Laura Chapman's Blog, page 35
December 1, 2014
cyber monday sale
Looking for great deals on some amazing books this Cyber Monday? Look no more! Below are books that are priced at 99 cents or lower - get them quick before the sale ends! From chick lit to women's fiction to romance and more, we have something to keep everyone happy for this holiday! Find a special tweet at the end of each description and help us spread the word about these amazing deals!
Chick LitPie Girls – Lauren Clark
Princess, Southern belle, and spoiled-rotten social climber Searcy Roberts swore on a stack of Bibles she’d never return home to Fairhope, Alabama. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Atlanta, Searcy embraces big-city life—Carrie Bradshaw style.
But now, Searcy has a teeny, tiny problem. Her husband’s had a mid-life crisis. He’s quit his job, cancelled her credit cards, and left her for another man.
Searcy returns to Fairhope, ready to lick her wounds. But when her mother falls ill, she’s thrust into managing the family business—only to discover the beloved bakery is in danger of closing its doors forever.
Enlisting the help of the adorable bike store owner next door, an array of well-heeled customers, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Searcy hatches the plan of the century to save Pie Girls.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1omATqP
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Clark/235315706518284
Twitter: @LaurenClark_Bks
Tweet: PIE GIRLS by @LaurenClark_Bks is just #99cents! #chicklit for your ereader! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1omATqP
Dancing Naked in Dixie- Lauren Clark
Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.
With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.
Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/10dXICb
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Clark/235315706518284
Twitter: @LaurenClark_Bks
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads - get DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE by @LaurenClark_Bks for only #99cents! #chicklit #booksale http://amzn.to/10dXICb
The Dr. Pepper Prophecies – Jennifer Gilby Roberts
25-year-old Mel Parker has a few tiny problems:
* Her job is terrible
* She's been dumped yet again (and her ex is now her boss)
* Her parents think she's a loser compared to her perfect younger sister
* All her efforts to improve her life seem doomed to failure
* There just isn't enough chocolate in the world to make up for the above.
The best thing in her life has always been her best friend Will, who has seen her through every crisis from lost toys to pregnancy scares. But his girlfriend (who's prettier, better-dressed, more successful and secretly evil) is determined to replace Mel as the woman in his life and how is Mel supposed to compete?
And what do you do when you've pretty much given up on your own life? You help others, of course!
Whether they like it or not.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/ZLDdvT
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferGilbyRoberts
Twitter: @GilbyRoberts
Tweet: #ChickLit Sale! THE DR. PEPPER PROPHECIES by @GilbyRoberts is only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/ZLDdvT
French Twist – Glynis Astie
Sydney Bennett had spent her life in pursuit of perfection. She planned, weighed her options and made careful choices based on calculated outcomes. Through all of her efforts, she had come pretty close to perfection, if she didn’t say so herself. She had fled the cold winters in New York for sunny California, found a job that she loved and lived in the same town as her sister, and best friend, Kate. The one area of perfection that had always eluded her was her love life. No matter how hard she tried, she always ended up with a broken heart. After a particularly traumatic breakup, Sydney vowed that she was done with love.
Just as Sydney threw herself into her new plan to forget about men, a handsome Frenchman tossed all of her intentions out the window as he swept her off of her feet. Louis Durand had lived a life filled with excitement and adventure. He was impetuous, intelligent and incredibly charming. So naturally, he scared Sydney half to death. From the moment they met, Louis and Sydney’s romance progressed at warp speed. Sydney did her best not to run, but her deep rooted relationship anxiety threatened to provide an easy exit. When Louis mentioned marriage before Sydney even knew his favorite color, she was more than tempted to reach for her running shoes. Will she be able to put her fears aside to follow her heart? The one thing that Sydney will learn is that sometimes perfection comes with a twist...
Original Price: $.99
Sale Price: FREE
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/10dZnaM
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/glynisastieauthor
Twitter: @GlynisAstie
Tweet: Who doesn't love FREE #chicklit? Grab your copy of FRENCH TWIST by @GlynisAstie now! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/10dZnaM
French Toast – Glynis Astie
Sydney Bennett is back! And her pursuit of perfection is alive and well. Naïve to the core, Sydney believed that when she finally married the man of her dreams, the hard part was over. Following a civil ceremony as a means to keep Louis from being deported, Sydney continues to plan the fairytale wedding that she had dreamed of since the age of five. Much to her chagrin, she discovers that her mother-in-law is planning what seems to be a rival wedding in France that SHE has been dreaming about for her only child since before he was born. How will poor Sydney be able to ensure two perfect weddings in the midst of Louis’ fruitless job search? Especially when her mother-in-law’s idea of perfection appears to be having Sydney embarrass herself in front of hundreds of French people that she has never met?
As if she didn’t have enough on her mind already, Sydney finds herself faced with the trials and tribulations of being a wife. Sydney had always heard that marriage was hard, but she thought that this was just a ruse that married couples portrayed in a bid to make single girls feel less desperate. But as the bills pile up and emotions run high, she realizes that there may just be some truth to this statement. And as she watches Louis’ perfection fade away before her very eyes, she begins to wonder if she made a rash decision in marrying a man that she had known for a mere six months.
With all of the obstacles that Sydney and Louis will encounter, will they be raising their glasses in celebration or watching their impulsive marriage crash and burn? One thing is for certain, Sydney and Louis Durand are headed for one hell of a toast…
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1yS3vLZ
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/glynisastieauthor
Twitter: @GlynisAstie
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Get #chicklit for just #99cents! FRENCH TOAST by @GlynisAstie #booksale http://amzn.to/1yS3vLZ
In Need of Therapy – Tracie Banister
Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be: warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?
While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim. Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her. A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes. And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.
When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt. With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.
Original Price: $1.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1DsNPi0
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tracie.banister?fref=ts
Twitter: @traciebanister
Tweet: IN NEED OF THERAPY by @traciebanister is just #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! Get #chicklit for your eReader! http://amzn.to/1DsNPi0
Limoncello Yellow – Traci Andrighetti
Francesca "Franki" Amato is a tough-talking rookie cop in Austin, Texas—until an unfortunate 911 call involving her boyfriend, Vince, and a German female wrestler convinces her once and for all that she just isn't cut out for a life on the police force. So Franki makes the snap decision to move to New Orleans to work at her friend Veronica's detective agency, Private Chicks, Inc. But Franki's hopes for a more stable life are soon dashed when Private Chicks is hired by the prime suspect in a murder case to find out what really happened to a beautiful young boutique manager who was found strangled to death with a cheap yellow scarf. When she's not investigating, Franki is hoping to seduce handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, but most of her time is spent dodging date offers from a string of "good Italian boys"—make that not-so-good aging Italian men—that her meddlesome Sicilian grandma has recruited as marriage candidates. As Mardi Gras approaches and the mystery of the murdered shop girl gets more complicated, Franki must decipher the odd ramblings of a Voodoo priestess to solve both the murder and the mystery of her own love life.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1zhY8Xo
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/traciandrighettiauthor
Twitter: @TAndrighetti
Tweet: LIMONCELLO YELLOW by @TAndrighetti is just #99cents for a limited time! #CyberMondayReads #chicklit http://amzn.to/1zhY8Xo
Prosecco Pink – Traci Andrighetti
For Franki Amato, life in New Orleans is anything but “The Big Easy.” When she met handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, she knew she’d finally found a man she could trust. But she can’t say the same for his sexy new secretary, who is about as trustworthy as Mata Hari and every bit as seductive. Meanwhile, Franki’s best friend and employer, Veronica Maggio, has named her the lead investigator in the murder of a gorgeous cosmetics CEO who was found lying dead in the master bedroom of a historic plantation home.
Now the pressure is on Franki to figure out what a bottle of pink lip gloss and the legend of a pink diamond have to do with the bizarre killing. The problem is that the plantation is notorious for being haunted, and Franki is less than enthusiastic about the prospect of meeting a ghost. Adding to her stress, her Sicilian grandma is up to her usual meddling antics—this time planning Franki’s engagement to Bradley before he’s even considered popping the question. As Bradley grows distant and plantation employees begin dropping like Southern belles during a sweltering summer, Franki turns to a psychic with a phobia of ghosts to solve the mysterious murders and her own relationship fears.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/14djjw6
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/traciandrighettiauthor
Twitter: @TAndrighetti
Tweet: Get #chicklit for just #99cents when you grab PROSECCO PINK by @TAndrighetti during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/14djjw6
Breaking the Rules – Cat Lavoie
When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.
While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.
Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1umGCxm
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CatLavoieAuthor
Twitter: @Catenabi Tweet: BREAKING THE RULES by @Catenabi is just #99cents for #CyberMondayReads - fun #chicklit! #booksale http://amzn.to/1umGCxm
Zoey & The Moment of Zen – Cat Lavoie
When coffee shop owner Zoey Everwood takes her obsession with ex-boyfriend Braden too far, everyone—except Zoey—is convinced a bit of fun in the sun at the Moment of Zen Wellness Resort will help her get over him once and for all.
But Zoey's relaxing vacation turns out to be anything but peaceful when she meets Shane Lawson, a resort guest who bears a striking resemblance to Braden. And things get even more complicated when the resort's owner starts spilling secrets about Zoey’s aunt Nessa, the woman who raised her. Add a snarky Wellness Coordinator and Nate Holmes—Shane's grumpy friend—to the mix, and you've got the recipe for a perfect tropical storm.
When Zoey comes back home with a new husband instead of tacky souvenirs, she must convince everyone she hasn't completely lost her mind. As Zoey and Shane struggle to keep the magic alive outside the resort, Zoey discovers that she isn't the only one having trouble letting go of the past. And when Nate drops a bombshell that changes everything, Zoey must decide if the old saying is true—what happens at the Moment of Zen stays at the Moment of Zen.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1EBDcKl
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CatLavoieAuthor
Twitter: @Catenabi
Tweet: Grab ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN by @Catenabi for only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #chicklit http://amzn.to/1EBDcKl
When Girlfriends Chase Dreams – Savannah Page
A novel about chasing dreams, for better or worse, and living your love story.
Claire Linley is finally a bride! After nearly ten years with her college freshman sweetheart, Claire is going to become Mrs. Conner Whitley. She’s got her bridal magazines, is the biggest Martha Stewart fan, and subscribes to all the major wedding blogs. She’s been dreaming of this moment for years! How could planning her dream wedding be anything but perfect?
The easy-going and bubbly type, Claire will obviously have a blast planning, and with her fantastic group of girlfriends-made-bridesmaids she just can’t go wrong. Whether it’s wedding gown shopping, makeup trials, or cake-tasting, Claire’s friends are there in a pinch.
But how big does the pinch get? All Claire wants to do is get married, but at every turn something seems to go awry and she’s starting to lose it. How is a girl supposed to remain cool and collected when the pricey dream wedding planner isn’t turning out to be so dreamy? When DIY projects and the perfect venue are going up in smoke? How is Claire supposed to marry Conner when the special day that’s supposed to join them together, forever, is slowly tearing them apart?
This is the charming story about how sometimes the biggest events in life are defined by the smallest acts of kindness and love. It’s a love story about dreaming large, loving deeply, and, in the end, truly having the happiest day of your life, no matter what happens (or doesn’t). About what happens when girlfriends chase dreams.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: FREE
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1tAt3dC
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SavannahPageAuthor
Twitter: @Savannah_Page Tweet: FREE #chicklit from @Savannah_Page when you grab WHEN GIRLFRIENDS CHASE DREAMS! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1tAt3dC
When Girlfriends Collection 1-3- Savannah Page
This digital boxed set includes the first three novels of the When Girlfriends collection: When Girlfriends Break Hearts, When Girlfriends Step Up, and When Girlfriends Make Choices.
WHEN GIRLFRIENDS BREAK HEARTS
Follow Sophie Wharton as she learns what to do about matters of the heart when things don’t quite go according to plan.
A novel about the bonds of friendship, the power of forgiveness, and the lessons you learn when you let go.
WHEN GIRLFRIENDS STEP UP
Join mom-to-be Robin Sinclair as she embarks on a journey she never could have imagined.
A novel about love and support, and learning that with enduring friendships, no woman is ever alone.
WHEN GIRLFRIENDS MAKE CHOICES
Follow Lara Kearns as she struggles with how far she’ll go for true love…however forbidden…
A novel about forbidden love, the choices you make, and discovering what’s important in life.
Original Price: $7.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1s92x6C
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SavannahPageAuthor
Twitter: @Savannah_Page
Tweet: Get 3 titles from the WHEN GIRLFRIENDS series from @Savannah_Page for only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1s92x6C
Women’s FictionToronto Collection 1 – Heather Wardell "Go Small or Go Home": When massage therapist and aspiring artist Tess begins treating stressed but attractive hockey star Forrest, her art career soars due to his gallery-owning mother, but her creativity plummets under the weight of rules and deadlines. Soon, she's lost the freedom and joy she'd always found in art. Is having her dream career worth losing doing her art her way, or can she somehow have both at once?
"Planning to Live": Determined to lose weight for her best friend's wedding, goal-obsessed Rhiannon flees her parents' Christmas Day feast to avoid overeating but her car skids off the deserted road into a tree. Trapped and bleeding, with her cell phone out of reach, she struggles to escape, and to accept that she's spent her whole life planning but hasn't ever really lived. Will she get the chance to change that?
"Stir Until Thoroughly Confused": Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy but controlling new boss. They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?
"A Life That Fits": Twenty-eight-year-old Andrea is devastated when her boyfriend of fourteen years leaves her for a woman he calls Andrea's opposite. Determined to get him back, Andrea changes everything in her life. New clothes, new activities, new friends... she'll be her opposite in no time. But will she change enough to get Alex back? And if she does, will he fit into her new life?
Original Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1r1aY3g
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/heather.wardell.author
Twitter: @heatherwardell
Tweet:
Get 4 titles from @HeatherWardell for only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/1r1aY3g
Toronto Collection 2 – Heather Wardell
"Live Out Loud": Songwriter Amy wants to honor her late best friend by starting the support center for teenage girls they'd planned when they were just girls themselves. When her song becomes an internet sensation she sees how to get the money she needs, but soon realizes she adores her new pop star career. She must choose: create the center she needed herself as a teen or truly become Misty Will, pop princess.
"Blank Slate Kate": Waking up with a strange man is scary. Realizing you lost fifteen years of your life overnight? That's terrifying. With her memories from seventeen to thirty-two gone, Kate has no idea who she is and where she belongs. As she begins to fall for the man who found her, she wonders if she forgot those years for a reason. Should she keep trying to retrieve her original self, or start a new life?
"Finding My Happy Pace": If thirty-year-old Megan were any more of a doormat, she'd have footprints on her back. She takes up running to strengthen her body, but marathon training with cute but heartbroken coach Andrew strengthens her assertiveness too. When her best friend's demands threaten her race Megan must decide: cave in as she always has before or stick to her new-found 'happy pace' in running and life.
"All At Sea": Three months after they met, Melissa will marry Owen on his family's annual cruise. He's a great catch, though, so although they're moving fast she's sure they'll be fine. But when he proves to be a gambler and deserts her for the onboard casino, she wonders if she really knows him and if their marriage will meet her needs. Melissa must decide: stay with Owen or jump ship.
Original Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1t2uVvs
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/heather.wardell.author
Twitter: @heatherwardell
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Four titles for one low price of #99cents from @HeatherWardell! #booksale http://amzn.to/1t2uVvs
Redesigning Rose – Lydia Laceby
Rose Parker's husband has been lying. About everything.
When a conversation with her husband triggers questions, Rose Parker uncovers alarming answers that shatter her perfect life. But it is only when she shoves her belongings in her SUV and drives off that Rose realizes just how far from perfect her life actually was. She has nowhere to turn.
While debating between distressing sleeping arrangements–her mother’s house full of questions or a hotel room with too much solitude–Rose bumps into an acquaintance from her gardening class and allows bubbly, exuberant Becky to indulge her in a wild night full of whiskey, weeping, and whispered confidences. Suddenly, Rose has a new friend, a roof over her head, and two gorgeous men moving her out of her marital home.
As Rose struggles to settle into her new life, she remains determined to comprehend her past. And with time and distance and especially wine, comes knowledge. Frank wasn’t the only one lying to her. Rose was lying to herself.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $0.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/ZLDwXi
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lydialacebyauthor
Twitter: @lydialaceby Tweet: REDESIGNING ROSE by @lydialaceby is only #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! #womensfiction http://amzn.to/ZLDwXi
The Holdout- Laurel Osterkamp
Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story.
But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she’s not a survivor.
Yet she could surprise everyone, and have the last laugh.
Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1sGHNWl
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurel.osterkamp?fref=ts
Twitter: @laurelosterkamp Tweet: Get your copy of THE HOLDOUT by @LaurelOsterkamp for only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads #womensfiction http://amzn.to/1sGHNWl
The Next Breath – Laurel Osterkamp
"I kiss him, choosing love over honesty, which is a choice nobody should ever have to make…"
Robin loves sweet, responsible Nick, with his penchant for Beethoven and Ben Folds Five. But she also still loves her college boyfriend Jed, an irreverent playwright plagued with cystic fibrosis. Now Robin is struggling to reveal her secrets and confront her past, as she finally performs in the play that Jed wrote for her, eleven years ago. Will Robin have the strength to keep her promise and stay true to her heart?
Alternating between present-day scenes, college flashbacks, and segments from Jed’s play, this tear-jerking yet uplifting tale illustrates how life is finite but love is infinite, and the road to recovery begins with the next breath.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1FrbFfP
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurel.osterkamp?fref=ts
Twitter: @laurelosterkamp Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: THE NEXT BREATH by @LaurelOsterkamp is only #99cents! #booksale http://amzn.to/1FrbFfP
Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda – Tara Lee Reed
Elle Masters is over dating. It used to be fun: the drama, the angst, the exhilarating beginnings, the bittersweet middles, the blowout endings. Then the tears, hangovers, rebounds, and another addition to the Heartbreak Box in her closet. Now Elle can't remember the last time a guy made his way into her box. When her friends Rachel and Valerie insist she snap out of her post-breakup funk with a girls' night out/rebound hunt at a San Francisco bar, she isn't expecting tall, dark, and hummuna-hummuna, Nick Wright. This is no rebound guy. He's definitely, maybe, The One. In Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, you play Elle as she and her pals put the "antics" in "romantics." You'll question everything you thought you knew about love, over-analyzing and second-guessing your way through hundreds of modern dating dilemmas and passionate predicaments. With 60 Happily Sometimes Afters, you'll always have another chance with Mr. Wright.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1vCDaie
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CouldaWouldaShouldaBook
Twitter: @DoorFlowerCO Tweet: Interactive fiction for only #99cents! Get COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA by @DoorflowerCo! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1vCDaie
A Questionable Friendship – Samantha March
Brynne Ropert and Portland Dolish have been best friends since being paired as roommates in college. Seven years later they are now twenty-five, married, and living in Maine–– but the two women couldn’t be more different. Brynne finds fulfillment in her life as a wife, mother and owner of a small café and bookshop, but is struggling to expand her family. Portland is still coping with her mother’s death during her childhood, and her marriage is unraveling before her eyes. Portland envies her friend’s seemingly stable and easy life while Brynne doesn’t understand the growing distance between them and cannot begin to guess what secret Portland is hiding about her husband and crumbling marriage. While one woman feels shut out, the other enters into a web of lies to protect herself.
A Questionable Friendship explores what really makes someone a true friend, a support system, a sister. How much trust goes into a friendship and when is being a friend not enough? Brynne and Portland’s story will attempt to answer those questions, and show that happily ever after isn’t in the cards for everyone.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/10W3WGk
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/samanthamarchauthor
Twitter: @SamanthaMarch23 Tweet: A QUESTIONABLE FRIENDSHIP by @SamanthaMarch23 - only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #booksale http://amzn.to/10W3WGk
Something Yellow – Laura Templeton
Thirteen years ago, Holly’s nine-year-old sister, Rachel, disappeared without a trace. Thirteen years ago, Holly left her hometown. Thirteen years ago, Holly’s first love and high school boyfriend, Houston, was the only suspect. Now, another girl has disappeared. Holly is back, and so is Houston—never charged and still proclaiming his innocence. Can she trust him? Should she trust him?
When out-of-work banking executive Holly McCann moves to the rural mountain town of White Cove, Virginia to care for her dying mother, the past collides with the present. A violent crime against her nine-year-old neighbor evokes memories of the eerily similar disappearance of her sister thirteen years earlier. Holly is thrilled by the arrival of her estranged brother, Oliver, but concerned by his mysterious behavior. She is befriended by the new minister, Jonah, an outsider haunted by his own painful past, but it is Houston Phelps, the only person arrested for the disappearance of her sister, who forces Holly to confront the past and start living in the present.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1pYp70V
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LauraTempletonWriter
Twitter: @Laura1264 Tweet: SOMETHING YELLOW by @Laura1264 is only #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! #womensfiction http://amzn.to/1pYp70V
Romance & New AdultThe Right Design – Isabella Louise Anderson
Interior designer Carrie Newman could not have envisioned a more perfect life for herself. She had a great job doing what she loved, wonderful friends, and a close relationship with her sister and brother-in-law. Add in an amazing man who she’d hoped would soon become her husband, and her life was perfect. Until one devastating decision ruins her relationship and changes the course of her life.
Determined to make a new start, Carrie leaves Texas and heads to Palm Beach to pick up the pieces of her shattered and broken life. The last thing she expects is to find herself attracted to her first client at her new job--Brad Larson, who has proven himself time and time again to be caddish.
But there’s something beneath the surface of Brad’s arrogant exterior that keeps her craving more of him--something almost sweet that Carrie can’t seem to resist.
Is Carrie ready to take another chance on romance? And will this new design of her life prove to be the right one?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1wjP26U
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isabella-Louise-Anderson-Author/253277964716883
Twitter: @ILA121209
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Get THE RIGHT DESIGN by @ILA121209 for only #99cents for your eReader! http://amzn.to/1wjP26U
Laurel Heights – Denise Moncrief
A dark cloud of deceit hovers over her family tree...
Left an estate by an aunt she’s never met, Laurel Standridge takes possession of Laurel Heights, hoping it will be the safe haven she needs to recuperate from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson. Secrets long buried rise to the surface when her cousin James is murdered and dumped on the highway just outside the gates of Laurel Heights. Her past trails her to the mountains of Arkansas...
Caught in an obligation Chase Peterson feels he cannot ignore, he agrees to help his brother Rand take back the property he believes Laurel stole from him, but Chase remains at Laurel Heights after he discovers Laurel took nothing of Rand’s away with her except nightmares, fading bruises, and a broken rib.
Unexplained disturbances shatter her hopes of a normal life...
Are the strange bumps, thumps, and bangs reverberating through the night caused by the murderer of Laurel’s cousin James, someone Rand has sent to exact his revenge, or a disturbed soul existing in another dimension, trying to communicate with the living? Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than mere physical attraction. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1CLjLMe
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor
Twitter: @DMoncrief0131
Tweet: LAUREL HEIGHTS by @dmoncrief0131 is on #sale for #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/1CLjLMe
Chez Stinky – Susan C Daffron
Kat Stevens is a slightly insecure, mostly bored technical writer who likes her cat a lot more than her boss. She hasn't laid eyes on her great aunt Abigail since she was eight, so she's stumped when she inherits Abigail's house in the small hamlet of Alpine Grove.Kat's uncomplicated life gets decidedly less so when she discovers the inheritance comes with some hairy conditions: four dogs and five cats that her aunt wanted her to love as her own. Of course, the house smells like a barn--with a touch of antique skunk--and, naturally, has serious roof issues. And that's before the three-legged cat gets stuck in the wall and the shower goes kablooey.
When Kat meets Joel, an unemployed techie type with no love lost for his sister, Kat looks past his obvious flaws, given his timely and desirable skill set: a talent for fixing things (and his own tools). Despite out-of-control dogs, cat fights, dust dinosaurs, massive spiders and an old grizzled hippie passed out in the yard, Kat discovers the tranquility of the forests of Alpine Grove starting to seep into her soul. And why she can't she stop thinking about Joel?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1sQOh4P
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/susandaffron?fref=ts
Twitter: @susandaffron
Tweet: Get your discounted copy of CHEZ STINKY by @susandaffron for #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1sQOh4P
Hard Hats and Doormats – Laura Chapman
Lexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too.
But after losing out on a big promotion–-because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol. While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders. Who says nice girls have to finish last?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1GPd5l9
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurachapmanbooks
Twitter: @lmchap
Tweet: HARD HATS AND DOORMATS by @lmchap is only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #newadult http://amzn.to/1GPd5l9
cyber monday sale
Looking for great deals on some amazing books this Cyber Monday? Look no more! Below are books that are priced at 99 cents or lower - get them quick before the sale ends! From chick lit to women's fiction to romance and more, we have something to keep everyone happy for this holiday! Find a special tweet at the end of each description and help us spread the word about these amazing deals!
Chick LitPie Girls – Lauren Clark
Princess, Southern belle, and spoiled-rotten social climber Searcy Roberts swore on a stack of Bibles she’d never return home to Fairhope, Alabama. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Atlanta, Searcy embraces big-city life—Carrie Bradshaw style.
But now, Searcy has a teeny, tiny problem. Her husband’s had a mid-life crisis. He’s quit his job, cancelled her credit cards, and left her for another man.
Searcy returns to Fairhope, ready to lick her wounds. But when her mother falls ill, she’s thrust into managing the family business—only to discover the beloved bakery is in danger of closing its doors forever.
Enlisting the help of the adorable bike store owner next door, an array of well-heeled customers, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Searcy hatches the plan of the century to save Pie Girls.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1omATqP
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Clark/235315706518284
Twitter: @LaurenClark_Bks
Tweet: PIE GIRLS by @LaurenClark_Bks is just #99cents! #chicklit for your ereader! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1omATqP
Dancing Naked in Dixie- Lauren Clark
Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.
With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.
Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/10dXICb
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Clark/235315706518284
Twitter: @LaurenClark_Bks
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads - get DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE by @LaurenClark_Bks for only #99cents! #chicklit #booksale http://amzn.to/10dXICb
The Dr. Pepper Prophecies – Jennifer Gilby Roberts
25-year-old Mel Parker has a few tiny problems:
* Her job is terrible
* She's been dumped yet again (and her ex is now her boss)
* Her parents think she's a loser compared to her perfect younger sister
* All her efforts to improve her life seem doomed to failure
* There just isn't enough chocolate in the world to make up for the above.
The best thing in her life has always been her best friend Will, who has seen her through every crisis from lost toys to pregnancy scares. But his girlfriend (who's prettier, better-dressed, more successful and secretly evil) is determined to replace Mel as the woman in his life and how is Mel supposed to compete?
And what do you do when you've pretty much given up on your own life? You help others, of course!
Whether they like it or not.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/ZLDdvT
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferGilbyRoberts
Twitter: @GilbyRoberts
Tweet: #ChickLit Sale! THE DR. PEPPER PROPHECIES by @GilbyRoberts is only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/ZLDdvT
French Twist – Glynis Astie
Sydney Bennett had spent her life in pursuit of perfection. She planned, weighed her options and made careful choices based on calculated outcomes. Through all of her efforts, she had come pretty close to perfection, if she didn’t say so herself. She had fled the cold winters in New York for sunny California, found a job that she loved and lived in the same town as her sister, and best friend, Kate. The one area of perfection that had always eluded her was her love life. No matter how hard she tried, she always ended up with a broken heart. After a particularly traumatic breakup, Sydney vowed that she was done with love.
Just as Sydney threw herself into her new plan to forget about men, a handsome Frenchman tossed all of her intentions out the window as he swept her off of her feet. Louis Durand had lived a life filled with excitement and adventure. He was impetuous, intelligent and incredibly charming. So naturally, he scared Sydney half to death. From the moment they met, Louis and Sydney’s romance progressed at warp speed. Sydney did her best not to run, but her deep rooted relationship anxiety threatened to provide an easy exit. When Louis mentioned marriage before Sydney even knew his favorite color, she was more than tempted to reach for her running shoes. Will she be able to put her fears aside to follow her heart? The one thing that Sydney will learn is that sometimes perfection comes with a twist...
Original Price: $.99
Sale Price: FREE
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/10dZnaM
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/glynisastieauthor
Twitter: @GlynisAstie
Tweet: Who doesn't love FREE #chicklit? Grab your copy of FRENCH TWIST by @GlynisAstie now! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/10dZnaM
French Toast – Glynis Astie
Sydney Bennett is back! And her pursuit of perfection is alive and well. Naïve to the core, Sydney believed that when she finally married the man of her dreams, the hard part was over. Following a civil ceremony as a means to keep Louis from being deported, Sydney continues to plan the fairytale wedding that she had dreamed of since the age of five. Much to her chagrin, she discovers that her mother-in-law is planning what seems to be a rival wedding in France that SHE has been dreaming about for her only child since before he was born. How will poor Sydney be able to ensure two perfect weddings in the midst of Louis’ fruitless job search? Especially when her mother-in-law’s idea of perfection appears to be having Sydney embarrass herself in front of hundreds of French people that she has never met?
As if she didn’t have enough on her mind already, Sydney finds herself faced with the trials and tribulations of being a wife. Sydney had always heard that marriage was hard, but she thought that this was just a ruse that married couples portrayed in a bid to make single girls feel less desperate. But as the bills pile up and emotions run high, she realizes that there may just be some truth to this statement. And as she watches Louis’ perfection fade away before her very eyes, she begins to wonder if she made a rash decision in marrying a man that she had known for a mere six months.
With all of the obstacles that Sydney and Louis will encounter, will they be raising their glasses in celebration or watching their impulsive marriage crash and burn? One thing is for certain, Sydney and Louis Durand are headed for one hell of a toast…
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1yS3vLZ
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/glynisastieauthor
Twitter: @GlynisAstie
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Get #chicklit for just #99cents! FRENCH TOAST by @GlynisAstie #booksale http://amzn.to/1yS3vLZ
In Need of Therapy – Tracie Banister
Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be: warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?
While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim. Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her. A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes. And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.
When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt. With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.
Original Price: $1.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1DsNPi0
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tracie.banister?fref=ts
Twitter: @traciebanister
Tweet: IN NEED OF THERAPY by @traciebanister is just #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! Get #chicklit for your eReader! http://amzn.to/1DsNPi0
Limoncello Yellow – Traci Andrighetti
Francesca "Franki" Amato is a tough-talking rookie cop in Austin, Texas—until an unfortunate 911 call involving her boyfriend, Vince, and a German female wrestler convinces her once and for all that she just isn't cut out for a life on the police force. So Franki makes the snap decision to move to New Orleans to work at her friend Veronica's detective agency, Private Chicks, Inc. But Franki's hopes for a more stable life are soon dashed when Private Chicks is hired by the prime suspect in a murder case to find out what really happened to a beautiful young boutique manager who was found strangled to death with a cheap yellow scarf. When she's not investigating, Franki is hoping to seduce handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, but most of her time is spent dodging date offers from a string of "good Italian boys"—make that not-so-good aging Italian men—that her meddlesome Sicilian grandma has recruited as marriage candidates. As Mardi Gras approaches and the mystery of the murdered shop girl gets more complicated, Franki must decipher the odd ramblings of a Voodoo priestess to solve both the murder and the mystery of her own love life.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1zhY8Xo
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/traciandrighettiauthor
Twitter: @TAndrighetti
Tweet: LIMONCELLO YELLOW by @TAndrighetti is just #99cents for a limited time! #CyberMondayReads #chicklit http://amzn.to/1zhY8Xo
Prosecco Pink – Traci Andrighetti
For Franki Amato, life in New Orleans is anything but “The Big Easy.” When she met handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, she knew she’d finally found a man she could trust. But she can’t say the same for his sexy new secretary, who is about as trustworthy as Mata Hari and every bit as seductive. Meanwhile, Franki’s best friend and employer, Veronica Maggio, has named her the lead investigator in the murder of a gorgeous cosmetics CEO who was found lying dead in the master bedroom of a historic plantation home.
Now the pressure is on Franki to figure out what a bottle of pink lip gloss and the legend of a pink diamond have to do with the bizarre killing. The problem is that the plantation is notorious for being haunted, and Franki is less than enthusiastic about the prospect of meeting a ghost. Adding to her stress, her Sicilian grandma is up to her usual meddling antics—this time planning Franki’s engagement to Bradley before he’s even considered popping the question. As Bradley grows distant and plantation employees begin dropping like Southern belles during a sweltering summer, Franki turns to a psychic with a phobia of ghosts to solve the mysterious murders and her own relationship fears.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/14djjw6
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/traciandrighettiauthor
Twitter: @TAndrighetti
Tweet: Get #chicklit for just #99cents when you grab PROSECCO PINK by @TAndrighetti during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/14djjw6
Breaking the Rules – Cat Lavoie
When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.
While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.
Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1umGCxm
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CatLavoieAuthor
Twitter: @Catenabi Tweet: BREAKING THE RULES by @Catenabi is just #99cents for #CyberMondayReads - fun #chicklit! #booksale http://amzn.to/1umGCxm
Zoey & The Moment of Zen – Cat Lavoie
When coffee shop owner Zoey Everwood takes her obsession with ex-boyfriend Braden too far, everyone—except Zoey—is convinced a bit of fun in the sun at the Moment of Zen Wellness Resort will help her get over him once and for all.
But Zoey's relaxing vacation turns out to be anything but peaceful when she meets Shane Lawson, a resort guest who bears a striking resemblance to Braden. And things get even more complicated when the resort's owner starts spilling secrets about Zoey’s aunt Nessa, the woman who raised her. Add a snarky Wellness Coordinator and Nate Holmes—Shane's grumpy friend—to the mix, and you've got the recipe for a perfect tropical storm.
When Zoey comes back home with a new husband instead of tacky souvenirs, she must convince everyone she hasn't completely lost her mind. As Zoey and Shane struggle to keep the magic alive outside the resort, Zoey discovers that she isn't the only one having trouble letting go of the past. And when Nate drops a bombshell that changes everything, Zoey must decide if the old saying is true—what happens at the Moment of Zen stays at the Moment of Zen.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1EBDcKl
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CatLavoieAuthor
Twitter: @Catenabi
Tweet: Grab ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN by @Catenabi for only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #chicklit http://amzn.to/1EBDcKl
When Girlfriends Chase Dreams – Savannah Page
A novel about chasing dreams, for better or worse, and living your love story.
Claire Linley is finally a bride! After nearly ten years with her college freshman sweetheart, Claire is going to become Mrs. Conner Whitley. She’s got her bridal magazines, is the biggest Martha Stewart fan, and subscribes to all the major wedding blogs. She’s been dreaming of this moment for years! How could planning her dream wedding be anything but perfect?
The easy-going and bubbly type, Claire will obviously have a blast planning, and with her fantastic group of girlfriends-made-bridesmaids she just can’t go wrong. Whether it’s wedding gown shopping, makeup trials, or cake-tasting, Claire’s friends are there in a pinch.
But how big does the pinch get? All Claire wants to do is get married, but at every turn something seems to go awry and she’s starting to lose it. How is a girl supposed to remain cool and collected when the pricey dream wedding planner isn’t turning out to be so dreamy? When DIY projects and the perfect venue are going up in smoke? How is Claire supposed to marry Conner when the special day that’s supposed to join them together, forever, is slowly tearing them apart?
This is the charming story about how sometimes the biggest events in life are defined by the smallest acts of kindness and love. It’s a love story about dreaming large, loving deeply, and, in the end, truly having the happiest day of your life, no matter what happens (or doesn’t). About what happens when girlfriends chase dreams.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: FREE
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1tAt3dC
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SavannahPageAuthor
Twitter: @Savannah_Page Tweet: FREE #chicklit from @Savannah_Page when you grab WHEN GIRLFRIENDS CHASE DREAMS! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1tAt3dC
When Girlfriends Collection 1-3- Savannah Page
This digital boxed set includes the first three novels of the When Girlfriends collection: When Girlfriends Break Hearts, When Girlfriends Step Up, and When Girlfriends Make Choices.
WHEN GIRLFRIENDS BREAK HEARTS
Follow Sophie Wharton as she learns what to do about matters of the heart when things don’t quite go according to plan.
A novel about the bonds of friendship, the power of forgiveness, and the lessons you learn when you let go.
WHEN GIRLFRIENDS STEP UP
Join mom-to-be Robin Sinclair as she embarks on a journey she never could have imagined.
A novel about love and support, and learning that with enduring friendships, no woman is ever alone.
WHEN GIRLFRIENDS MAKE CHOICES
Follow Lara Kearns as she struggles with how far she’ll go for true love…however forbidden…
A novel about forbidden love, the choices you make, and discovering what’s important in life.
Original Price: $7.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1s92x6C
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SavannahPageAuthor
Twitter: @Savannah_Page
Tweet: Get 3 titles from the WHEN GIRLFRIENDS series from @Savannah_Page for only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1s92x6C
Women’s FictionToronto Collection 1 – Heather Wardell "Go Small or Go Home": When massage therapist and aspiring artist Tess begins treating stressed but attractive hockey star Forrest, her art career soars due to his gallery-owning mother, but her creativity plummets under the weight of rules and deadlines. Soon, she's lost the freedom and joy she'd always found in art. Is having her dream career worth losing doing her art her way, or can she somehow have both at once?
"Planning to Live": Determined to lose weight for her best friend's wedding, goal-obsessed Rhiannon flees her parents' Christmas Day feast to avoid overeating but her car skids off the deserted road into a tree. Trapped and bleeding, with her cell phone out of reach, she struggles to escape, and to accept that she's spent her whole life planning but hasn't ever really lived. Will she get the chance to change that?
"Stir Until Thoroughly Confused": Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy but controlling new boss. They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?
"A Life That Fits": Twenty-eight-year-old Andrea is devastated when her boyfriend of fourteen years leaves her for a woman he calls Andrea's opposite. Determined to get him back, Andrea changes everything in her life. New clothes, new activities, new friends... she'll be her opposite in no time. But will she change enough to get Alex back? And if she does, will he fit into her new life?
Original Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1r1aY3g
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/heather.wardell.author
Twitter: @heatherwardell
Tweet:
Get 4 titles from @HeatherWardell for only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/1r1aY3g
Toronto Collection 2 – Heather Wardell
"Live Out Loud": Songwriter Amy wants to honor her late best friend by starting the support center for teenage girls they'd planned when they were just girls themselves. When her song becomes an internet sensation she sees how to get the money she needs, but soon realizes she adores her new pop star career. She must choose: create the center she needed herself as a teen or truly become Misty Will, pop princess.
"Blank Slate Kate": Waking up with a strange man is scary. Realizing you lost fifteen years of your life overnight? That's terrifying. With her memories from seventeen to thirty-two gone, Kate has no idea who she is and where she belongs. As she begins to fall for the man who found her, she wonders if she forgot those years for a reason. Should she keep trying to retrieve her original self, or start a new life?
"Finding My Happy Pace": If thirty-year-old Megan were any more of a doormat, she'd have footprints on her back. She takes up running to strengthen her body, but marathon training with cute but heartbroken coach Andrew strengthens her assertiveness too. When her best friend's demands threaten her race Megan must decide: cave in as she always has before or stick to her new-found 'happy pace' in running and life.
"All At Sea": Three months after they met, Melissa will marry Owen on his family's annual cruise. He's a great catch, though, so although they're moving fast she's sure they'll be fine. But when he proves to be a gambler and deserts her for the onboard casino, she wonders if she really knows him and if their marriage will meet her needs. Melissa must decide: stay with Owen or jump ship.
Original Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1t2uVvs
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/heather.wardell.author
Twitter: @heatherwardell
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Four titles for one low price of #99cents from @HeatherWardell! #booksale http://amzn.to/1t2uVvs
Redesigning Rose – Lydia Laceby
Rose Parker's husband has been lying. About everything.
When a conversation with her husband triggers questions, Rose Parker uncovers alarming answers that shatter her perfect life. But it is only when she shoves her belongings in her SUV and drives off that Rose realizes just how far from perfect her life actually was. She has nowhere to turn.
While debating between distressing sleeping arrangements–her mother’s house full of questions or a hotel room with too much solitude–Rose bumps into an acquaintance from her gardening class and allows bubbly, exuberant Becky to indulge her in a wild night full of whiskey, weeping, and whispered confidences. Suddenly, Rose has a new friend, a roof over her head, and two gorgeous men moving her out of her marital home.
As Rose struggles to settle into her new life, she remains determined to comprehend her past. And with time and distance and especially wine, comes knowledge. Frank wasn’t the only one lying to her. Rose was lying to herself.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $0.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/ZLDwXi
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lydialacebyauthor
Twitter: @lydialaceby Tweet: REDESIGNING ROSE by @lydialaceby is only #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! #womensfiction http://amzn.to/ZLDwXi
The Holdout- Laurel Osterkamp
Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story.
But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she’s not a survivor.
Yet she could surprise everyone, and have the last laugh.
Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1sGHNWl
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurel.osterkamp?fref=ts
Twitter: @laurelosterkamp Tweet: Get your copy of THE HOLDOUT by @LaurelOsterkamp for only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads #womensfiction http://amzn.to/1sGHNWl
The Next Breath – Laurel Osterkamp
"I kiss him, choosing love over honesty, which is a choice nobody should ever have to make…"
Robin loves sweet, responsible Nick, with his penchant for Beethoven and Ben Folds Five. But she also still loves her college boyfriend Jed, an irreverent playwright plagued with cystic fibrosis. Now Robin is struggling to reveal her secrets and confront her past, as she finally performs in the play that Jed wrote for her, eleven years ago. Will Robin have the strength to keep her promise and stay true to her heart?
Alternating between present-day scenes, college flashbacks, and segments from Jed’s play, this tear-jerking yet uplifting tale illustrates how life is finite but love is infinite, and the road to recovery begins with the next breath.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1FrbFfP
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurel.osterkamp?fref=ts
Twitter: @laurelosterkamp Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: THE NEXT BREATH by @LaurelOsterkamp is only #99cents! #booksale http://amzn.to/1FrbFfP
Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda – Tara Lee Reed
Elle Masters is over dating. It used to be fun: the drama, the angst, the exhilarating beginnings, the bittersweet middles, the blowout endings. Then the tears, hangovers, rebounds, and another addition to the Heartbreak Box in her closet. Now Elle can't remember the last time a guy made his way into her box. When her friends Rachel and Valerie insist she snap out of her post-breakup funk with a girls' night out/rebound hunt at a San Francisco bar, she isn't expecting tall, dark, and hummuna-hummuna, Nick Wright. This is no rebound guy. He's definitely, maybe, The One. In Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, you play Elle as she and her pals put the "antics" in "romantics." You'll question everything you thought you knew about love, over-analyzing and second-guessing your way through hundreds of modern dating dilemmas and passionate predicaments. With 60 Happily Sometimes Afters, you'll always have another chance with Mr. Wright.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1vCDaie
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CouldaWouldaShouldaBook
Twitter: @DoorFlowerCO Tweet: Interactive fiction for only #99cents! Get COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA by @DoorflowerCo! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1vCDaie
A Questionable Friendship – Samantha March
Brynne Ropert and Portland Dolish have been best friends since being paired as roommates in college. Seven years later they are now twenty-five, married, and living in Maine–– but the two women couldn’t be more different. Brynne finds fulfillment in her life as a wife, mother and owner of a small café and bookshop, but is struggling to expand her family. Portland is still coping with her mother’s death during her childhood, and her marriage is unraveling before her eyes. Portland envies her friend’s seemingly stable and easy life while Brynne doesn’t understand the growing distance between them and cannot begin to guess what secret Portland is hiding about her husband and crumbling marriage. While one woman feels shut out, the other enters into a web of lies to protect herself.
A Questionable Friendship explores what really makes someone a true friend, a support system, a sister. How much trust goes into a friendship and when is being a friend not enough? Brynne and Portland’s story will attempt to answer those questions, and show that happily ever after isn’t in the cards for everyone.
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/10W3WGk
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/samanthamarchauthor
Twitter: @SamanthaMarch23 Tweet: A QUESTIONABLE FRIENDSHIP by @SamanthaMarch23 - only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #booksale http://amzn.to/10W3WGk
Something Yellow – Laura Templeton
Thirteen years ago, Holly’s nine-year-old sister, Rachel, disappeared without a trace. Thirteen years ago, Holly left her hometown. Thirteen years ago, Holly’s first love and high school boyfriend, Houston, was the only suspect. Now, another girl has disappeared. Holly is back, and so is Houston—never charged and still proclaiming his innocence. Can she trust him? Should she trust him?
When out-of-work banking executive Holly McCann moves to the rural mountain town of White Cove, Virginia to care for her dying mother, the past collides with the present. A violent crime against her nine-year-old neighbor evokes memories of the eerily similar disappearance of her sister thirteen years earlier. Holly is thrilled by the arrival of her estranged brother, Oliver, but concerned by his mysterious behavior. She is befriended by the new minister, Jonah, an outsider haunted by his own painful past, but it is Houston Phelps, the only person arrested for the disappearance of her sister, who forces Holly to confront the past and start living in the present.
Original Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1pYp70V
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LauraTempletonWriter
Twitter: @Laura1264 Tweet: SOMETHING YELLOW by @Laura1264 is only #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! #womensfiction http://amzn.to/1pYp70V
Romance & New AdultThe Right Design – Isabella Louise Anderson
Interior designer Carrie Newman could not have envisioned a more perfect life for herself. She had a great job doing what she loved, wonderful friends, and a close relationship with her sister and brother-in-law. Add in an amazing man who she’d hoped would soon become her husband, and her life was perfect. Until one devastating decision ruins her relationship and changes the course of her life.
Determined to make a new start, Carrie leaves Texas and heads to Palm Beach to pick up the pieces of her shattered and broken life. The last thing she expects is to find herself attracted to her first client at her new job--Brad Larson, who has proven himself time and time again to be caddish.
But there’s something beneath the surface of Brad’s arrogant exterior that keeps her craving more of him--something almost sweet that Carrie can’t seem to resist.
Is Carrie ready to take another chance on romance? And will this new design of her life prove to be the right one?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1wjP26U
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isabella-Louise-Anderson-Author/253277964716883
Twitter: @ILA121209
Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Get THE RIGHT DESIGN by @ILA121209 for only #99cents for your eReader! http://amzn.to/1wjP26U
Laurel Heights – Denise Moncrief
A dark cloud of deceit hovers over her family tree...
Left an estate by an aunt she’s never met, Laurel Standridge takes possession of Laurel Heights, hoping it will be the safe haven she needs to recuperate from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson. Secrets long buried rise to the surface when her cousin James is murdered and dumped on the highway just outside the gates of Laurel Heights. Her past trails her to the mountains of Arkansas...
Caught in an obligation Chase Peterson feels he cannot ignore, he agrees to help his brother Rand take back the property he believes Laurel stole from him, but Chase remains at Laurel Heights after he discovers Laurel took nothing of Rand’s away with her except nightmares, fading bruises, and a broken rib.
Unexplained disturbances shatter her hopes of a normal life...
Are the strange bumps, thumps, and bangs reverberating through the night caused by the murderer of Laurel’s cousin James, someone Rand has sent to exact his revenge, or a disturbed soul existing in another dimension, trying to communicate with the living? Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than mere physical attraction. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1CLjLMe
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor
Twitter: @DMoncrief0131
Tweet: LAUREL HEIGHTS by @dmoncrief0131 is on #sale for #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/1CLjLMe
Chez Stinky – Susan C Daffron
Kat Stevens is a slightly insecure, mostly bored technical writer who likes her cat a lot more than her boss. She hasn't laid eyes on her great aunt Abigail since she was eight, so she's stumped when she inherits Abigail's house in the small hamlet of Alpine Grove.Kat's uncomplicated life gets decidedly less so when she discovers the inheritance comes with some hairy conditions: four dogs and five cats that her aunt wanted her to love as her own. Of course, the house smells like a barn--with a touch of antique skunk--and, naturally, has serious roof issues. And that's before the three-legged cat gets stuck in the wall and the shower goes kablooey.
When Kat meets Joel, an unemployed techie type with no love lost for his sister, Kat looks past his obvious flaws, given his timely and desirable skill set: a talent for fixing things (and his own tools). Despite out-of-control dogs, cat fights, dust dinosaurs, massive spiders and an old grizzled hippie passed out in the yard, Kat discovers the tranquility of the forests of Alpine Grove starting to seep into her soul. And why she can't she stop thinking about Joel?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1sQOh4P
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/susandaffron?fref=ts
Twitter: @susandaffron
Tweet: Get your discounted copy of CHEZ STINKY by @susandaffron for #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1sQOh4P
Hard Hats and Doormats – Laura Chapman
Lexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too.
But after losing out on a big promotion–-because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol. While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders. Who says nice girls have to finish last?
Original Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $.99
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1GPd5l9
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurachapmanbooks
Twitter: @lmchap
Tweet: HARD HATS AND DOORMATS by @lmchap is only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #newadult http://amzn.to/1GPd5l9[image error]
November 13, 2014
go fly a kite... the nanowrimo edition
I'm by no means a person who has everything figured out--as a writer, as a woman, as a human being. That doesn't keep me from being quick to offer up advice to anyone who is maybe having a disagreement with her significant other (yeah, I so am not an expert on real relationships), problems at work (we've all been there), or wants to figure out how to find the time or energy to write a book.
Lately I've been vocal about using the Pomodoro Technique. Several of my writer friends have used it with success, and it definitely helped me finish the first draft of book 3. But I have a confession: Even though I sometimes use Pomodoro, I don't always. And in fact, this month for National Novel Writing Month, I've almost never used it. (Which is too bad, because I just bought a new egg timer.)
When it comes to writing a book, what it really comes down to is this: You have to make time for it by making concessions somewhere else. It's as simple as that. It's science when you think about it. There are a finite number of hours in a day (I believe it's still 24, but the time change often makes it seem more like 10). So if I want to use two or three or eight of those hours writing, well, I'm going to have to not do something else I might have done during that time.
That's part of why NaNoWriMo works so well for me. I figure I can do just about anything--save money, eat healthy, exercise daily, write--for a month. Making long-term commitments requires a lifestyle change that is harder to maintain every day. (I'm still figuring out how to do all four of those things as a rule rather than an exception, but what can I say? I'm a work in progress.)
And so in the spirit of NaNoWriMo, today I thought I'd share some of the things I've told to Go Fly a Kite while I work on the first draft of Book 4:
1. Watching TV, except during designated periods of time and only for those set times. That means carving out four hours on a game day to watch my Huskers or Packers play, and because Hallmark Christmas movies are in full swing, I check the schedule and pick out the few I'd like to watch. And then I plan my writing day around it. Sound a little extreme for watching TV? It probably is, but a lady has to do what a lady has to do. Oh, and this also means that some of my favorite TV shows, like The Mindy Project, are off limits until I finish this draft.
2. Buying candy. That's different than swearing off candy. I ate probably five or six pieces of Baker's Chocolate at work yesterday, because it was a gift. But I know myself. And I tend to mindlessly snack when I eat. And the more candy and chips and other crap I eat while I do it, the worse I feel, the more sluggish I become, and the worse I write. Instead, I have a ginormous pile of clementines sitting in my kitchen, and when I feel a bit peckish I eat one of those. Which leads me to the next point...
3. Having a variety in the foods to eat. I don't know about you, but when I'm in full-on writing mode, I don't have time to cook every day. With this in mind, I created a meal plan at the beginning of the month, and I make bulk lunches and dinners every Sunday--usually the same thing every day. I did pencil in getting to go out for takeout/dinner on Friday nights and Saturdays just to keep my life a little interesting, but for the most part I'm eating the same thing all day every day. While that might be boring, in a way it's nice. I selected dishes that meet healthy requirements and feel comforting, so it's a win-win. (This week it's oatmeal for breakfast, winter vegetable stew with carrot sticks and an apple for lunch, quinoa enchiladas and chips for dinner and fruits, vegetables, and a little popcorn for snacks.)
4. Partying like it's 1999, or even 2014. I still had a margarita with dinner last Saturday night (after I'd written more than 7,000 words in a day) and I grabbed a cocktail with a co-worker one night after work. But aside from that, I'm not hanging out at bars on the regular (except on the occasional Sunday evening, when I also add in some writing). Unlike Hemingway, I've never mastered the whole "write drunk, edit sober" mentality, so I try to keep a clear head. Plus, I really haven't figured out the whole "write hungover" concept yet. When you're waking up at 5 to start writing, you want to feel pretty decent.
5. Having two, fully separated and shaped eyebrows. I think I'm also growing a mustache and my fingernails and toe nails are a disaster. Oh, and you can see my roots coming in on my hair. I'm still washing my hair and showering on the regular (I do have to be seen in public) and I throw on a little makeup before leaving the house, but I do not look like I could walk into a Vogue cover shoot. Granted, I never look like that, but you get what I mean. Maybe I'll have some time to do a little pampering this weekend, but I'll have to meet my daily word count first. And if I think I look at a mess, I probably shouldn't take too close of a look at my apartment. Talk about dust bunnies... yikes.
And through all this I'm still having fun. Instead of going to bars, I go to the library or cafe and write. Instead of sitting in front of the TV for hours, I hang out with my MS. It all sounds like a lot of work, and it really is, but it's worth it in the end.
I'd like to hear from you. What are some of the things you do to stay focused on a project? Any big concessions on your end?
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.[image error]
go fly a kite... the nanowrimo edition
I'm by no means a person who has everything figured out--as a writer, as a woman, as a human being. That doesn't keep me from being quick to offer up advice to anyone who is maybe having a disagreement with her significant other (yeah, I so am not an expert on real relationships), problems at work (we've all been there), or wants to figure out how to find the time or energy to write a book.
Lately I've been vocal about using the Pomodoro Technique. Several of my writer friends have used it with success, and it definitely helped me finish the first draft of book 3. But I have a confession: Even though I sometimes use Pomodoro, I don't always. And in fact, this month for National Novel Writing Month, I've almost never used it. (Which is too bad, because I just bought a new egg timer.)
When it comes to writing a book, what it really comes down to is this: You have to make time for it by making concessions somewhere else. It's as simple as that. It's science when you think about it. There are a finite number of hours in a day (I believe it's still 24, but the time change often makes it seem more like 10). So if I want to use two or three or eight of those hours writing, well, I'm going to have to not do something else I might have done during that time.
That's part of why NaNoWriMo works so well for me. I figure I can do just about anything--save money, eat healthy, exercise daily, write--for a month. Making long-term commitments requires a lifestyle change that is harder to maintain every day. (I'm still figuring out how to do all four of those things as a rule rather than an exception, but what can I say? I'm a work in progress.)
And so in the spirit of NaNoWriMo, today I thought I'd share some of the things I've told to Go Fly a Kite while I work on the first draft of Book 4:
1. Watching TV, except during designated periods of time and only for those set times. That means carving out four hours on a game day to watch my Huskers or Packers play, and because Hallmark Christmas movies are in full swing, I check the schedule and pick out the few I'd like to watch. And then I plan my writing day around it. Sound a little extreme for watching TV? It probably is, but a lady has to do what a lady has to do. Oh, and this also means that some of my favorite TV shows, like The Mindy Project, are off limits until I finish this draft.
2. Buying candy. That's different than swearing off candy. I ate probably five or six pieces of Baker's Chocolate at work yesterday, because it was a gift. But I know myself. And I tend to mindlessly snack when I eat. And the more candy and chips and other crap I eat while I do it, the worse I feel, the more sluggish I become, and the worse I write. Instead, I have a ginormous pile of clementines sitting in my kitchen, and when I feel a bit peckish I eat one of those. Which leads me to the next point...
3. Having a variety in the foods to eat. I don't know about you, but when I'm in full-on writing mode, I don't have time to cook every day. With this in mind, I created a meal plan at the beginning of the month, and I make bulk lunches and dinners every Sunday--usually the same thing every day. I did pencil in getting to go out for takeout/dinner on Friday nights and Saturdays just to keep my life a little interesting, but for the most part I'm eating the same thing all day every day. While that might be boring, in a way it's nice. I selected dishes that meet healthy requirements and feel comforting, so it's a win-win. (This week it's oatmeal for breakfast, winter vegetable stew with carrot sticks and an apple for lunch, quinoa enchiladas and chips for dinner and fruits, vegetables, and a little popcorn for snacks.)
4. Partying like it's 1999, or even 2014. I still had a margarita with dinner last Saturday night (after I'd written more than 7,000 words in a day) and I grabbed a cocktail with a co-worker one night after work. But aside from that, I'm not hanging out at bars on the regular (except on the occasional Sunday evening, when I also add in some writing). Unlike Hemingway, I've never mastered the whole "write drunk, edit sober" mentality, so I try to keep a clear head. Plus, I really haven't figured out the whole "write hungover" concept yet. When you're waking up at 5 to start writing, you want to feel pretty decent.
5. Having two, fully separated and shaped eyebrows. I think I'm also growing a mustache and my fingernails and toe nails are a disaster. Oh, and you can see my roots coming in on my hair. I'm still washing my hair and showering on the regular (I do have to be seen in public) and I throw on a little makeup before leaving the house, but I do not look like I could walk into a Vogue cover shoot. Granted, I never look like that, but you get what I mean. Maybe I'll have some time to do a little pampering this weekend, but I'll have to meet my daily word count first. And if I think I look at a mess, I probably shouldn't take too close of a look at my apartment. Talk about dust bunnies... yikes.
And through all this I'm still having fun. Instead of going to bars, I go to the library or cafe and write. Instead of sitting in front of the TV for hours, I hang out with my MS. It all sounds like a lot of work, and it really is, but it's worth it in the end.
I'd like to hear from you. What are some of the things you do to stay focused on a project? Any big concessions on your end?
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
November 10, 2014
week one of nanowrimo 2014
Friends, can you believe it's already November 10? It's been a busy, but productive month so far in my world. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, this is my fifth consecutive year participating in National Novel Writing Month. It's amazing how quickly it has become such an important part of my life. For example, October 31 is no longer just Halloween to me. It's NaNoWriMo Eve. While everyone else is excited to dress up in a costume and hit the bar, I'm organizing my notes and planning a nap so I can start writing at midnight.
I started the first draft of my first novel, Hard Hats and Doormats, my first year participating. That year and every year after I have learned important lessons about myself as a writer and as a person. Like, I've learned that I have to make the first week count in a big way if I hope to reach 50,000 words.
I've also learned that I operate best when I have an outline sketched out. I've used different approaches for preparation. In year one I created a working synopsis document in Word. In years two and three I used index cards. In year four I decided to wing it and just write--which ended up backfiring when I realized I basically had to re-start the whole book later, because it lacked focus.
This year I'm using Scrivener for the first time, and it has worked well with my index card mind-set. Before November 1st I created folders for each chapter with scene cards in each ones. While I'm a plotter, I like to leave a lot of room for interpretation so my outline notes are pretty simple (i.e. Have the characters go here and talk about this).
What's really exciting is how this leaves room for new developments to happen while making sure the main plot points are covered. During the first week of writing, I found myself adding additional scenes or notes to already planned scenes, because as I wrote and understood the characters better new ideas presented themselves. I'm pretty pleased about a few of them.
With that, here's a quick look back at the first nine days of NaNoWriMo through photos.
I attended a write-in with a few local NaNoWriMo participants to start writing at midnight on November 1. I kicked off my month of writing Leslie Knope-style with waffles.
I wrote at a bar on that Sunday night and a bookstore on Monday night. I kept the progress going throughout the week by waking up every morning at 5 a.m. and setting a goal of writing 750-1,500 words a day before breakfast (giving myself some room based on whether or not the writing muse was "speaking" to me).
I took a notebook with me to work and jotted down continuations of the work I'd started in the morning during lunches. I wrote at the library on Wednesday night.
On Friday night I opened a fortune cookie that offered me the inspiration I needed to keep going after the first week of writing officially concluded.
With that in mind, when I woke up on Saturday (which also happened to be NaNoWriMo's Double Up Day) I decided to make it count. So I created a writing treasure/scavenger hunt.
And great news--I met all of my goals and the bonus goals, which included 2,000 extra words and going to the gym bringing my daily total to 7,000 words. That's a record for me.
It's been a productive month for me, but I realize it's a result of me taking all of the lessons I learned in the first four years and I'm applying them now. I set reasonable goals and always factor in one "cheat" day like you do when dieting. For me that day was Friday. I had other work to do before the day job on Friday and I was wiped after a work event so I wrote a quick 200 words before bed and called it good.
So that's a wrap. Here's hoping week two is as successful.
I'm curious about you. If you're participating in NaNoWriMo how is your journey going? I'd love to hear.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
I started the first draft of my first novel, Hard Hats and Doormats, my first year participating. That year and every year after I have learned important lessons about myself as a writer and as a person. Like, I've learned that I have to make the first week count in a big way if I hope to reach 50,000 words.
I've also learned that I operate best when I have an outline sketched out. I've used different approaches for preparation. In year one I created a working synopsis document in Word. In years two and three I used index cards. In year four I decided to wing it and just write--which ended up backfiring when I realized I basically had to re-start the whole book later, because it lacked focus.
This year I'm using Scrivener for the first time, and it has worked well with my index card mind-set. Before November 1st I created folders for each chapter with scene cards in each ones. While I'm a plotter, I like to leave a lot of room for interpretation so my outline notes are pretty simple (i.e. Have the characters go here and talk about this).
What's really exciting is how this leaves room for new developments to happen while making sure the main plot points are covered. During the first week of writing, I found myself adding additional scenes or notes to already planned scenes, because as I wrote and understood the characters better new ideas presented themselves. I'm pretty pleased about a few of them.
With that, here's a quick look back at the first nine days of NaNoWriMo through photos.
I attended a write-in with a few local NaNoWriMo participants to start writing at midnight on November 1. I kicked off my month of writing Leslie Knope-style with waffles.
I wrote at a bar on that Sunday night and a bookstore on Monday night. I kept the progress going throughout the week by waking up every morning at 5 a.m. and setting a goal of writing 750-1,500 words a day before breakfast (giving myself some room based on whether or not the writing muse was "speaking" to me).
I took a notebook with me to work and jotted down continuations of the work I'd started in the morning during lunches. I wrote at the library on Wednesday night.
On Friday night I opened a fortune cookie that offered me the inspiration I needed to keep going after the first week of writing officially concluded.
With that in mind, when I woke up on Saturday (which also happened to be NaNoWriMo's Double Up Day) I decided to make it count. So I created a writing treasure/scavenger hunt.
And great news--I met all of my goals and the bonus goals, which included 2,000 extra words and going to the gym bringing my daily total to 7,000 words. That's a record for me.
It's been a productive month for me, but I realize it's a result of me taking all of the lessons I learned in the first four years and I'm applying them now. I set reasonable goals and always factor in one "cheat" day like you do when dieting. For me that day was Friday. I had other work to do before the day job on Friday and I was wiped after a work event so I wrote a quick 200 words before bed and called it good.
So that's a wrap. Here's hoping week two is as successful.
I'm curious about you. If you're participating in NaNoWriMo how is your journey going? I'd love to hear.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
October 31, 2014
happy nanowrimo eve
It's October 31, and that means one thing. That's right, it's National Novel Writing Month Eve. This will be my fifth consecutive year participating in NaNoWriMo, which I'm now affectionately referring to as Cinco de NaNoWriMo.
The title works for another reason, too. This year is kind of awesome, because November has five full weekends in it. For those of us who do most of our major writing on the weekends thanks to our day jobs, that's pretty exciting stuff. It's like the universe wants us to succeed. I've been looking forward to this year since I did the math back in 2011 and discovered this year would one day come. I know. I'm a nerd. Embrace it. I have.
As we gear up for another exciting adventure of writing more than 50,000 words in 30 days, I thought we'd take a brief look back at my previous four adventures in competing in NaNoWriMo.
Year One: November 2010
I wrote the first 50,000 words of my debut novel, Hard Hats and Doormats. I had no idea I'd end up going through five more drafts before it went to publication, but what a ride. I crossed the finish line a few hours before the deadline and had to have a friend upload the words for me, because my Internet connection was so crappy.
I may or may not have cried when it finally went through and she told me I was an official winner.
This year is notable for me, because I decided to participate on a whim at about 9 p.m. on November 1. Another fun fact: I spent about eight days of the month traveling for work, and I wrote about a quarter of those 50,000 words on airplanes, in airports and in motel rooms.
Year Two: November 2011
I wrote the first 50,000 words of my second novel, NOT TELLING YOU THE TITLE YET, BECAUSE I'M SUPERSTITIOUS LIKE THAT. :)
During my second attempt at reaching 50K, I was less of a hermit. I had three local friends participating in the event, and we held write-ins at coffee shops and our homes throughout the month. The competitive person in me liked having someone to race. The nice person in me liked having good friends along for the ride.
So far I have only done three drafts of this book, which is a big improvement, right? I'm also still ready to tie the knot with this one, which is good news, because it's easy to start hating a book after you spend so much time with it.
Year Three: November 2012
While I crossed the finish line this year, it wasn't my best work. I wrote the first 30,000 words of a story that will have to be completely restarted, plus 20,000 words in other short fiction. None of it has been published and none of it is at all close to publication. My friends weren't participating, which meant I was back to being a lone wolf.
That said, I still participated, I still learned some valuable lessons, and I still wore this awesome NaNoWriMo shirt while I worked.
Year Four: November 2013
I wrote the first 50,000 words of my third novel, which I recently finished. I finished almost a week early, which was a new record for me.
That may have come at a cost of quality. After I reached 55,000 words, I decided the book wasn't going in the direction I wanted and so I scrapped most of it. Then again, maybe my story didn't feel right, because I was so busy thinking about the upcoming publication date for Hard Hats and Doormats, which was early the next month. Regardless, after two more false starts, I ultimately finished the first draft of the book earlier this month.
What's in store for this year? Who knows? But you can count on one thing--the cats and I will be counting down to midnight in style thanks to our Halloween costumes.
Jane is a witch (obvi) and Bing is a lion. All we need is a wardrobe or a tin man, scarecrow and Dorthy, and we have ourselves a good theme.
I'm channeling my beloved Amy Poehler and going as her author bio photo from her new book, Yes Please.
Ah, the life of a yacht captain. You'd better believe I'll be wearing that hat off and on as I navigate the turbulent sea that is NaNoWriMo.
Good luck to everyone participating in this year's NaNoWriMo. May the words be ever in your favor.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
The title works for another reason, too. This year is kind of awesome, because November has five full weekends in it. For those of us who do most of our major writing on the weekends thanks to our day jobs, that's pretty exciting stuff. It's like the universe wants us to succeed. I've been looking forward to this year since I did the math back in 2011 and discovered this year would one day come. I know. I'm a nerd. Embrace it. I have.
As we gear up for another exciting adventure of writing more than 50,000 words in 30 days, I thought we'd take a brief look back at my previous four adventures in competing in NaNoWriMo.
Year One: November 2010
I wrote the first 50,000 words of my debut novel, Hard Hats and Doormats. I had no idea I'd end up going through five more drafts before it went to publication, but what a ride. I crossed the finish line a few hours before the deadline and had to have a friend upload the words for me, because my Internet connection was so crappy.I may or may not have cried when it finally went through and she told me I was an official winner.
This year is notable for me, because I decided to participate on a whim at about 9 p.m. on November 1. Another fun fact: I spent about eight days of the month traveling for work, and I wrote about a quarter of those 50,000 words on airplanes, in airports and in motel rooms.
Year Two: November 2011
I wrote the first 50,000 words of my second novel, NOT TELLING YOU THE TITLE YET, BECAUSE I'M SUPERSTITIOUS LIKE THAT. :)
During my second attempt at reaching 50K, I was less of a hermit. I had three local friends participating in the event, and we held write-ins at coffee shops and our homes throughout the month. The competitive person in me liked having someone to race. The nice person in me liked having good friends along for the ride.
So far I have only done three drafts of this book, which is a big improvement, right? I'm also still ready to tie the knot with this one, which is good news, because it's easy to start hating a book after you spend so much time with it.
Year Three: November 2012
While I crossed the finish line this year, it wasn't my best work. I wrote the first 30,000 words of a story that will have to be completely restarted, plus 20,000 words in other short fiction. None of it has been published and none of it is at all close to publication. My friends weren't participating, which meant I was back to being a lone wolf.
That said, I still participated, I still learned some valuable lessons, and I still wore this awesome NaNoWriMo shirt while I worked.
Year Four: November 2013
I wrote the first 50,000 words of my third novel, which I recently finished. I finished almost a week early, which was a new record for me.
That may have come at a cost of quality. After I reached 55,000 words, I decided the book wasn't going in the direction I wanted and so I scrapped most of it. Then again, maybe my story didn't feel right, because I was so busy thinking about the upcoming publication date for Hard Hats and Doormats, which was early the next month. Regardless, after two more false starts, I ultimately finished the first draft of the book earlier this month.
What's in store for this year? Who knows? But you can count on one thing--the cats and I will be counting down to midnight in style thanks to our Halloween costumes.
Jane is a witch (obvi) and Bing is a lion. All we need is a wardrobe or a tin man, scarecrow and Dorthy, and we have ourselves a good theme.
I'm channeling my beloved Amy Poehler and going as her author bio photo from her new book, Yes Please.
Ah, the life of a yacht captain. You'd better believe I'll be wearing that hat off and on as I navigate the turbulent sea that is NaNoWriMo.
Good luck to everyone participating in this year's NaNoWriMo. May the words be ever in your favor.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
October 29, 2014
thank you, t.y.
Not again. Just when you think that perhaps you've judged your rag-tag bunch of fantasy football players too harshly, they have to go and ruin your two-week winning streak.
And while some of my gentlemen put in a great effort, not everyone received the memo about how we were done with sucking this season.
Woe is me.
Since I've already boycotted naming a Prince Charming in the past, I suppose it wouldn't be very clever of me to boycott my boys again.
So, by default, my Fantasy Football Prince Charming of the week is...
SourceT.Y. Hilton.
Dude scored me 25.5 points (which incidentally came out to being about a quarter of my total points for the week thanks to the losers on my team). He was going to be my Prince Charming of the week two weeks ago, when I was deep into finishing the first draft of book three, so it seems only fair that he finally received his due (He earned me 33.8 points that week).
Like my beloved Peyton, T.Y. has become someone I can count on. And that means a lot to me in these tough, tough times of mine. Did I mention I lost both of my games, again? My poor, poor ego.
I wish I could muster up more energy to brag on Mr. Hilton, but my heart is sad. Maybe I should eat candy for breakfast to fix it.
Let's hope the guys get the memo and show up to play the next few weeks. Otherwise, I can kiss my chance at the playoffs buh-bye. Come on, guys. T.Y., Peyton and Antonio Brown can't do this all by themselves!
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
October 23, 2014
work hard and be kind
We all have those days (or weeks or months or even years, if you want to believe the Friends theme song) where we just feel a little blue. There can be any number of reasons, but for me it usually starts with disappointment about my current state in the world or my anxiety when it seems like there's nothing to do about it. And I don't know about you, but when this happens, it can be really hard to shake.
If you're like me, and you've had one of those bummer days recently, here's a little video I like to watch:
Isn't that a nice thought? If you work hard and are kind, amazing things will happen. That's not a promise you'll end up with a late night show or a best-selling novel, but can't life still be amazing?
So with that thought, I'm going to check my cynicism at the door and do what I can to make it a great day. I hope you do, too.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.[image error]
If you're like me, and you've had one of those bummer days recently, here's a little video I like to watch:
Isn't that a nice thought? If you work hard and are kind, amazing things will happen. That's not a promise you'll end up with a late night show or a best-selling novel, but can't life still be amazing?
So with that thought, I'm going to check my cynicism at the door and do what I can to make it a great day. I hope you do, too.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.[image error]
work hard and be kind
We all have those days (or weeks or months or even years, if you want to believe the Friends theme song) where we just feel a little blue. There can be any number of reasons, but for me it usually starts with disappointment about my current state in the world or my anxiety when it seems like there's nothing to do about it. And I don't know about you, but when this happens, it can be really hard to shake.
If you're like me, and you've had one of those bummer days recently, here's a little video I like to watch:
Isn't that a nice thought? If you work hard and are kind, amazing things will happen. That's not a promise you'll end up with a late night show or a best-selling novel, but can't life still be amazing?
So with that thought, I'm going to check my cynicism at the door and do what I can to make it a great day. I hope you do, too.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
If you're like me, and you've had one of those bummer days recently, here's a little video I like to watch:
Isn't that a nice thought? If you work hard and are kind, amazing things will happen. That's not a promise you'll end up with a late night show or a best-selling novel, but can't life still be amazing?
So with that thought, I'm going to check my cynicism at the door and do what I can to make it a great day. I hope you do, too.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
October 21, 2014
nobody does it better (and i never wish someone could)
I'd like to dedicate this song to a special someone, and I think you know who you are...
I wasn't looking, but somehow you found me. I tried to hide from your love light. But like heaven above me, the quarterback who loved me, is keeping all my secrets (like the fact that I benched Charles Clay in favor of Jared Cook this week) safe tonight.
No, nobody does it better than Peyton Manning, which is why my Fantasy Football Prince Charming of the week is none other than Mr. Future Hall of Famer...
Peyton Manning.
If you follow NFL even a little, then you know my one true love, my No. 1 quarterback of this fantasy season and the past two, had himself a bit of a banner weekend. Not only did he score me more than 37 points (which, honestly, is enough to land him lovey dovey nickname status in my world), but he broke Brett Favre's touchdown pass record.
Even on his worst week, Peyton Manning has been the most reliable football player on either of my teams--this season, last season and the season before. I know I had that little fling with his brother a few weeks ago, but I swear it meant nothing. I'll never go out for a hamburger again when I have a steak at home. And not just because I don't eat meat. There's just no point.
As a reminder, Peyton was my inaugural Fantasy Football Prince Charming back in 2013, and he earned one of my teams a spot in the championship game. Granted, we came in second place, but that was still 60 bucks in my pocket!
Peyton, you're everything to me. If I was a poet, I'd write sonnets about your ability to rack up the passing yardage. I'd write songs about your audibles. You are my sun, my moon, and the stars in the sky. You, and you alone, make me cheer for the Broncos every week. (Now that Eric Decker is gone, I can't even use the excuse that I'm cheering on the star of one of the most ridiculous shows to ever appear on E!)
Just keep it coming, Peyton... Baby, you're the best.
And great news, everyone. I'm almost too scared to type this for fear of jinxing myself, but both of my teams are now on two-week winning streaks. It's still way too soon to say I'm back, but at least I'm not sucking as badly as I was the last time we chatted about football.
And as you noticed, I didn't post my Prince Charming of the Week last week (I was too busy finishing the first draft of my third novel), but I'll make it up to you this week with a bonus post.
Stay connected with Laura Chapman on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. Like Change the Word on Facebook.
