series revolves around her! Anna is a “normal” woman. That is until one day it’s revealed to her that she’s more than ordinary – she’s a Grand Witch! Once this discovery has been made, the ruler of The Netherworld tries to get his hands on her, along with a hot werewolf and confident Warlock.

Are there any character traits in your book that are based on someone you know? /*Even if the whole character isn’t based on them?

Casey Keen Pinterest Page!

All of the characters in my book are based on my immediate circle of friends, only I took their characteristics and meshed them all together!

I didn’t assign one character to one friend. Instead, I took bits and pieces of everyone and sprinkled them into each and every character.

Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

Yes, I read a lot! I have many favorite authors since I read all sorts of genres. Right now my obsession is paranormal romance. H.P Mallory is definitely my favorite in this category. For murder/suspense mysteries, it has and always will be, Mary Higgins Clark!

Where is your favorite place to read and write?

In my living room, surrounded by silence.

How do you market your book/s?

Casey’s Website!

A lot of social media advertising…

On Facebook, I post my book in its relevant “groups” (paranormal book group, etc.) and participate in interviews and blog hops.

I elegantly push my product in front of people (via status updates on my personal and product page, Twitter, etc.), but I make sure to avoid being too annoying.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

Yes! Social media is the key! An author should always have a consistent presence on Facebook, Twitter, etc., as well as, making sure their blog(s) are up to date. Readers like to feel like they can engage with the author, so always responding to reviews, requests, questions and/or comments in a timely matter is also vital. I have many more marketing strategies on my blog!

What do you do to get book reviews?

I reach out to paranormal bloggers and ask if they are interested in reviewing my novels.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

They can visit my website or contact me!

Website: http://www.caseykeen.com/
Blog: http://www.caseykeen.com/#!blog/cqfh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfeSeries
Twitter: @AnnaWolfeSeries
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caseykeenauthor/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Casey-Keen/e/B00C0XICK0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/366276

Book Links: /* American, UK, etc./:

I’ll Be Damned, US link: http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Damned-Anna-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B00FM0NRKI/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383924242&sr=1-1&keywords=i%27ll+be+damned
Saved by the Spell, US Link: http://www.amazon.com/Saved-Spell-Anna-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B00FS1RPLS/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383924242&sr=1-2&keywords=i%27ll+be+damned
I’ll Be Damned, UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ill-Damned-Anna-Wolfe-Series-ebook/dp/B00FM0NRKI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kinc_1/275-8963144-6190550

Saved by the Spell, UK Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saved-Spell-Anna-Wolfe-Series-ebook/dp/B00FS1RPLS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7020153.Casey_Keen

It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Casey Keen, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Casey!!! Good Luck with everything!

 

A MOMENT TO SHARE with Rachel Abbott

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family. I love you guys so very much!

Love, care, friendship and togetherness make the Christmas time all the more unique. Christmas also means spreading the affection of our heart into the lives of others & bringing in pleasure & cheers.

Christmas is a perfect time to say love & good wishes for those we cares your. Getting someone wishes on Christmas day is a happy time.

And you will also want to wish them.

Rachel Abbott

With this announcement I’m truly grateful to have Rachel Abbott as a Guest Author for this week’s blog to interview.

Rachel Abbott is author of Only the Innocent, The Back Road and her third book – If You Leave Me should be released in the UK in March, 2014. Rachel Abbott has spent the majority of her working life running an interactive media company, designing and building software and websites, mainly for education. Her company was sold in 2000, and although she continued working for another 5 years, she also fulfilled a lifelong ambition of buying a property in Italy. The villa was a total ruin, and took about three years to complete, but as it is quite a large property with its own private chapel, it soon became too big an opportunity to miss, and so was turned into a venue for weddings and holidays. Having restored a second property as a full time home, Rachel has now found the time to fulfill her second ambition of writing a novel. Rachel’s books are published by Thomas and Mercer in the US and Canada, and Only the Innocent was launched in paperback, Kindle and audio versions on 5th February 2013 – going straight into the top 10 in the Kindle store. Foreign rights in Only the Innocent have been sold in several countries, including France, Germany, Brazil and Russia. An audio version of the book is also in development.

Hi Rachel, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Tell me a little about yourself and your background? What were you like at school? Were you good at English? What are your ambitions for your writing career? Which writers inspire you? Or something that you feel you need to share?

I have lived most of my life in the North West of England – except for the last ten years. Since then I have been living in Italy, and more recently Alderney – one of the Channel Islands.

For many years I owned and ran a medium sized interactive media company, developing software and websites, but I sold the company in 2000 and shortly afterwards we bought our first property in Italy, which needed to be restored more of less from the ground upwards. That was a really exciting experience.

At school I was lazy. I loved anything to do with the social life or sport, but the actual studying just seemed to get in the way of having a good time (whereas now I’m a bit of a workaholic). But the one subject that I always enjoyed was English.

I loved reading, and of course I still do. I used to read just about anything, but now I’m a bit more picky. I wrote my first book because I had an idea in my head, and it simply wouldn’t go away. I had no intention of trying to publish it, but I gave in to family pressure and it was more of an experiment than anything else. But my first novel was really successful, and now I can’t think of anything that I would rather do. I write every day, and hope that I am able to do so for many years to come.

What was your life like before becoming an author?

In the years that I was running my business, life was fairly chaotic. I worked very long hours, and it was a stressful existence. When I gave it all up to go and live in Italy, we were kept busy working on the properties that we bought as ruins, but when they were finished, I was left without a real purpose. I love to cook, but I needed to find something that made me excited about the idea of the day ahead. Writing has given me that.

When did you decide to become a writer?

Rachel’s Website!

I didn’t really decide. I just knew that I wanted to write a specific story – which was Only the Innocent – and I enjoyed writing it so much that I knew I would have to write another one. I could never, ever have imagined the success of that book in my wildest dreams, but once it had done so well I knew that I just had to carry on.

So I would say that I decided to become a writer – as a career – when I had finished my first book and had loved the whole experience so much.

Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?

I’m not sure that I can differentiate between those. My books are based on dilemmas – things that happen to people that they have to find a solution for – so the idea of the novel is the character’s story – they are one and the same, if that makes sense.

I work out what the dilemma is – for example, in Only the Innocent my original idea was ‘what set of circumstances would be so bad that a woman would have no choice but to murder a man’. I wanted my character to be a normal woman – not some kind of serial killer. So I had to work out what might have happened to my character that would make her do what she does – the idea behind the novel developing as my character’s story unfolded in my head.

Why do you write? What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I write because I love it. It is the joy of picturing something in my mind, and being able to convey those thoughts in words. I love developing characters, wondering what they will do next. I have such a clear idea of my characters in my head that when I am writing scenes from their point of view, the thoughts seem to come from them – not me.

In terms of advice, I don’t think I am really experienced enough to give any. The only thing I would say is – do it because you love it. Never stop learning; never stop trying to perfect every word or phrase. And if you want your books to do well, be prepared for some very hard work, because marketing is essential.

So, what have you written?

I’ve written and published two novels – Only the Innocent and The Back Road.

My third novel – If You Leave Me – is in its second edit at the moment, and should be released in the UK in March.

I also write a Blog at http://rachelabbottwriter.wordpress.com/ .

Where people can buy or see them?

The Back Road is available from:

Amazon in the US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Back-Road-ebook/dp/B00BSZVVL8/;
Amazon in the UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Back-Road-ebook/dp/B00BP8JQ9M .

It has only recently been released in the US, but in the UK The Back Road has over 800 reviews, and 450 of them are 5 star – which I am so delighted with.

In the UK it is also available for other e-readers via sites such as Waterstones, Kobo and Barnes and Noble.

Give me an insight into your main character from your last novel /first novel/. What does he/she do that is so special?

Ellie Saunders had a difficult childhood. Her father disappeared when she was in her teens and she has never understood why. Her mother was a difficult woman too, but despite a rocky start in life, Ellie meets and marries Max – a wonderful caring man – and together they have twins.

Sadly, Ellie’s life is thrown into turmoil when everything points to the fact that Max is having an affair, and as a result of her suspicions she does something very stupid – and finds herself enmeshed in a web of lies to cover up her mistake. But the lies have repercussions that put lives at risk. She is faced with a terrible dilemma – should she risk her marriage, or should she stay silent?

What sparked the idea for your book/s?

The idea for Only the Innocent was buzzing round in my head for many years. It all started when I heard that a woman had been accused of murder – a pretty rare thing and probably the first I had heard of in the UK. It made me wonder if there was any set of circumstances that would cause me to think that murder was the only option. I had to come up with a scenario in which there was no other sensible way out for the murderer – but I also wanted the killer to be somebody that the reader would empathize with. That’s why I added the strap-line – Can murder ever be justified? Should the guilty be punished, or the innocent protected?

Rachel’s Blog!

The Back Road was quite different. I wanted to explore the possible consequences of a number of people telling relatively small lies to protect themselves. A girl is knocked over and left for dead on a local lane known as the Back Road, and nobody knows what happened to her. Because so many people are failing to tell the truth, the danger to this girl increases day by day.

I have just finished the second draft of my third novel, and in this case I wanted to explore what a woman might do if her children were in danger.

I like to give my protagonists dilemmas – problems to solve that don’t appear to have a ready solution.

Are there any character traits in your book that are based on someone you know?

If I am honest, I would say that all characters are based on traits that I have witnessed in other people, but no character is entirely based on one person.

I have always been an observer of people and their behaviors, relationships, attitude to others. I don’t consciously analyses people, but when I’m writing and a character suddenly says or does something, I often think “I know where that came from”.

I think that as a thriller writer you have to be interested in people. My books tend to focus on the way people behave when faced with difficult decisions, so I need to be able to get inside the heads of my characters.

One slight exception to this is Tom Douglas – the policeman in all three of my books. He is all the good bits put together, I think – although in the latest book he is a bit grumpy from time to time, but I think we can allow that.

Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

I’ve always read anything and everything, but I particularly like the early Harlan Coben books (the stand-alone, rather than Myron Bolitar series), and I love S. J. Bolton – a British author who writes terrific thrillers. But there are so many others – and not all are thriller writers.

Where is your favorite place to read and write?

I write at my desk, where my large French windows look out, if I lean out a little, to allow me to see the sea.

Rachel’s Twitter Page!

I read anywhere – I love reading in bed, but I probably enjoy it most when I’m traveling, because it’s one of the rare times when I have to sit down and can’t possibly be expected to do anything else. There is no sense of guilt or ‘I should be dusting the sitting room’ in my head, because if I’m stuck on a plane or a train, what better way to pass the time. Sometimes when the flight arrives, I don’t want to get off because I want to get on with my reading!

How do you market your book/s?

It’s a lot of hard work! I have quite a number of followers on Twitter, and so I make sure there is plenty of information there, and also I do have a small database of people who have been asked to be informed when there is a new book. And then I chat on forums, do guest posts – a whole host of different activities. However, I do prepare a marketing plan, and I follow it. It’s usually a lengthy document and very detailed. There are so many strands to marketing, and it does occupy pretty much all of my time for the first three months after release of a book.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

As I mentioned in the previous question, a marketing plan is essential. There are different aspects to the plan – from creating and implementing a strategy for getting reviews to identifying ways in which your books are more ‘discoverable’ to readers.

Every writer needs to work out where to find readers. There is a lot of talk about a sales ‘platform’ – access to people who are potential purchasers, and this is something that as a writer you need to work on before your book is launched. But it’s not good enough to just have high volumes of followers – they need to be people who are potentially interested in your books, and not just books in general, so think about where you might find these people, and how you might engage them.

There is no simple answer. There isn’t a magic formula, and the goalposts keep moving as new forms of social media increase in popularity.

What do you do to get book reviews?

I try to get some early readers who have been following me on Twitter or Facebook. Normally, these are people who have responded frequently to my posts, and who seem genuinely interested in my books. They are not people I know personally. I send them a copy, and they send me very valuable feedback. I ask them if they will review the book honestly when it is live on Amazon or wherever is appropriate.

In addition, I contact bloggers who might be interested in reviewing the book, and send copies to them pre-release too. It often takes months to get blogger reviews, though. And then I do have readers who have been waiting for the book, and they buy it immediately and often write reviews too.

I never, under any circumstances, do review swaps, and I wouldn’t for one moment consider buying reviews. It takes hard work to get them, but the joy is in knowing that they are honest.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

Rachel’s Amazon Page!

I think you need to want to be a writer first – and the published bit has to come later. Write because it’s something that you want to do. I had no plans to be published when I wrote Only the Innocent – but when it was finished I knew I wanted to do more with it.

So write because you love it, and see what a small group of people (not friends and family!) think about the results. If you really want to be published, I would try to save enough money to afford a good editor – that’s not a person to proof read, that’s a person who will tell you which bits of the book work, which bits are boring, or any plot points that don’t make sense. A good editor can make your average book really sing.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Visit my Website at www.rachel-abbott.com (the website is currently being updated, but the current one still works!), or my Blog at http://rachelabbottwriter.wordpress.com

Website: www.rachel-abbott.com
Blog: http://rachelabbottwriter.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RachelAbbott1Writer
Twitter: @_RachelAbbott
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/rachelabbott1/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rachel-Abbott/e/B0068FBVCW/

Book Links:

UK:

THE BACK ROAD:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Back-Road-Rachel-Abbott-ebook/dp/B00BP8JQ9M/
ONLY THE INNOCENT: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Innocent-Rachel-Abbott-ebook/dp/B00684EBC0/

US:

THE BACK ROAD:   http://www.amazon.com/The-Back-Road-ebook/dp/B00BSZVVL8/
THE BACK ROAD:   http://www.amazon.com/Only-The-Innocent-Rachel-Abbott-ebook/dp/B0091TMAK4/

It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Rachel Abbott, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Rachel!!! Good Luck with everything!

10 Awesome Book Inscriptions

Two stories for the price of one make the book more special!!!

/ Do you have books with inscriptions that touch you, or remind you of a time past?  If so, share a favorite with me. /

To create this post, I had a great time digging through my bookshelves. I haven’t played in my antique books for a long time. It was like visiting with old friends.

SO, let’s begin!!!

With the end of my Christmas Giveaway / I handed out 5 copies of my YA fiction book – The Legend of The Moonstone to 5 amazing readers from USA/ I have decided to write 5 personal and very unique messages for each of the winners.

But before I share with you what I have written, let me first give you some inside information about what make me decide to write something inside each book.

I’ve always found books so inspiring – classic books, new fiction, cookbooks, empty notebooks… Actually I am so opposed to the whole ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ thing. I can’t resist a beautiful book or a unique inscription! Especially the inscription!

The special message in the book can make me smile or can make me sad. I personally believe that a few words can truly capture the spirit of the book or the spirit of the person who wrote them. Whether it is a name or a note, a handwritten inscription gives my sense of curiosity a jolt.  It’s like I’m getting two stories for the price of one!

Most likely you will all agree with me that a special message or quotation makes an already wonderful gift just that much more treasured. :) 

Anyway, books are a wonderfully thoughtful way to thoughtfully tell someone you care. When you inscribe the books and wrap them up with add a personal message, the lucky recipients will enjoy complimentary goodies to enjoy with the book (think hot chocolate), and remember you every time they open the book.

For more than 100 years, people have been giving books to loved ones as special gifts. I think giving a book is a wonderful idea.  I’ve always loved books, and not only for the stories and knowledge inside them. I’m fascinated by the extra, unique story found just inside the front cover – the inscription. After opening the cover and reading such a wonderful letter the book instantly became more meaningful to me as I travel the path of a writer.

Even Before the Story Begins A Good Inscription Can Bring a Book to Life! 

My mother inscribed every book she gave to me (and anyone else to whom she gave a book). That practiced carried over to me. Now, like bookmarks, I find the writing in books evocative, part of the treasure of the book itself. And it’s neat knowing where these books-and-their-inscriptions were found. However, it’s not just me, a lot of people love inscriptions and I know people who specifically buy books that have them! Like I said I also love inscriptions. They make me wonder about the journey the book has been on and how it has managed to find its way to its current spot and I can’t help but wonder what it will seem like to someone who comes across it 100 years from now. If only those books could talk!

So, back to my Giveaway!!!

There are a few very interesting inscriptions that really stick out in my mind as being the most interesting. They are very special and very unique. Hope you will enjoy them. I used some of them like a personal message for my giveaway winners. Hope they like it, too:

Note to the future owner: The future holds such promise, that all the past pales in comparison.
All books reveal perfection, by what they are or what they are not.

May you find what you seek, in these pages or outside them.
Did you know that when you read this book in bed, that you are laying next to the happiest man in the world.  - Your husband!
To My Dearest Maria: May this book show you the memories of your past and the promises of your future. Your loving Mother, Judith!
Enjoy this book while you sail off to faraway places.
Dearest Anne, Here is one to start your collection of dreams, wisdom, and reality. Good luck on having time to read it. Remember I’ll always be there to travel with you!
Dearest Barbara , You enjoy books and so I wanted to give you the story of The Legend of The Moonstone. Let your imagination wander with this book and may you one day be able to catch up with “professor Stransky” as you take the world into your hands and be great like him. Remember, anything is possible and I would be with you in every step of this adventure. Enjoy reading it!
From my bookshelf to yours! With Love, Nathan!
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you so much for your support!
Happy Christmas reading! Thanks for your enthusiasm, encouragement and writing wisdom over many years – for making me write and keep writing, while not forgetting the geography. I hope you enjoy the result.

P.S. I have some old books handed down with inscriptions, which are very precious, as well as signed copies of books from some very talented local writers. I wonder if someone in the future will find them as interesting long after I’m gone.

I hope that meaningful gift inscriptions are one thing that our literary culture doesn’t lose sight of with the advent of electronic books.

Feel free to share any meaningful inscriptions in books you have come across. Oh, and make sure to check out my YA fiction novel, The Legend of The Moonstone, when you get a chance.

Treasure awaits you on your bookshelves! Go and find it!!! 

See also:

Reading a Book’s Life Story Through Readers’ Marks in Books

Towards a History of the Manicule (on instances of fingerposts);
John Adams’s Forty Most Heavily Annotated Books;
Marginalia and Other Crimes (previously, and further).
http://bookdedications.wordpress.com/page/3/

A MOMENT TO SHARE with Scott D. Southard

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Scott D. Southard, the author of the new A Jane Austen Daydream, also the author of the award-winning novels, My Problem With Doors, Megan, and 3 Days in Rome. His eclectic writing has also found its way into radio, being the creator of the radio comedy series The Dante Experience. The production was honored with the Golden Headset Award for Best MultiCast Audio and the Silver Ogle Award for Best Fantasy Audio Production.

Scott received his Master’s in writing from the University of Southern California. Scott can be found on the internet via this very writing blog where he writes on topics ranging from writing, art, books, TV, writing, parenting, life, movies, and writing. He even shares original fiction on the site (recently, his experimental novel Permanent Spring Showers).

Scott D. Southard

Hi Scott, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Tell me a little about yourself and your background? What were you like at school? Were you good at English? What are your ambitions for your writing career? Which writers inspire you? Or something that you feel you need to share.

Books always have been an obsession of mine. Even as a kid I would collect books. I remember the first time I saw a friend fold a corner of a page as a bookmark, I was appalled and judged him harshly in my mind. There is a chance I might have even said something; whatever the case, I know I never lent him any of my books to read!

So when I started writing books it was really not a surprise for anyone. I got my degree in English from  Aquinas College (in Grand Rapids, Michigan) first, and then worked for my MA in English Literature for a time at Michigan State University, but I quickly realized I wanted to write books, not study them only; so I went on to the University of Southern California to get an MFA in writing.

Originally, my dream was to write for film and TV, and while I love the scripts I created at USC (and still hope they will get made someday), it feels more natural to work on novels for me. I love the “completeness” of it, if that makes sense.

The funny thing is that while I walked away from the PhD path in English Lit., I can still see the influence of classic writers in my work. An easy example is my new novel A Jane Austen Daydream. It is very much a tribute to Jane Austen and her novels, since in the book I am trying to give her a better adventure than what she actually experienced. A daydream for another writer.

What was your life like before becoming an author?

This is a tricky question to answer, because I can’t really remember a time I wasn’t thinking about books or stories.

My mom loves to tell this story of a road trip when I was 5 or 6 and I made up an entire story for the family. She claimed it was so good she had to write the idea down when she got home.

I don’t remember it, per se, but I think it had something to do with ghosts and love. Whatever the case, it was not a typical story for a kid that age to come up with. I wrote my first book when I was 16, even had my first agent then for it, if you can believe.

Wow, that feels like ages ago…

Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?

I pity anyone who attempts to read my yellow notepads. Because I usually get a few ideas at a time when I am working on a story and things mesh together on the page. I write sideways, upside down, I use squiggly lines to link ideas as they arrive. So, in a way, I am saying that once I have latched onto an idea everything comes together quickly. Kind of like an accident in a snowstorm. It starts with one car sliding and soon there is this pileup.

Many of my ideas come from images to start with or an absent thought that grows. My most recent novel A Jane Austen Daydream started as a thought and a giggle. The thought was the idea of doing something for Jane, give her something that might make her laugh. The giggle part is the twist in the book, and I don’t want to ruin it here. I’ve done some research after writing this book, and there is a very good chance it might be the first time such a twist was attempted.

Why do you write?

The fact is I find writing fun. At the end of the day it has always been that for me. It’s a thrill to see where an idea might take me and to watch a plot or story develop. I laugh at my own jokes. I have even been known to make myself cry. I read my work out loud, acting the dialogue. The entire process is very satisfying to me. It scratches that itch for me.

Usually, when I work with new writers, I recommend first and foremost that they write for themselves. Then anything that happens after that is a bonus. I still stand by that.

So, what have you written?

Most recently there is my novel A Jane Austen Daydream. It was published by Madison Street Publishing this year. In the book, I am re-imagining Jane’s life as one of her novels, giving her an adventure and a romance like she would give her own characters (and sadly, probably never had). It is a fun book with a lot of surprises and wit. It is available in print and as an eBook via Amazon.com.

Other than A Jane Austen Daydream, there is Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare (a twisted post-modern piece pretending to be a Victorian mystery), My Problem With Doors (a time travel adventure), and Megan (a dark contemporary fantasy).

I also have a blog that I write on about three times a week. It is called “The Musings & Artful Blunders of Scott D. Southard.” I write on a lot of different topics on it, whatever catches my fancy at the time. You can check it out at sdsouthard.com.

Where people can buy or see them?

All of my books are available via Amazon.

However, if you would like the eBooks:

My Problem With Doors and Megan, they are only available via Google Play, but they will still work on your Kindle.

Give me an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Where to begin when you are talking about Jane Austen?

Well, in the past whenever Jane has appeared in popular fiction or shows many have painted her as something akin to a wise aunt. Giving sage advice about love with a knowing wink. Yet, if people were to dig deeper into the real Jane, read her letters, look closely at her books, Jane is a little more… dare I say dangerous?

She was witty, almost too witty; she had probably gotten in trouble with her family for her tongue on a few occasions. She had a bold personality, probably very bold and intimidating for her time. She was smart, easily the smartest in her family.

So when I imagine Jane I don’t see her delicately shutting a door when she leaves a room, I imagine her always slamming it.

Over the course of the book, using her own novels as a basis, we watch her grow into the author we know and see my imagined ideas around the inspiration for her stories and characters. For the Jane Austen fans it can be considered a treasure hunt, for those who only know her work in passing it is still a fun and surprising tale. If I did my job right, there should be something for every reader in it… Well, except horror fans, I can’t help them there.

What sparked the idea for your book?

Jane died at 41. She was not honored as one of the great literary minds of her time. Her books were published anonymously, and her later years were spent in a small cottage in a small village with only her sister and mother for company. There was no Mr. Darcy waiting for her, for example. No legions of fans to mourn her passing (or at least know that she had died).  When I learned all of this it really depressed me.

There is so much life and love in her books, why was none spared for her?

So A Jane Austen Daydream, at its heart, is my attempt to fix a wrong. Correct the fates. Give Jane an adventure and a romance she might have dreamed about. And, like I said, there is that twist in the book that always gets a reaction from the readers.

How do you market your book?

Scott’s Facebook Page!

My publisher and I coordinate our work around this.

Sometimes things fall my way and I run with them; other times my publisher will schedule something for me.

It’s a good working relationship.

I’m really lucky and I hope more find my book. I’m really proud of it.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

It is a very congested market out there, with new writers adding to the fray every day. So the trick for a writer is to make themselves stand out from the crowd. You can’t expect readers to just find you on amazon by happenstance. You have got to get out there.

What has worked for me is my blog (“The Musings & Artful Blunders of Scott D. Southard” at sdsouthard.com). More people have found my writing via my blog and the posts I put up there than anything else I have tried in the past. People get to know me, and that sometimes moves on to book sales.

What do you do to get book reviews?

To be honest, I don’t do anything really around that. If someone asks to review my book for their site or magazine, I will give them my publisher’s e-mail. If a reader decides to review my book for their site or Amazon or Good Reads, I am always very appreciative and sometimes will share quotes on my site.

I always enjoy book reviews. I actually do the book reviews for my local NPR station, WKAR, on their radio show Current State. I appear every other week. It’s a lot of fun.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

Scott’s Website!

First, don’t rush the process. Take the time to create a very solid draft. Edit until you believe it is perfect, than edit again. Only after you feel the work is perfect do you then reach out to agents and publishers. (Of course, once you line up an agent or publisher, be prepared for more editing).

Second, read a lot. Read everything (not just the genres and authors you enjoy). Never stop reading. Writing is an art form and books are like the paintings in the museum. You need to always be present in the art.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

I think you hit everything about my book and writing.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

The best place to start is my site at sdsouthard.com. There you can check out my posts, learn more about my books, read excerpts, interviews, reviews, etc.

My latest novel, A Jane Austen Daydream, can be found on Amazon.com here- http://amzn.com/B00CH3HQUU

Thanks a lot!

Website: http://sdsouthard.com/
Blog: http://sdsouthard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottDSouthard
Twitter: @sdsouthard
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Scott-D.-Southard/e/B002EDX5VC/
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/SDSouthard

It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Scott Southard, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Scott!!! Good Luck with everything!

Guest Post: ‘Life is a Journey and you hold the map!’ says Author Meglena Ivanova

Guest Post: ‘Life is a Journey and you hold the map!’ says Author Meglena Ivanova.

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Alana Munro

 

Please welcome to the blog – Meglena Ivanova. Author of ‘The Legend of The Moonstone.’ Please enjoy this guest post from Meglena as she shares with us her own personal story of writing her book and how quitting was never an option.

 

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and let me tell you about my journey…

 

They say there’s a book in everyone, and there’s certainly no end to courses and guides that claim they can help us unleash our inner epic. But what if we ever actually did manage to sit down and write the GREAT NOVEL we’ve always dreamed of?

 

I love reading and always dreamed of writing my own books, but I spent many years thinking about it before I actually took the plunge. In 2011 I found myself transitioning from short stories and essays writing to the world of novels. Novels are so detailed and long… and detailed and… long.  The whole thing was just so intimidating.

 

After a few months of trying to talk myself out of it, I had an interesting idea to write The Legend of The Moonstone. I was given a Moonstone by a friend who told me it was the stone of tenderness, an amulet of protection for travelers, a gift of lovers for passion, a channel for prophecy, and a path to wisdom.

 

As ancient as the Moon itself, Moonstone holds the power of mystery. Its secrets are locked beneath a pearly veil, and with them, our own hidden truths. Only within its reflected light can we begin to understand what it has to teach us.

 

In one sense, for me writing is the process of assembling the things I like best or the ones that intrigue me most. When I was writing The Legend of The Moonstone, I drew on numerous sources of inspiration. First there were the stones themselves. Beyond the stones, the novel was also informed by legends. Some of those influenced the book very directly while others simply reside on the bulletin board above my desk, my writing companions, as it were. I tried to use only those beliefs that seemed traditional and definitive or ones that I found confirmed in more than one source. It was a well-meaning but absurd approach, because the more you delve into the stones, the more lore you uncover, and the more contrasting and even conflicting beliefs you find.

 

So, I wrote and wrote and then rewrote and rewrote until finally I looked up and had my first completed novel. It was a magical moment. I did it and now the next step was to find a publisher.  I thought to myself, that couldn’t be too hard. If I write it, they will come.

 

I sent out several query letters (36 to be exact) only to wait for months until I heard anything back from them.  I was getting anxious and desperate as I checked my mailbox daily and constantly wondered if they even arrived to their offices.

 

Then, after 3 months of waiting, I finally got my first response. I couldn’t contain my excitement as I ripped the small white envelope open only to feel my heart plummet to my shoes as I read, “Unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Because this business is so subjective and opinions vary widely, we recommend that you pursue other agents.”

 

The weeks that followed only got worse as I received one rejection letter after the next, until I could wallpaper my room with them. I wasn’t sure what to do next; it felt as if I had hit a wall.

 

There had to be a better way, I thought. But how?  Nothing came to me at the time, so of course, I asked myself, what does a writer do? The answer came immediately: they write. So, I started blogging and learning how to use social media to promote my short stories and assays, and eventually my first fiction book.

 

After several months of doing this, one day while talking to a friend who was also an author and had gone down the self-publishing route I decided to give it a try and self-publish my own book.

 

While I was still a bit green in the novelist world, I began the process of self-publishing my book. I got my ISBN number, a reasonable printer, a top distributor and even built a small website to help promote my work. It was all there, and it didn’t look half bad either.

 

So, here I am, at 25. I’m halfway through writing my second YA fiction novel,The Bloodstone and what a journey it is turning out to be again. It began, as I suppose anything else does in life, a way to pass time, a goal to achieve…but what it’s become is so much more.

 

I’m excited for the coming months, when this second book becomes something tangible.

 

I’m excited for others to read and critique the focus of so many long nights.

 

I’m excited for whatever feedback any of you can give me.

 

But mostly, I’m excited for anyone who reads Alana’s blog or my blog – http://meglenaivanova.wordpress.com/, and I invite you to come on this journey with me…because really, what’s ANY adventure without friends.

 

I wholeheartedly agree that we must write, and then write, and then write some more to enable our readers to be not only entertained, but being bated for more! What I learned in my whole process is that you never know what the universe is preparing you for, quitting should never be an option and failures are your stepping stone for success.

 

As a writer, I discovered that I have the ability to reach unlimited amounts of people in matters of months, weeks, even days. The world is so different now than it was just 10 years ago. If you embrace change you will continue to succeed.

 

Keep your eye on your dreams and one day you will wake up living it…Perhaps someday you will become a famous writer, teacher, storyteller, or whatever your dream may be, but the important thing is that you love what you do and people have to know about your work…

 

The Legend of The Moonstone is $3.99 and can be found on Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/The-Legend-Moonstone-Series-Adults/dp/1491802286!!!

 

Anyone who sends me an email and mentions reading my guest post on Alana’s blog can get a FREE COPY, just enter “Meglena Ivanova” in the subject line.   

 

Thank you so much Alana, for giving me the opportunity to post my story on your blog!

 

Warm wishes,

 

Meglena Ivanova.

 

(w) http://meglenaivanova.com - The Lights in the Sky
(b) http://meglenaivanova.wordpress.com
(e) meglena.ivanovany@gmail.com
(t) https://twitter.com/Meglena_Ivanova
(f) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meglena-Ivanova/505904209458076
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7216923.Meglena_Ivanova
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/The-Legend-Moonstone-Series-Adults/dp/1491802286
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/377347

 

 

 ***Remember to get in touch with Meglena via her email to get your free copy!

 

 meglena.ivanovany@gmail.com

 

  Thanks for your guest post Meglena!

A MOMENT TO SHARE with Leti Del Mar

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Leti Del Mar author of The Inadvertent Thief, Land of the Unaltered and How To Self-Publish: A DIY Approach. She also writes a weekly blog post about Self-publishing called Words With Leti Del Mar. When she isn’t writing, she teach Biology and Algebra to teenagers. When she isn’t teaching, she is pursuing her love of Art History, buried deep inside of a museum or she is traveling with her husband and daughter.

Leti Del Mar

Hi Leti, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Tell me a little about yourself and your background? What were you like at school? Were you good at English? What are your ambitions for your writing career? Which writers inspire you? Or something that you feel you need to share?

Although I have always loved English and did well with it in school, my aspirations didn’t turn towards writing until recently. About two years ago I decided to write a novel and then decided to self-publish it. My goal is to keep on writing and self-publishing. The Indie way is definitely for me. I love Jane Austen and Agatha Christie, which is why my books always have romance and some kind of mystery to solve in them.

What was your life like before becoming an author?

I was and still am a Math and Science teacher along with being very active with my family.  I have a toddler who keeps me busy.

Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?

I always start with the idea and general plot, the characters come slowly and aren’t fully developed until the end of my first draft.

When did you decide to become a writer?

About two years ago I decided enough is enough and put one of the more persistent stories in my head on paper.

Why do you write?

I just have stories to tell.  They have always been floating around in my head and I needed to get them out and share them with others.

So, what have you written?

   

I’ve written a Romantic Suspense called The Inadvertent Thief, a Young Adult Dystopian Romance called Land of the Unaltered and a Non-Fiction Self-help called, How To Self-Publish: A DIY Approach. I also blog weekly about the craft of writing and Self-publishing on my site, Words With Leti Del Mar.

Where people can buy or see them? Book Links:

Amazon:

http://amzn.to/16h2L1S
http://amzn.to/WR0LJR
http://amzn.to/1gUtvgF

Banes & Noble:

http://bit.ly/16MMfpc
http://bit.ly/WR8wPS

Smashwords:

http://bit.ly/1asWCBD
http://bit.ly/Zheh9P


Give me an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Rose, the protagonist of Land of the Unaltered is smart and fiercely independent.  Refusing to conform to the society around her and its shallow ideals, she leaves home to get a fresh start in place where her privileged social standing won’t matter.

What sparked the idea for your book?

Leti’s Blog!

I read a nonfiction book called, DNA and The Secret of Life, by Nobel Prize winning James Watson and my mind started spinning with the amazing ways genetics can be applied and could be used in the future.

That got my creative juices flowing for Land of the Unaltered.

How do you market your book?

I do it all on my own.  I do a blog tour and use my own blog and social media outlet to promote my work.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

Leti’s Twitter Page!

Although the business side of writing is important, don’t let it overshadow your writing.

You need to have a high quality product to start with and you need to keep writing.

What do you do to get book reviews?

I solicit some book bloggers, I swap reviews and I use the message boards of sites like Goodreads and World Lit Cafe.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

Keep writing and always be working on your craft.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

Consider self-publishing. Once I looked into it and gave it try, I’ve never regretted it!

How can readers discover more about you and your work?  

My blog has a wealth of information about me and my work. Check it out!

Blog:http://bit.ly/11Vvc7a
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leti.delmar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leti_delmar
Lnkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=258928705&trk=tab_pro
Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Leti-Del-Mar/e/B0089E60LM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LetiDelMar
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440211.Leti_Del_Mar

It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Leti Del Mar, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Letie!!! Good Luck with everything!

Free book! Book Reviewers needed…

THE LEGEND OF THE MOONSTONE: Book Reviewers needed!
Posted on November 30, 2013 by Alana Munro

Hi guys, I have a client looking for some quality and balanced book reviews! If you sign up I will email you the entire book for free, along with some info about the author to complement your review post. If you could be so kind to copy your review to Amazon and Goodreads that would be amazing!

A MOMENT TO SHARE with Arleen Alleman

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Arleen Alleman author of Alternate Currents, Current Assets, Currents Deep and Deadly  and  Currents of Vengeance: A Darcy Farthing Novel. Arleen is author, speaker and Life enthusiast! She is a former senior analyst with the Government Accountability Office where she wrote extensively on many topics ranging from satellite systems to endangered species. Arleen Alleman is also a Finalist for Best Mystery/Suspense novel in 2013 by eFestival of Words: CURRENTS OF VENGEANCE.

Arleen Alleman

Hi Arllen, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Tell me a little about yourself and your background? What was your life like before becoming an author?

Well, I’m a very pragmatic person. I love logic and science of all kinds. I’ve been fortunate to have done a lot of different things in the past and I like to try new endeavors. Early on in Las Vegas, I worked as a finishing school instructor and fashion model for several years, then as an insurance adjuster for six years. As a single parent with two young sons, I decided to move to Colorado to attend college and received a degree in biology. I worked for the Government Accountability Office (Congressional watchdog) for twenty-one years as an analyst and project manager. This career allowed me to hone my analytical skills, and to learn and write about an astonishing number of different subjects, including satellite systems, endangered species, healthcare reform, plant germplasm storage, and biotechnology, just to name a few. After retiring from GAO I started a silver jewelry manufacturing business, owned a small home decor shop, and finally, became a writer. Recently, my husband and I moved from Colorado to SW Florida to experience a different environment and to be closer to one of our favorite past times–cruising.

    When did you decide to become a writer?

I didn’t actually decide to be a fiction writer until about six years ago. However, I began thinking about a career as an author when I was a teenager. I worked on my high school newspaper and thought about journalism as a career, but that didn’t work out.

Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?

For the first book in my Darcy Farthing series, Currents Deep and Deadly, I believe the story came first.

We were taking a lot of cruise vacations and while on board a ship, I made the decision to start writing, so I used the cruising as a storyline. Development of the Darcy character followed pretty quickly.

Why do you write? What advice would you give to aspiring writers? So, what have you written?

I write because it is very challenging and rewarding. The books are a sort of legacy for the author. The fourth in my series, Alternate Currents, came out in August and I’m working on a fifth. Other than that, I wrote a book of poetry in college, and wrote extensively on non-fiction topics while working for the government. I don’t like to give others advise, but I would say that the goal of being famous or making a lot of money from writing a book is not very realistic. You have to like the writing process and work hard at marketing, and you may or may not see great results. My first three books received an award for best trilogy of 2012 from books-and-authors.net. That was extremely uplifting.

Where people can buy or see them?

My books are available in paperback, hardback, and e-book formats from Xlibris, Amazon, and Barnesandnoble.

Many other sites offer my books in their search results. I have a limited number of promo codes I can give to people so they can get a free Alternate Currents e-book. There is also a giveaway on my website for Currents of Vengeance in exchange for an email address.

Give me an insight into your main character from your last novel /first novel/. What does he/she do that is so special?

Darcy Farthing is an interesting mixture of Femme fatale and scientist. She is a beautiful tall blond and she does lead her love interest, Mick, into danger, but he is perfectly capable of getting into trouble on his own. Darcy is a biochemist working for a pharmaceutical company when the story begins. However, by book four, she has written two non-fiction books chronicling her traumatic experiences with cruise ship crime, and has quit her “day job”. She is a humanist and shuns any belief not rooted in scientific evidence. At the same time she is a highly moral person with a difficult past, and her tendency to get involved in other people’s problems is what gets her into trouble.

What sparked the idea for your book/s?

As I said, I started with the cruising backdrop, and used my government experience to build character development. I wanted to write murder-mystery, and I guess I’ve done that with a number of additional plot elements involving family and social issues.

Are there any character traits in your book that are based on someone you know? /*Even if the whole character isn’t based on them?/

Not whole characters, but I think certain traits I’ve noticed in people are surely woven into the characters.  Some of the characters’ experiences come from things I know have happened to actual people I’ve known. The series titles all have the word current in them and this is a play on words having to do with the storyline and with Darcy’s life philosophy, which she shares with the reader.

Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

I am an avid reader and will read almost anything, but prefer mysteries. I read quite a few books by other new authors.

My favorite authors are all the best-selling group including Baldacci, Patterson, Cornwell, Gabaldon, Grisham, Koontz,etc. I’m a succor for a great mystery and I guess that is why I am trying to write in that genre.

Where is your favorite place to read and write?

I like to read at home early in the morning and I read a lot on cruises. I write in many different locations on my laptop, quite often on ships as well. Once I get involved with the writing, I’m not bothered by external noise or activity.

How do you market your book/s?

I use twitter a great deal and Facebook as well as other online book blogs and marketing sites. I’ve used press releases targeted to book bloggers and reviewers. I use some marketing packages offered by my publisher, but not many due to cost. I market my books and myself to bookstore managers who host a lot of book signings for me. I have book signings on cruise ships too and they are very successful.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books? What do you do to get book reviews? What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer? How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Arleen’s Website

I’m still learning how to successfully market my own books. The marketing and trying to get exposure for the books is the least fun part of being an author. Widespread marketing strategies that include national targeted advertising might be effective, but are also costly. Ideally, I think one should have an agent or publicist, but I have not done that yet. Also, I don’t like to ask directly for reviews. I say that reviews are very important for authors and hope readers will take a few minutes to write one. The targeted press release method was not too expensive, and it has worked well in getting reviews for the latest book. I will probably do that with the next one. I welcome readers to visit my website and ask questions or make comments. Googling my name produces a lot of information for anyone interested in me and my books.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

I’m trying to write books for fiction lovers who also want some thought provoking content. The books have socially controversial topics woven through the murder-mystery story. I hope people enjoy reading my books because that is the main purpose of fiction.

Website: www.arleenalleman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arleen.alleman.3

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Currents-Deep-and-Deadly/149011021789810?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aallemanwrites

Lnkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/arleen-alleman/26/212/818

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Arleen-Alleman/e/B0041H8CQM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1384601621&sr=1-2-ent

Book Links: /* American, UK, etc./  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arleen-Alleman/e/B0041H8CQM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1384602082&sr=1-2-ent

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4273875.Arleen_Alleman

It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Arleen Alleman, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Arleen!!! Good Luck with everything!

REVIEWS, UPDATES, NEWS…..

It’s been such a crazy week. Head on over to my blog if you get a chance. If you click over on my blog you can see the amazing interviews of more then 15 great authors, some of my short stories, book recomendations and more fun posts.

REVIEWS… 

I just wanted to let everyone know my blog has been updated with some pretty awesome posts and interviews. ALSO I recently reviewed:

A Vision of Angels by Timothy Jay Smith
Exodus (Arcane, #3) by Joanna Penn (J.F. Penn)
Wicked Appetite (Lizzy & Diesel #1) by Janet Evanovich
Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth
This Body: A Novel of Reincarnation by Laurel Doud
Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1) by Christopher Paolini

UPDATES… 

The Legend of the Moonstone:
A Series for Kids and Young Adults

Goodreads rating: 4.62 (8 ratings)



My NEW book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfLL8j5Pg5A&feature=youtu.be!!! 




Guest Posts and Reviews:

1. Alison Strachan  posted interview with me at her Website – Writing My Truth’s as a regular guest post called – ‘The Moment of Truth wit Meglena Ivanova and ***Win a Copy of her Book!***’ . Please go check it out! ;-) Thanks Alison!
2. Lori Lesko interviewed me about my book and my writing in general. You can read the interview HERE . She also wrote awesome review of my book ! I’m so excited and can’t wait to see what everyone else thinks about my book! Thank you Lori for everything! You are incredible author, blogger and awesome person.

My Smashwords Page is Up now - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/377347!!! 

NEWS…

Seeing as Christmas Day is right around the corner I decided to do Giveaway & share with 5 of you my YA fiction book – The Legend of The Moonstone:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Legend of the Moonstone by Meglena Ivanova

Released August 07 2013

Giveaway ends in 16 days (December 20, 2013) 5 copies available, 250 people requesting.

Giveaway details » Enter to win!!! 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

Things are moving along so quickly now and I am proud to say that I have so many amazing people already signed up to INTERVIEWS on my Blog but I would love to add you to the growing list. Do consider answering my Questionnaire for my Blog. I’d LOVE to have you! Be shure I’ll share your words at all of my pages! There’s no rush as have a lot going on but hey I’d be so happy to have you in the future!!!

MEGGIE ;)

A MOMENT TO SHARE with Alana Munro

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Alana Munro author of Women Behaving Badly - exposing the Truth about Female Friendship made it to no. 1# on Amazon Kindle USA during August 2013. Alana Munro lives in Australia with her husband, 3 kids and their puppy. Born in Scotland, she acquired a Bachelor of Arts degree from an Edinburgh University before jumping head first into motherhood.

Alana Munro

Hi Alana, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I grew up in Scotland. My husband, kids and me, all moved to Australia about 5 years ago for a fun, new adventure.

What were you like at school?

I was shy and studied. I was keen to get out of school and into university. I really didn’t enjoy high school. I was bullied a lot by other girls in my year. So I was very relieved to leave!

Were you good at English?

I was always pretty good, my teachers liked my stories. I was probably best at biology though! I used to love writing up biology reports. Very strange I know!

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

I’d love to keep improving and trying new things.

What was your life like before becoming an author?

I am a full time mummy to three kids – so pretty busy!

When did you decide to become a writer?

Newspaper article about Alana’s debut book!

I’ve always enjoyed writing my feelings down. It helps me express myself. I started blogging and then started working on my first book. It all just fell into place. There wasn’t a major light bulb moment, it came naturally and I just went with it.

Why do you write?

To express myself, make sense of my world and the world around me.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Never ever, ever give up ever!!!

So, what have you written?

I wrote Women Behaving Badly – Exposing the Truth about Female Friendship. I was a #1 best-seller over on Kindle during August 2013.

Where people can buy or see your book?

My book can be purchased from these major websites – Amazon, Barnes and Noble, WH Smith, Tesco, Waterstones.

At the moment the eBook is only 99 cents.

What sparked the idea for your book?

It came from personal experience. I had endured a lot of bullying, passive aggression and manipulation from females. I wanted to make sense of these toxic behaviors and find happier friendships. Why were these women behaving so badly? What was motivating them to bitch about me?

Where is your favorite place to read and write?

I love to read in bed at night to relax. I write on my laptop in the kitchen, it is a busy hub though! I am often seen trying to note down important questions from my author clients and making my kids more food.

How do you market your book?

Alana’s Website!

I have a popular blog which acts as a great platform for my book.

I’ve worked hard to build a supportive blog community. http://alanamunroauthor.com/

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

Definitely, build good, strong connections with other bloggers, authors, writers. Help them out where you can. Support each other. I have found the blogging community to be rock solid. Most people are incredibly nice and we all support each other.

Google+ community – Support a writer!

You could also join my Support group for writers called Support-a-Writer. It’s free and we are a friendly group keen on supporting each other. Simply head to my blog to find my group.

And of course you can hire me as I also work as a Book Marketer. I have my own marketing company, Reach for the Stars, that offers lots of valuable but affordable promotional services to get your book noticed. Shameless plug!

The address is – http://reachforthestarsmarketing.com/.

What do you do to get book reviews?

I have asked other authors to help. I’ll read your book if you do the same for me. That works sometimes but not always. I have to keep asking and reminding people to review. So if I get a nice email in from a reader I always sweetly ask them to leave a little review if they could be so helpful! Most people are pleased to help.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

Reach for the Stars Book Marketing!

If you have passion in your belly to write you’ll have little choice.

So keep on writing and connecting with other like-minded souls.

Build your network and jump at opportunities to get your work noticed.

Even if it terrifies you – just push the fear away and publish your work.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

All information can be found on my Blog – http://alanamunroauthor.com/. Please drop by and connect with me. I’d love to hear from you!

Website: http://reachforthestarsmarketing.com/

Blog: http://alanamunroauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alanamunroauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMauthor

It was a great privilege for me to get to interview Alana Munro, who has inspired me in many different ways. Thank you Alana!!! Good Luck with everything!