Effrosyni Moschoudi's Blog, page 47
January 28, 2015
Hot deals and awesome reads by Jackie Weger
If you’re enjoying the book you’re reading these days, I bet you can’t stop yourself from telling others about it, which is what is happening to me at the moment. The book that I currently take to bed every night, is No Perfect Secret by Jackie Weger and by golly, it has all it takes to render me sleep-deprived on top of�� a long day working on the computer, but somehow, I can’t help myself.
I’ll be honest with you. I may be biased. Jackie Weger is a dear friend of mine, a mentor and a bit of a mother figure too. But the fact is, she is also a highly accomplished writer (details on her interview here) and quite a character. With Jackie, what you see is what you get. She’s a no BS kind of person which is what makes the way she expresses herself so damn adorable. But what delights me most about her books is that so many of her characters tend to be the same which makes for an utterly delightful read. I chuckle and howl unstoppably while reading ‘No Perfect Secret’, the way I did with ‘The House on Persimmon Road’, and I can’t wait to review this little gem of contemporary romance when I am done.
For now, I thought I’d blog about it so that you can also benefit! No Perfect Secret is currently FREE on Amazon so make sure to grab your copy today! You will be delighted to find that Jackie’s other title, No Perfect Destiny, is also on offer these days for a mere $0.99. While you’re at it, make sure to check out her latest romance too, No Perfect Fate, which is also FREE at the moment! How awesome is this deal? I say, it’s out of this world, so make sure to benefit!
Delve into those stories and take it from me, your reading pleasure will see new heights. It’s a chuckle-a-plenty kind of experience that you don’t want to miss!
No Perfect Secret is FREE 27-30 January.
A single secret begets a layer of lies.
Anna Nesmith believes she has it all – a great marriage, a dream job and a home of her own. When a State Department investigator begins asking questions, Anna���s ordered world implodes. Frank Caburn is man to the bone and manufactures testosterone like Frito Lay does chips. Instantly attracted to Anna, he is determined to make her his own – if only she can pick through the emotional rubble to find her bruised heart can love once again.
Grab your FREE copy here.
Praise for the Book
“I love this book. It was truly an amazing story. The author put humor, despair, and everything you can imagine in it and made a wonderful, exciting love story on top of it. She is a wonderful author and I feel so blessed to have read it. Read the biography at the end. She is funny and I can relate to everything she said.” ~ Gail Hodges
“All aspiring authors need to read this book or books by this author. You’ve got intrigue and mystery, romance and friendships – all without graphic sex or foul language. I’ve got an imagination and prefer to use it over reading someone else’s descriptions of what sex is all about. Jackie Weger, you’re a great author and I can’t wait to read more of your books!” ~ Chinamom0608
Grab your FREE copy here.
Also available now!
No Perfect Destiny (only $0.99)
and No Perfect Fate (FREE! 28-31 January).
Also, available on preorder:
A boxset of sweet romance stories by 12 awesome writers including Jackie Weger, Donna Fasano, Mimi Barbour and Traci Hall. Get it in time for Valentine’s Day! Available on pre-order for just $0.99!
Note: Jackie Weger’s contribution to the boxset is No Perfect Destiny.
Check out this heart-warming boxset now on Amazon.
About the author
An award-winning author, Jackie Weger has been writing romance novels off and on for thirty years. When she’s writing, she’s anchored in a tiny room with a desk, a chair and a cat. When not writing, blogging or chatting with fans, she’s traipsing around the Internet searching for recipes, but much prefers to travel the good earth by foot, bus, canoe, sloop, mule, train, plane or pickup – and let somebody else do the cooking.
Direct purchase links for UK & Canada
FREE: No Perfect Secret Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/No-Perfect-Secret-Jackie-Weger-ebook/dp/B00N53VJTK/
FREE: No Perfect Secret UK:�� ��http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Perfect-Secret-Jackie-Weger-ebook/dp/B00N53VJTK/
1.13 Canadian No Perfect Destiny Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/No-Perfect-Destiny-Jackie-Weger-ebook/dp/B00QG4LBS4
0.99 No Perfect Destiny UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Perfect-Destiny-Jackie-Weger-ebook/dp/B00QG4LBS4
FREE: No Perfect Fate Canada:�� http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00R9RZBCY/
FREE: No Perfect Fate UK : http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Perfect-Fate-Jackie-Weger-ebook/dp/B00R9RZBCY/
January 26, 2015
Interview with Laurie Boris
This is a short excerpt. Click on the title above to read the whole post on EffrosyniWrites!
January 9, 2015
An important announcement re my new blog
As you probably know, I have a new website and with it, a brand new blog where I’ve already started posting author interviews, book reviews and great tips for authors. In the near future, I’ll start posting free & discounted deals too so you can find your next favorite read with little or no cost at all.
A couple of my followers on Effrosyni’s Blog have contacted me to ask why they’re not getting notifications for my�� posts on the website, so please note, in case any others out there have the same question, that I cannot move the followers of Effrosyni’s Blog onto the new site.
To get notifications of my future posts on the new site, you’re welcome to do this manually. Simply go to EffrosyniWrites and choose between subscription by email or RSS feed.
Here is a digest of the latest posts on Effrosyni Writes. How many have you missed?
AUTHOR TIPS: Have you updated your Amazon profile to your fullest advantage?
BOOK REVIEW: Confessions of an instinctively mutinous baby boomer by Marsha Roberts
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS: Interview with David Wind, author of Tales of Navaeh
Please note I will keep posting on both blogs, but EffrosyniWrites will be my main one from now on.
Thank you and hope to see you soon at EffrosyniWrites!
January 8, 2015
Greek Dinner Around the World January 15, 2015
Greeks around the world (and even Greeks at heart!), mark your calendars! Thursday, January 15 is the day to celebrate Greek cuisine, Greek heritage and to promote each other’s brilliant work!
Originally posted on 9 muses news:
Greek Dinner Around the World Jan. 15, 2014
Imagine a dinner party to celebrate Greek culture, cuisine, philosophy and heritage around the world with family, friends, and new friends. This is Greek Dinner Around the World on January 15th.
An idea that was sparked last year by the film Kiveri by Panayloti Yannitsos (@pyannitsos) and a conversation over Twitter with authors Marjory McGinn (@fatgreekodyssey), Mary Platis (@CalGreekGirl), & Peter Minaki (@kalofagas)��on how to connect and promote one���s work. In an instant, Greek American poet Katie Aliferis (@KatieA_SF) joined in and from there is history.
Why not have a dinner party with friends around the world and share and promote each other���s creative ventures in books, films, art, cuisine, wine, philosophy, diplomacy, business and entrepreneurial endeavors.
One friend after another from Melbourne to Tokyo to Kazahkstan to Athens to Berlin to���
View original 361 more words
December 21, 2014
How to create your own website as if you were a pro
Today, it is a very special day! You may have noticed I’ve been blogging less recently. Truth is, #amwriting, but also have been building my new site.
Finally, it’s done and today you can have a look. So head over to my brand new site where you can:
Get the details for the FREE tutorial that has made it all possible. Now you can build your own website too, easily and without any website building cost, for those of you who like me, don’t know any code!
Get some extra notes of mine that I am sharing, thanks to which you’ll have everything you need. I hit a couple of tricky areas but thanks to those notes, you won’t have to.
Check out my book table where you can read excerpts from my books online or download them as PDFs. You’ll also find there two book covers never seen before; I thought the day was special enough to combine it with two cover reveals!
Without further ado, I give you my new site; Effrosyni Writes!
Head over there and let me know what you think!
December 15, 2014
Interview with USA Today bestselling author, Donna Fasano
Today, I’m simply thrilled. This is the first time a USA Today bestselling author honors my humble blog with a visit. What’s more, this is not just anybody. This is Donna Fasano; an author who stands out in my writer’s group, eNovel Authors at Work, for both her wisdom and sweetness. Founder Jackie Weger says that Donna Fasano has an incredible trait: she listens to advice; she takes heed. Having been traditionally published and chosen to leave that behind as to become an indie author, Donna can only be an inspiration to all of us.��
This savvy writer has built herself a successful career by believing it’s better to call your own shots, to write what you want and to market it exactly as you want rather than to be at the beck and call of any trad publisher out there. I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to get to know her better here today. But first, here are some samples of her pure gems in romance:
THE PERFECT STOCKING FILLER!
***USA TODAY Bestselling Author*** ����
“…heart-wrenching, sweet, touching, and requires a box of tissues.”��~USA Today
When it comes to business, Aaron Chase knows how to succeed. But when his daughter, Izzie, asks him for the perfect family Christmas, the handsome widower feels at a loss about how to make his little girl’s dream come true.
Pediatric Nurse Christy Cooper has dedicated her life to taking care of children. She agrees to act as Izzie’s stand-in mom for this special holiday and throws herself into making the child’s Christmas wish a reality. Maybe this selfless act will somehow alleviate her secret regrets and failures of the past.
The holiday is filled with fun and laughter, and it’s amazing how three short days can be so life-changing. When the impish eight-year-old talks the adults into acting out a silly, make-believe wedding, young Izzie is certain the magic of the season will turn the pretend vows into the real thing. The little girl wants her daddy to have Christmas in his life–every single day.
Find it now on Amazon
BRAND NEW RELEASE!
Sara Carson is a 30-something widow with a busy life. Two fun-loving best friends, a caring mom who needs her, and a thriving sweet shop. What more could a woman want? But when the ancient plumbing in her shop springs a leak and a gorgeous, dark-eyed stranger rushes to her rescue, hilarity unfolds–and Sara quickly sees exactly what she’s been missing.
Something most peculiar draws Landon Richards to Ocean City, Maryland–and to the lovely Sara. This woman touches his heart like no other, and the two of them explore the heady attraction that pulses between them. But haunting dreams have a way of encroaching on reality, and the strange phenomenon that brings these two together will also threaten to tear them apart.
This is the first book in the Ocean City Boardwalk Series, where life for three enterprising women, Sara, Heather, and Cathy, isn’t just fun in the sun–love is waiting on those sandy shores!
Find it now on Amazon
FREE!
A book full of delicious cookie recipes to share with the family this Christmas!
In this book you���ll find favorite cookies of the heroes and heroines in the Ten Christmas Brides romance-novel boxed set. Some are the treats our characters remember fondly from their childhoods. Others are the ones they enjoy today���or make to give as gifts. Here you���ll find everything from Almond Crescents, Coffee Pecan Delights, and Swedish Teacake Cookies to Rocks, Butterscotch Brownies and Scottish Shortbread. And each recipe comes with a note explaining how it fits into the author���s story, so you���ll have a little more insight into her characters and plot.
The recipes are the authors’ gifts to you this holiday season. Enjoy these special goodies and have a wonderful Christmas. Best wishes from the authors of Ten Christmas Brides!
Find it now on Amazon
Grab those delicious free recipes!
Hello Donna and welcome to my blog!
Hi Fros! Thank you for inviting me, it’s lovely to be here.
What has inspired you to write An Almost Perfect Christmas?
My best friend is a grieving parent. Losing a child changes your life forever. But life goes on, and one must try to live it to the fullest. I have written a blog post about this and I invite your readers to read it here.
What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?
Usually, when you talk to writers, they say they knew at a very young age that they wanted to write; as children, they filled notebooks, creating stories and characters. I came to writing from my love of reading. I didn���t start writing until I was a young mother with two children. I was an avid romance reader and I loved the hopeful feeling the books gave me. I tried my hand at writing, and worked on my first book for a year and a half. I entered the manuscript in an international contest and won a finalist spot. An editor from Harlequin was the final judge, and although my book didn���t win the contest, the editor did buy my book and publish it.
Wow, I bet you really impressed him. What other writing have you done? Anything else published?
I have written over thirty romance and women���s fiction titles. My books have won awards and made both the Kindle and Nook Top 5 Lists, but my crowning achievement was seeing Reclaim My Heart make the USA Today Bestsellers List.
That’s amazing, Donna… well done. Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?
I love to cook and I collect cookbooks. I have nearly one hundred cookbooks, and I read them just like I do fiction novels.
What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).
I���ve been working on Following His Heart, Book One of the Ocean City Boardwalk series and I’ve just released it (December 12th). The series centers around three life-long friends���Sara, Cathy, and Heather���each of whom is single and plagued by a multitude of personal problems. I love stories that include strong female bonds. Let���s face it, where would we be without our friends? But these ARE romance novels, so one by one, they���ll find love.
Sounds wonderful. What genres do you read mostly, and what are you reading now?
I���m an extremely eclectic reader. I enjoy reading everything, fiction and non-fiction, and I read a lot. I can���t imagine a day without cracking open a book (or turning on my ereader). In the past couple of weeks, I���ve read: Firehawk���s Bride by Judith French (historical romance), As Close As Sisters by Colleen Faulkner (women���s fiction), Death by Salsa Dancing (mystery) by Cait London, and The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith (dystopian fantasy). I loved them all!
Do you have any advice for other indie authors?
My first piece of advice would be to read everything you can get your hands on. And pay attention while you read. Figure out what the author did right, and what she did wrong. Take note of the various elements of the book: transitions, character development, conflict development and resolution, plot development. Learn how to build a story like a mason builds a wall, brick by brick (chapter by chapter). Each chapter must have a reason for being���and if it has several reasons for being, then that will make for a stronger story.
Great advice! Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?
Yes, I do recommend two sites: the online dictionary, http://www.Dictionary.com and also http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl
How would you like to be remembered?
I think I would love to be remembered as someone who smiles often, someone who lifts the spirits of others, someone who is willing to lend an ear or a helping hand when it is needed. It would be lovely to leave some great legacy behind, but I will be happy if, when people remember me, they smile and say, ���She was a great person.���
Thank you so much for being here with us today, Donna! Wish you success with your latest release.
Thanks a lot for having me Fros, I’ve really enjoyed our chat!
BIO
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA FASANO is a three-time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, a Golden Heart finalist, and a two-time winner of Best Romance of the Year given by BigAl’s Books & Pals Review Blog. Her books have sold nearly 4 million copies worldwide and have been published in two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #5.
PURCHASE LINKS FOR AN ALMOST PERFECT XMAS
CONNECT WITH DONNA
Visit her blog at http://www.DonnaFasano.com.
Sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/110899/join.
Donna loves to chat with readers.
Follow Donna on Facebook at:�� https://www.facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor
Follow her on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DonnaFaz
Follow her on Pinterest http://www.Pinterest/DonnaFaz
Do you enjoy romance? How about a Xmas boxset of 14 romantic stories? It even contains Donna Fasano’s enchanting novella, “An Almost Perfect Xmas” !
Find it now on Amazon: Sweet Christmas Kisses Boxset
December 8, 2014
Interview with Carmen de Sousa, author of the Creatus Series
Today, I’m delighted to present to you a truly terrific lady. Carmen de Sousa is one of the gems of eNovel Authors at Work that’s worth looking into. Not only has she published a delightful array of fantasy gems, but she’s one of the most helpful, giving people I know. Through her sites, she supports and promotes fellow indies during their promos and is always helpful and keen to offer advice. Her latest release, Eidolon, is book 4 in her Creatus series and as you’ll see below, its cover is awesome. Makes me want to grab it and dig right in!
Before we get to our online chat, make sure to browse through Carmen’s titles below. You’ll be pleased to see one of her books is only $0.99 for a limited time and another is permanently FREE!
Book 4 in the Creatus Series.
Not all phantoms are myths���
For four thousand years, creatus have concealed themselves from the humans who hunted them almost to extinction. Now, one rogue faction wants the world to know they exist.
Meghan only wants to be normal, and for the first time in her life, she feels she might have a chance to be herself. As she finds herself between creatus families with different ideals and their roles within the human race, she struggles to find her way. Only, her path leads her right into the arms of a wanted man.
Not only will she have to fight for the man she loves, she’ll have to fight for her very life.
The Creatus Series is not your typical paranormal story…it’s a realistic romantic mystery based on the myths you’ve heard your entire life. Prepare to believe…
Find it now on Amazon
Book 1 in the Creatus Series.
FREE with Kindle Unlimited
In every myth, there���s a modicum of truth
For four thousand years, creatus have concealed themselves from the humans who hunted them almost to extinction. Unwittingly, one creatus will endanger them all…
As with most of his family, Derrick Ashton knows his future and what position he’s destined to fill within his unique society. Everything changes, however, when he breaks one of his family’s strictest laws and falls in love–with a human. In his quest to protect the woman he can never have, a twist of faith propels him into a new role that will cause dissension among his family and endanger the anonymity that they’ve strived for thousands of years to protect. Now, he will risk everything to save the girl from humans and his own kind. The one thing he can’t save her from, however…is herself.
The Creatus Series is not your normal paranormal story…it’s a realistic romantic mystery based on the myths you’ve heard your entire life. Prepare to believe.
Note: The events in Creatus (They Exist) start fourteen years prior to the events in Creatus. I highly recommend you read this novella before Creatus so you can get a look into the characters’ lives leading up to the full story. Only the last chapter and first chapter overlap, and they are from a different point of view. Prepare yourself for a cliffhanger ending, though.
Find it now on Amazon
Only $0.99 until 12.22.14
The Library (Where Life Checks Out) is a Murder Mystery with a hint of paranormal and a dab of romance.
When Mark Waters decided to be a detective, he didn’t plan to investigate ghosts. But as he sifts through evidence of a supposed suicide by train, he learns a murder that took place eighty years ago may directly affect his case. Six months after the strange occurrences at The Depot, there���s another murder. This time, The Library holds secrets of several murders, and the dead won���t rest until the murderer checks out too.
Find it now on Amazon Only $0.99 until 12.22.14!
FREE! ��
(The Depot is permafree, but check price before downloading).
The Depot (When Life and Death Cross Tracks) is a thirteen-thousand-word mini mystery with a ghostly edge by bestselling romantic-suspense author Carmen DeSousa. If you are looking for her full-length novels, please check out her Amazon author page.
They say The Depot is haunted. But in all the years homicide detective Mark Waters has visited the ancient train station turned restaurant, he’s never seen proof. Until now. As he investigates a supposed suicide by train, he learns secrets of a murder that took place eighty years ago may directly affect his case.
The Depot was originally published January 2013. While there have been a few updates, this is the original story. Happy reading!
Find it now on Amazon���� FREE!
Hello Carmen and welcome to my blog!
Thank you for the invitation, Fros.
Tell us a little about The Library and the Depot that I’m showcasing today. What has inspired you to write them?
Funny story��� The Library (Where Life Checks Out) came about per readers��� demands. I���d decided to write a series of short stories on my website with reader interaction. I published the first one, then readers demanded I bring back one of the supporting characters, Mark Waters, so I did. Then, after that, my avid-reading friends fell in love with Mark and wanted him to get a full novel. So, since I always listen to my readers, I wrote it. After all, what kind of a writer would I be if I didn���t listen to my readers? Both stories are included in The Library, which as mentioned above is on sale today, or readers can download just the short story, The Depot, free.
What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?
Try not to laugh��� I think I was eight, and I wrote a story about giant fleas. It was actually pretty imaginative now that I look back, but who would ever want to read a story about giant fleas? I wrote several other stories I can���t remember clearly, but then when I was in college, I wrote my first novella, and my professor cheered���right after he cried. He wanted something clever and funny; I write modern-day fairy tales, and if you remember the fairy tales growing up as a kid, they actually weren���t mild, so imagine that for grown-ups.
I love fairy tales. And did you see? I didn’t laugh about the giant flees…much! (giggles) What other writing have you done? Anything else published?
Thirteen published right now, and three in the oven. I tend to stay pregnant. LOL! As soon as I finish one and send it off to my beta readers, I���m usually already busy on the next story. I���m obsessed!
I envy your rhythm! Well done, Carmen. Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?
My favorite, of course, is reading. Thankfully, hubby is an avid reader too, so when the weather is nice, we���ll often spend our day at the pool or beach reading. If the weather isn���t nice, a coffee shop works perfectly. We also love to mountain bike, hike, and kayak.
Do you see yourself in any of your characters, or do any of them have traits you wish you had?
Ummm���yes. But, I���ll never tell which character it is. I will say this, my hubby is a retired police detective, and I���ve been through a lot in my life, so I will NEVER run out of stories.
Well, you know what they say about writers and their hardships in life. It’s material! So I bet you’ll reap the benefits to the full. What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).
I have four series working���and I know it sounds unusual, but I work on all of them at the same time. I write and write and write until I can���t write anymore, then if the words still don���t come, I walk away and work on another project. My characters are very needy, and yet, they���re controlling. Before I know it, they���ll come back, demanding that I continue their story. It may sound like a dysfunctional relationship, but we have an understanding.
Wow, you’re like the Duracell bunny of writing! How fortunate for you. What genres do you read mostly, and what are you reading now?
I love just about anything that isn���t too graphic in any manner. I have a great imagination; that���s why I read and write, so I don���t need every murder or sex scene spelled out to me specifically. The only thing I don���t write is chick lit, so I find I enjoy those more, as I���m not always thinking how I���d write the scene. Right now, I���m reading Hold on my Heart by Tracy Brogan. I just finished two other books by her in the last couple of months. I���m very loyal. If I like an author���s book, I���ll read everything they write.
Do you have any advice for other indie authors?
If you love writing, never give up; never surrender! If you decide to write a book because you thought it was a way to make money, and you don���t live and breathe it, give up! Writing isn���t a 9-5 job. You have to live it, breathe it, eat it, and sleep it. It will demand everything that is inside of you. But in the end, if you love it, and stick with it, you���ll never be happier when you receive feedback from readers how you touched their soul.
Great advice and so true… Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?
I, of course, share new releases, excerpts, and giveaways on my books, but���I love to share posts on writing, marketing, and sometimes just life. I write about everything I���ve experienced on my journey as a writer, and if there���s something I haven���t written about, ask me. I will do my best to answer you, and I might even write a blog post in your honor. Here���s the list of my most popular posts: http://www.carmendesousa.com/p/popular-posts-on-writingmarketing.html
If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Is wisdom a superpower?
Heck, why not?
Well, I hope so, because that is what I���d wish for the most. I���ve made many mistakes in my life, and if I had that one power, I���m sure I could have avoided them. But then again, I might not have as many situations to write about. So, I think I���d choose strength. Not like Superman strength with bulging muscles and the ability to fly without the body mechanics required to do so, but more like one of my favorite characters in the Creatus Series, Tori. She���s like Wonder Woman in the flesh, but more believable. It���d be nice to walk down the street, never having to fear anyone.
Great choice, Carmen! If you could choose another profession, what would that be?
I did that��� I went for the money and spent fifteen years in a career I hated because I was making six figures. You know what���it wasn���t worth it. I���d do anything to get back those years and just write.
I hear you…I spent twenty years doing office work too. I could have spent them writing and nurturing my spirit instead of feeling cleustrophobic. But you know, there were no tools and no outlets for indies back then. I choose not to have regrets and I am sure you can see it too that it all happened for a reason. To paraphrase the words of the great Steve Jobs, “when you go back and join the dots, it all starts to make sense”.
Yes, I’ll agree to that!
Well, Carmen, it’s been wonderful having you here! Thank you so much for your visit.
It’s been a pleasure, Fros. Thank you so much for the invitation.
BIO
As most authors, I blame my leap into a full-time career as a professional writer on my love of reading. Reading has always been an escape for me. When life was rough as a child, I could always disappear into a book. But I found something else… I discovered that writing out my thoughts was healing. Not only could I create hope for my protagonists, but I could do away with the antagonists–legally.
When I penned my first novel, She Belongs to Me, I allowed only my cousin and best friend to read it. They are the reason I write. They pushed me to publish, as they felt my stories would give others, who’ve experienced tragedies, hope. So now, even though I still write for me, I mainly write for my readers who continually encourage me that my words touched their soul.
Although some of my stories dance on a paranormal edge, they all share a common thread or romance, mystery, suspense, and hope.
CONNECT WITH CARMEN
Website: http://www.carmendesousa.com/
You can find all my social media links on my Amazon page.
Copy and paste this universal link to your browser to get there: viewAuthor.at/CarmenDeSousa
Free Children’s Book: Runaway Smile
I had the privilege to beta read this gem by Nicholas Rossis and I can vouch for its excellence. Not only it���s delightful throughout, but I thought its ending was utterly sweet too. The moral of the story is simply priceless for the fanciful children���s minds and hearts. Love it, and the fab illustration gives it wings. A stellar combination!
Originally posted on Nicholas C. Rossis:
I woke up this morning and I had lost my smile and it��wasn���t my fault and I looked everywhere and it was gone.��Then I met a workman and a king and the best salesman��in the world and a clown and no-one wanted to give me��theirs. At school, I asked Miss to give me hers, but she gave��us a pop quiz instead, and then no-one was smiling and���
A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day��trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones.
Runaway Smile is my first children���s book and it is finally here, after two long��years of preparation! Just for the wonderful people following me on my blog, I have posted it online, where you can read it for free! If you enjoy it, feel���
View original 25 more words
December 4, 2014
Interview with author and historian, Adam Alexander Haviaras
Today, I am thrilled to host an interview with my Greek-Canadian Twitter friend, Adam Haviaras.�� Just the other day, he posted on his awesome website my guest post, Goddess Athena and her Sacred Temple, The Parthenon.
Adam, a historian as well as an author, combines his deep knowledge of history with his mastery in writing to create fascinating stories that are set in ancient Greece and Rome. Check out these gems!
Chariot of the Son is an epic retelling of the story of Phaethon from Greek Mythology.
During the age of Gods and Titans, Phaethon spends his days alone on the plains of Ethiopia, his only joy in life watching the Sun travel across the heavens. When the sad bonds of his life are about to overwhelm him, a truth is revealed to Phaethon which sends him on a quest across the world to find his place in the order of things, and to unite the family that he has never known until now.
This is a story of love and loss, of deep yearning to find one���s place and to make a difference in a world where even the Gods can weep. Chariot of the Son is the first installment in the new Mythologia series from Eagles and Dragons Publishing.
Chariot of the Son is available for pre-order (launch date: December 7, 2014)
Special pre-launch price, only $0.99!
Chariot of the Son (Mythologia Book 1)
At the peak of Rome’s might a dragon is born among eagles, an heir to a line both blessed and cursed by the Gods for ages.
Children of Apollo is the tale of Lucius Metellus Anguis, a young warrior who is inspired by the deeds of his glorious ancestors and burdened by the knowledge that he must raise his family name from the ashes of the past. Having achieved a measure of success in the Emperor���s Legions in North Africa, Lucius is recalled to Rome where he finds himself surrounded by enemies, cast into the deadly arena of Roman politics. Amid growing fears of treachery, Lucius meets a young Athenian woman who fills his darkening world with new-found hope. Their love grows, as does their belief that the Gods have planned their meeting but when an ancient oracle of Apollo utters a terrifying prophecy regarding his future, Lucius��� world is once more thrown into chaos. Ultimately, he must choose sides in a war that threatens to destroy his family, his faith and all that he has worked for.
Find it now on Amazon: Children of Apollo (Eagles and Dragons Book 1)
Hello Adam and welcome to my blog!
Thank you Effrosyni for the invitation. I am delighted to be here.
What has inspired you to write Chariot of the Son?
I���ve always loved Greek mythology, and for a few years now I���ve been wanting to start a new series of books that would be retellings of ancient myths. I believe that part of the reason these ancient stories persist to this day is because they have been retold again and again, for successive generations over the ages. So, I came up with the Mythologia series.
There are many myths that I would like to get into and explore, but the first one that I chose was the Phaethon myth. There are different versions of this myth, but the one that caught my imagination was Ovid���s, from his Metamorphoses. Ovid created such a wonderful interpretation, I thought I could take it a bit further and write a story about a young man who doesn���t quite belong in the world, who has been longing desperately for something more in his life.
I wanted to create a story in which the reader could completely suspend disbelief and step into a world of Gods and Titans who can feel love, pain, and torment on a very human scale. This is how Chariot of the Son was born.
As a fellow Greek who also loves mythology, I’ll say, this sounds absolutely fascinating! Tell us, what was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?
In my early teens, after a trip to England to visit relatives, I fell in love with history. I read everything I could get my hands on. The funny thing was that I simultaneously fell in love with creative writing too. It was, to me, the best and most natural way for me to express my love of history. I immediately started to take creative writing classes alongside my history classes, and those two loves have been intertwined inside me ever since.
I wrote lots of poetry at first, as well as short stories, and even a play. I think the two pieces that stand out from those early days were a sort of rhyming ballad about Robin Hood, and a lengthy poem of love between two youths who run away together to an enchanted fairy realm only to die tragically. Both those pieces ended up in my high school newspaper. That shocked people, I think, because I was a tall, strong, silent punk-type who went around in Sex Pistols t-shirts and my jeans covered in safety pins.
Like Phaethon, I didn���t really fit in where I was growing up.
Wait, you were a punk as a teen? Oh my, LOL, I can’t imagine you that way. Mind you, I used to dress up as Morten Harket of A-ha back then, so nuff said! What other writing have you done? Anything else published?
My main series of books is the Eagles and Dragons historical fantasy series which is set in the Roman Empire in the early 3rd century A.D. The first two books are Children of Apollo and Killing the Hydra. I���m aiming to release the third book, Warriors of Epona, in 2015. This series follows the career of an Equestrian tribune from an ancient, but nearly-forgotten, Roman family. It���s a vast sweeping story that takes the reader from Alexandria, across North Africa, to Numidia, Rome, Athens, and eventually to Britannia. This series has involved a great deal of research and travel to many of the places mentioned, including Roman sites in the Sahara. Also, the historian in me always tries to be as accurate as possible, and that includes ancient religion. In my books, I try to include the gods since most ancient people believed that the gods played an active role in their day-to-day lives. I���m really proud of this series.
Goodness me, I’m blown away just hearing about this! I’ll definitely check out this series. Any other ones I should be drooling over?
Thanks Fros. I also have an historical horror series called The Carpathian Interlude. This is something a bit more fantastical as it has zombies and werewolves, and other ancient entities. It���s set on the Danube frontier during the reign of the Emperor Augustus, and one of the events it revolves around is the Varus disaster in which Rome lost three whole legions in the forests of Germania. Again, lots of research for the history, but I also had a lot of fun mixing ancient superstitions with historical events. A large aspect of this series is my main character���s relationship to his patron god, Mithras. Mithraism is a fascinating religion, and that is something I really wanted to sink my writing teeth into. The first two parts are called Immortui and Lykoi, and the working title of the final part is Thanatos.
Fantastic stuff!�� What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).
I always thought I would be a writer who worked on one project at a time, from start to finish.
I���ve found that that���s not the case. I always seem to have a full length novel in some stage of development, as well as a shorter work and then a novella. I think that���s because I need to mix things up a bit and do something different from the larger work. The shorter works help me to stay fresh and to try out some new things.
At the moment I���m working on the second draft of Warriors of Epona (Eagles and Dragons Book III), and writing the first draft of Thanatos (Carpathian Interlude Part III).
I also want to continue work on a major Alexander the Great series. It���s called Killing a God, and I���m about a third of the way through. This has been going on for a while and involves a lot of research. Without giving too much away, it is a first person narrative by an Egyptian who is, due to horrendous circumstances, forced into Alexander���s army when it arrives in Egypt. The story begins in Egypt and will follow through the end of Alexander���s life. I may make this a serial, so that will take some major planning.
Lastly, I���m just about to begin research on the ancient Olympics, and the events, rules, and religious practices related to life within the sanctuary at Olympia. This is for a stand-alone novel which I want to write next year.
So, lots going on!
Lots indeed. Hurry writing the Alexander story, my friend! Nowadays, with the Amphipolis tomb ongoing excavation being on world news every day, people are thirsty for anything related to Alexander. You could be hitting a goldmine with the particular book. Next question…do you have any advice for other indie authors?
The best piece of advice I ever got was from my mentor, the late poet Leila Pepper. She told me to ���just get the story down.��� She said the most important thing is to get the story onto paper, no matter what.
That advice has taken me far and I hear a lot of independent authors saying it in different ways. ���Give yourself permission to suck in your first draft.��� ���Don���t edit as you go.��� ���Write the first draft with your heart, the second with your head.���
Also, I���ve found that by thinking of my writing like a business with creative products for sale (ie. by thinking of myself as an author/entrepreneur), and business plans for each release, the reality of making a decent living from this gets closer and closer. I always try to be creative, to learn new things, to be strategic, to be helpful to others, and to take risks. I���m trying to do all of those things.
Most of all, focus on what you love and let that shine through.
I couldn’t agree more with you on all these points. Well said! Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?
I definitely recommend Scrivener which is the perfect project management tool for writers. It also makes it super easy for authors to create their own e-book files so you can invest your money in other areas of your business like covers and editing.
The Sell More Books Show podcast with Jim Kukral and Bryan Cohen always has loads of helpful marketing tips every week ��� it���s a ���must-listen���.
However, the most helpful person/blog/podcast that I���ve learned the most from is Joanna Penn���s The Creative Penn. Joanna, who is one of the most helpful, intelligent, and genuine author/entrepreneurs I���ve met, has certainly blazed a trail for indies. She���s not afraid to try new things, and she���s very transparent with her work. I���ve just finished her new Business for Authors book, and it is a fantastic resource. I���ve learned a great deal from Joanna over the past few years and certainly would be much farther behind in my indie author/entrepreneur journey without her. Most indies probably know her, but if not, her website is: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/blog/
Thank you for this information, I am sure it will be useful to many. Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?
I started out with a blog called Writing the Past back in 2009. On that site, I wrote about ancient and medieval history, archaeology, and historical fiction. I would post weekly about a wide range of topics from rewriting history, and peeks at specific archaeological sites, to things such as sex and traditions in the ancient world.
Because I wanted to take my author business (Eagles and Dragons Publishing) to the next level, I finally created my own full-on website this past summer. Writing the Past is still my blog, with the same topics and feel, but it is now a part of the bigger Eagles and Dragons Publishing website.
On the website, readers can check out the blog, look at and buy my books, read lengthy excerpts of all my books, see a list of future releases, and of course sign-up for my mailing list to get sneak peeks and special offers.
Eventually, I want to be able to sell direct from the website (because authors should never rely solely on big companies to distribute their work!), and create a store with other merchandise such as clothing, historical replicas, and other goodies all related to my books and to ancient and medieval history.
Sounds great! Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what kind?
I always listen to music when I write fiction. What I listen to mostly are movie and television show soundtracks. I like the emotive nature of soundtrack music which helps with the atmosphere as I write. If something has an ���ancient��� feel to it, even better. Some of the soundtracks that I listen to include Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Dracula Untold, Rome, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Immortals and a lot more!
When it comes to editing, however, I can���t have any music on.
If you could choose another profession, what would that be?
I think I would like to be a film director. As I see it, that is sort of the ultimate form of storytelling. It would be loads of work, but it does seem like it would be a lot of fun too, despite the headaches. A film director is basically a Storytelling General!
What are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?
My family is definitely number one. Without them I think I would be drifting through this life, lonely and uninspired. They give me a reason to get up every day.
Secondly, I���m very grateful for the opportunities I���ve had to travel. Apart from Canada, I���ve been lucky enough to live in Scotland, England and Greece. I���ve travelled a lot in all of those countries, as well as Wales, Italy, France, Tunisia and some other places. I certainly believe that travel is the best education you can get.
Third, I���m grateful for my creativity. As Steven Pressfield stresses in The War of Art, you need to acknowledge and thank your Muse. Writing is a large part of who I am, so I thank my Muse every day.
This has been wonderful; thank you so much Adam for being here with us today! Good luck with your new launch.
Thank you Fros. I’m very grateful for this opportunity to talk about my work.
BIO
Adam Alexander Haviaras is an author/entrepreneur, blogger and historian. He is the author of the Eagles and Dragons historical fantasy series, The Carpathian Interlude historical horror series, and the new Mythologia series of mythological retellings.
Adam has studied ancient and medieval history and archaeology at the University of Toronto, Canada, and St. Andrews University, Scotland. He lives with his wife and children in Toronto, where he runs Eagles and Dragons Publishing with the goal of bringing the ancient and medieval worlds to life through quality historical fiction.
Adam is always happy to connect with readers, writers and those who love history in general. Connect with Adam at www.eaglesanddragonspublishing.com , on Twitter (@AdamHaviaras), on Google+ or on the Eagles and Dragons Facebook page.
Most of all, be sure to sign-up for e-mail updates at http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/newsletter-join-the-legions/ so that you can be the first to find out about new posts, releases, contests, products and more.
CONNECT WITH ADAM
Website: www.eaglesanddragonspublishing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamHaviaras
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eagles-and-Dragons/214547248650020?ref=hl
Google+: https://plus.google.com/109635881516347171398/posts
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Adam-Alexander-Haviaras/e/B009HH8IYC
December 3, 2014
Book Review: Jump Start Your Book Promotions by RP Dahlke
Being an indie author, I have read a few books on the subject of promotion. I found RP Dahlke’s book highly informative. She explains it all in detail and in simple language; rendering her book a breath of fresh air from others on the subject that are overloaded with baffling jargon and incomplete information assuming the reader is a pro. So, this is predominantly a guide that will benefit inexperienced authors trying to learn the ropes. Having said that, I think it offers fresh ideas even for more experienced indie authors. I’ve been researching on the subject of online book promo for a year now, as I try to boost my book sales via promos on KDP Select and yet, I had never heard anyone suggest before to contact your Amazon reviewers. RP Dahlke lays down a wonderful suggestion on the matter that is an absolute win-win situation for both the author and the Amazon reviewer. The book is worth reading if anything, just for the specific chapter! Highly recommended.
My rating:
5-stars
An excellent guide for book promotions
��
Are you struggling with ideas for an effective promotion?
Are you on the lookout for new author sites & services?
Are you desperate to get more reviews?
This book is packed with fresh ideas from a best-selling author!
Find it now on Amazon:
��Jump Start Your Book Promotions: Proven tips to get the most out of Paid and Free Book Promotions
