Shakuita Johnson's Blog: The Ramblings of Me, page 27
February 20, 2014
How I Write a Book Review
This is a good guide on writing a review and some good points are made. Slamming a book or author just to be rude is offensive and selfish. Words hurt and the ones who use them just for that reason should be ashamed. Great post and well said!
Originally posted on Vampires, Crime and Angels...Eclectic Me:
Writing a book review sounds simple, right? You read a book, then you write about whether you enjoyed it or not and what you did or didn’t enjoy about it.
Not for me.
I have a terrible memory. I can finish a book and not remember what I loved about it or if anything bothered me. So my solution is to take notes. Either on paper or by making notes and highlights on my Kindle. Either way is fine since I can go back to either of them and type up those notes when I’m finished the book. It’s usually in the typing up of the notes, in sequence, that I remember other things I might have liked or disliked about the book.
The note taking is the vital part. Without those notes, I can’t remember anything else. So I start with them and if anything else crops up I add that too. I also have some general key notes that I like to answer for every book. These are things that all readers want to know, and some are just some things that might encourage readers to give the book a try. You’ll probably have noticed them.
February 19, 2014
Dark Indiscretions: Monster Unleashed Teaser
Well I just received edits back for book 2 in Dark Indiscretions Series and I’ve realized I’ve not put up any teasers at all so….here you go!
Blurb
What would you do if the one fate chosen for you vanished into thin air? What would you give up? Who would you become to stay with that person?
Krista Bell finally knows what it’s like to be free. The torture she endured at the hands of her psychotic father has unleashed the monster her mother tried so hard to help her suppress. The only thing she wants to do is be the shadow in the night that everyone is afraid of.
Taser is barely holding it together. He lost Kris once to her father and now he’s losing her to the monster she is becoming. He’s also barely containing his own monster since Krista decided she didn’t need her mates anymore. Nathan is still near, but he may not be enough.
Nathan is on the verge of losing not one, but both of his mates. One vanished without a trace. The other is avoiding him. He has run out of patience with them both.
But when the monster that Krista has become comes to them with a proposal, will they take her up on it and possibly lose themselves, or will they try to talk her down and get the beast to put back on her chain?
1625
It had been two months. Two months since she killed her whole family. Two months since she ran and never looked back. Two months of looking over her shoulder. Something was wrong with her. Jennifer Johnston just knew it. She was craving things she had never wanted before, never ever had needed. It was getting harder and harder to resist the silent call, the cravings that started to crawl up her throat to the point of choking her with their mounting intensity. She didn’t know how much longer she could run, how much longer she could say no to these sudden scary and violent urges.
She needed to find someone to talk to, another Mystic perhaps, but she didn’t know who she could trust. She had done something no other Mystic had done before. She wasn’t like the rest of them. She was different. Some may even say defective. She didn’t want to become an inbred freak like the rest of them, but she feared it had been done. The things her uncle had succeeded in doing before she could get away from him, before she had the strength to kill him, may be coming back to haunt her.
She needed to rest for just a little while. That old barn looked like as good a place as any. She would only rest for a second more. As she quickly and quietly made her way to her destination, she heard noises in the distance. What sounded like a tiny cavalry was coming up fast behind her. She tried to duck before she was spotted, but it seemed her luck was still running thin. She braced herself for a possible fight.
“Halt! What business do you have on this land?” a male voice called out.
“I’m just a bit lost. Could you point me in the direction of an inn?” Jenny asked, trying to appear disoriented.
“Lying Mystic scum! We can smell your trickery and deceit from here. Where are the rest of you? What trap is this?” the male demanded.
Shit. Humans she could have easily dealt with, other paranormals not so much. This would be tricky. She counted eight soldiers. They should have brought more.
“I don’t want any trouble. Leave me be and I’ll be on my way,” Jenny tried to reason with the creatures.
“Grab her!” the male demanded.
Awesome! They were going to play try to capture the Mystic. Jenny did something she had never done before. She used her Mystic powers. She called upon all the energy she could muster, which was a whole hell of a lot, and let loose. Damn, something was defiantly changing with her right now, but she didn’t have time to explore it. She heard screams from all eight men. She had overloaded their nervous systems. She could see blood start to seep from any and everywhere possible. It was disgusting.
Not wanting them to suffer more than they were already, Jenny sent a final blast and everything stopped. Not a single heart beat anymore. She had killed them, every last one of them. She didn’t have time to feel bad for the lives she had taken. They left her no choice. The worst part of it all, she thought to herself, was that she should have drained at least one of them dry. She was so fucking hungry! She performed a quick spell to turn the bodies to ash and continued on her way to that damn barn.
February 16, 2014
Blog Award – Liebster Award
Well this is my first nomination for a Liebster Award and I’m thrilled. My little old blog got a mention. Thank you Jae for the nomination…
The Rules:
You must link back to the person who nominated you
You must answer the 11 questions given to you by the nominee before you
You must pick 11 nominees with under 200 (or 2000 if you want to) followers to answer your questions
You cannot nominate the person who nominated you
You must let the people you nominate know they have been nominated
Here are the questions Jae asked me:
1. If you were a superhero, what powers would you have? Why?
I would be able to read other people’s mind because rarely does someone say exactly what they are thinking. This would be handy when dealing with the opposite sex. They sometimes like to just ignore a girl versus telling them the truth: that they are just not that into them.
2. What would you do if you won the lottery? Why?
I would work because I wanted to and not because it was necessary. I want to be a Child Psychologist and I’m and an Indie Author. Even though I am very passionate about both, it would elevate a lot of stress that trying to make a living with less than stellar wages causes. I could spend more hours of the day writing than having to balance between writing, promoting my own stuff, and trying to find someone who didn’t charge outrageous amounts of money for cover, promos, and such. I could help more children if I had the funds necessary to raise awareness and help fund programs. I would also put a bit of money away so I can stay living comfortably and help out a few people who’ve helped me along the way.
3. Would you rather trade some intelligence for looks or looks for intelligence? Why?
I’d rather trade some looks for intelligence. I think I have been fairly blessed with both because I’m pretty and smart. You can never be too smart because as we get older outside beauty will fade but having a sharp mind and great conversation goes a long way.
4. What is your nationality?
I’m multi national and I love it. That I know of I’m black, white, Irish, Indian (don’t ask me which or how much lol), and various other European nationalities. I love it. I believe no one is one thing anyway. There was so much intermingling with different nationalist over the centuries (forced or voluntary) that we are all one big mixture.
5. If you were prime minister/ruler of the world what laws would you make? Why?
Mm, that’s a tough one. One would be adequate childcare and more careful screening, especially of parents who have been called out. I would like social workers to focus more on these incidents and would ensure they had the resources available to do so as well as the time. So much stuff is gone unnoticed because our people are overworked and stressed. Not that I think it should need to be a law (people should have common decency) but people would be able to love who they wanted and marry or not if they wanted without there being any outrage. What people do in their personal lives doesn’t always affect you in any way. We need to stop acting like it does. I would make sure our first line of defense (military) would be taken care of the way they should. They would have use of the rights and freedoms they fight for everyday for everyone else to have. If they didn’t agree with something I said it would be their right. As long as no one was threating anyone they would be able to state their opinions without fear of punishment. I wouldn’t allow prosecution or job loss over things that people see as morally wrong (cheating for example). As long as there was no murder, rape, and things of that nature it’s no ones business what goes on between two people. I could go on and on…
6. Which form of public transport do you prefer? Why?
My own car, I don’t have to wait on anyone or anything besides traffic. I can make my own schedule and not have to rush to meet someone else’s. I don’t have to be searched or scanned or anything else crazy to take myself someplace.
7. Have you ever been approached by someone who knew you but you couldn’t remember them for the life of you? Tell us about it.
I’m not entirely sure…I’ve been spoken to by someone who’s face I remember but couldn’t remember their name. It’s pretty awkward, especially when they speak to you and use your name. You can’t really focus on what they are saying because you are trying to remember where you met them and what their name was. You don’t want to ask because it makes you look bad and them feel bad that they remembered you but you couldn’t remember them.
8. What was your favorite nursery rhyme?
It’s been so long since I heard a nursery rhyme, I’m not sure if I remember any. Um…Little Bo Peep. To me it says when you can’t find something give it time, it will come to you. Even at that age we were being given amazing advice. I can’t count the times I’ve searched for something and never found it only to have it turn up when I was expecting it or looking.
9. What nicknames do you have/have had?
Kuita, Jay, Chiquita Banana, Mama Mia, Kay, Johnson, and the list goes on.
10. What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?
Well I’m not sure if it’s the first but I do remember going to the movie to see Queen of the Damned when it first came out. I went with a bunch of my friends from school. I remembered being so excited because once I knew the movie was coming out and someone told me their was a book, I read it before I saw the movie. I fell in LOVE! The book was so amazing and I was looking forward to it being on film. I had watched Interview with the Vampire on television or VHS can’t remember and I loved it (this was before I read the book mind you) and I thought awesome. This is going to be awesome. Needless to say the first time I saw Queen of the Damned in theater I was not impressed. At all. I was heartbroken and angry. So much was in that book and the movie fell way short. Later I found an appreciation for the movie as it’s own thing. I had to take away what I knew from the book and just enjoy it for what it was.
Well there you have it folks! My little tidbits! Here are my nominees for the Liebster Award:
Please answer these questions before accepting your award:
1. What is your favorite genre to read? Why?
2. If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be? Why?
3. Who is your best friend? Why?
4. What is the best memory you have? Why?
5. If you could change on moment in your life what would it be?
6. Is it better to have love in and lost than to never have loved at all?
7. Where do you do your best thinking?
8. If you could change your name, what would it be? Why?
9. iPhone or Android?
10. What do you think of social media?
11. If you could start up your own business what would it be?
Good luck and enjoy!
February 15, 2014
Dark Indiscretions: Monster Unleashed Blog Tour April 7-18
Still taking sign ups! Interviews, character interviews, excerpts, promos, and reviews of one of both books…it’s gonna be a blast!!!!
Originally posted on The Ramblings Of Me:
Hello Bloggers!!!
If anyone is interested in being a part of my blog tour the sign up is live!!! Lots of cool prizes and such going on. There will even be one just for the BLOGGERS who sign up to post!!! So if you want to get in on the fun just click the little link at the bottom 
You will also get the chance to review one or both books!!!!!
Thank you so much!!!
Dark Indiscretions: Monster Unleashed Blog Tour
February 14, 2014
I’ve been thinking…
I know, I know. What the hell is running through my brain now, right? Well publishers. That’s been running through my brain. Should I or shouldn’t I. We all know being an indie author and self pubbed can get a bit pricey. I’m not really worried about the cost. There are always work arounds for everything. I just want everyone to take the crazy twist filled journey of my series with me. Plus I think it would be a great opportunity. Only thing is I don’t want to be censored. What do I mean? Well I don’t want to write what I think is a kick ass book, only to be told nope. Redo it. Take it out. Fix it. Publishing myself I can write how I see it. I’m not confined to a box or someone else’s interests. But sometimes I think a few more doors would open up if I had of tried to at least submit my book to a publisher first. Maybe. Possibly. I don’t really know. I’m not an expert. I’m not going to school for this. This is just a random musing from my head. I’m 99% sure everything I write will be sled published but I still dream of maybe one day something I write will be picked up by a publisher and they will love it as it is. Until then I’m going to continue working on my Dark Indiscretions Series, my short story Rumspringa (which I need to make a page for ), and this new idea I have that doesn’t have enough detail yet for me to talk about but as big as it is I plan to make it one huge stand alone novel. It’s going to be the biggest thing I’ve ever done and I’m scared, nervous, and excited. I can tell you that it’s called Sacrifice Broken and like anything I do it’s not the norm at all. I’m putting my own touch of flare on the supernatural creatures that we all love. It’s going to be on a whole new level of awesomeness all straight from my never turned off brain. I can’t wait until it fleshed out more and I can talk about it. I’m still building right now. It’s fun. This weekend I plan to redesign my blog so stay tune!!! Oh and don’t forget Dark Indiscretions is FREE today
In the words of Indie Arie, " don't be offended this is all my opinion ain't nothing that I'm saying law."
Author Tia Louise’s Valentines Day Event and Scavenger Hunt
**Readers search through the Post and find the Scavenger Hunt Clue (it will be in [brackets]) and then when you have all 3 Clues for the task come to the event and post a picture of the Clue!!**
Event Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/396155660519514/?source=1
✥✥✥ EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK!!! ✥✥✥
ONE TO PROTECT is coming soon, and Derek faces his biggest challenge yet…
Here’s an early peek to get you ready~
Add ONE TO PROTECT on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1neSMkD
ONE TO KEEP
By Tia Louise
*unedited draft, subject to change*
expected release March 2014
© 2014, Tia Louise
The condo is dim as I cross back to the kitchen for a bottle of water.
Only one lamp is lit, and I go to the enormous glass windows to look out
and wait. A few lights dot the downtown area. It’s either too early or
too wintery for most people to be out. With the tip of my finger, I
touch the cold glass and try to imagine where he is right now. How much
longer he’ll work. When he’ll be here with me…
A noise at the door causes me to turn, and my chest squeezes when I see
him standing in the doorway. His heavy grey overcoat makes him look even
taller than six-two, his shoulders even broader. His dark hair is
longer than usual, and it just touches his collar in gentle waves.
Vibration hums under my skin as I watch him silently, my fingers curl
with longing to touch him, slide through that hair.
He shrugs off the top coat and hooks it on the rack, and I almost sigh
audibly when I recognize the suit he’s wearing. It’s the same one from
all those nights ago when I would gaze at him on my laptop screen. Back
then I only had my memories and my hands. Now I have the real thing.
Gorgeous.
He doesn’t see me, doesn’t even know I’m here, and it takes all my
strength not to call out to him. I’m waiting, wanting him to see me
first. The entry light is on, and his attention is occupied by the stack
of mail in his hand. I can see the [Tied Up] tension in his lined brow, and even
his shoulders appear tight.
Touching my lips with my tongue, I have an idea for massaging that
stress away, that luscious suit in a pile on the floor, my mouth
covering his skin with kisses. I remember the band holding up my hair
and quickly pull it out. My long, dark waves sweep over my shoulders at
the exact moment his eyes rise. Beautiful blue eyes meet mine, and the
center of my body turns to hot liquid.
My arm drops, parting the robe, revealing a peek of my nude body
underneath, and his confusion is quickly replaced by desire. Without a
word, he tosses the letters on the table and shrugs out of the suit
coat. He crosses the dining area fast, and I can barely breathe as he
approaches, removing more clothing with each step. Tie off, his fingers
unfasten buttons. He’s in front of me, shirt open, undershirt the only
thing between his skin and mine.
It’s possible I’ll come the moment we touch, but I snatch the edge of
the thin white tank and push it up his lined torso, pressing my lips
against his heated flesh. Large hands are inside the robe, sliding down
my bare skin, and a little cry comes from my throat when he grips my ass
lifts. I’m off my feet in a sweep, weightless in his arms.
My back is pressed against the cold glass, and my breasts are flat
against his bare chest. His waist is between my thighs, pressing,
teasing, as his mouth muffles the noises coming from my throat. Firm
lips push mine apart, and our tongues meet, his exploring my mouth
hungrily. Our kisses are desperate, ravenous, and every time his hips
push against my clit, fire surges hotter through my body. I need him
inside me now.
The only sounds are the little noises of pleasure coming from my throat,
and his scent is all around me, flooding my senses. My fingers dig into
his broad shoulders, pulling him closer to me as his soft lips and
scratchy beard blaze a trail from my jaw down my neck to my breasts.
I can’t help a moan as my head drops back against the glass. “Oh, god,” I
gasp as he catches a straining nipple in his mouth and gives it a hard
pull. The sensation registers directly between my legs to my core, and
my insides tighten in anticipation.
My hands are in his hair, pulling, threading the soft, dark locks, as
his kisses climb back up my neck. He’s consuming me, pulling little bits
of my skin between his teeth as he goes.
“Now, baby. I need you now,” I whisper, begging. I can’t take much more
of this before I explode. My thighs are already trembling and jerking,
my inner muscles tight and aching…
One to Hold (Derek
& Melissa), 2013
One to Hold Series Book 1
Available Now
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hxPd63
B&N: http://bit.ly/1cp5FaZ
iTunes: http://bit.ly/19h9SYq
Kobo: http://bit.ly/GJFwqn
ARe: http://bit.ly/19wehFF‘
“HOT! FUN!
ENJOYABLE! 5 STARS!!! I highly recommend this story and can’t wait to read more
from Tia Louise!” –Aleatha Roming, NYT & USA Today bestselling author
of the Consequences series
***WARNING: Mature themes, strong language and
sexual content. Recommended for adult readers (18+) only!***
Derek Alexander is a
retired Marine, ex-cop, and the top investigator in his field. Melissa Jones is
a small-town girl trying to escape her troubled past.
When the two intersect
in a bar in Arizona, their sexual chemistry is off the charts. But what is
revealed during their “one week stand” only complicates matters.
Because she’ll do
everything in her power to get away from the past, but he’ll do everything he
can to hold her.
(Standalone, M/F, HEA)
One to Keep (Patrick
& Elaine)
One to Hold Series Book 2
Now Available
Amazon: http://amzn.to/19uGIL6
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1eDD3Ie
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1dw2sY0
ARe: http://bit.ly/1ap7VwW
WARNING: Mature
themes, strong language and sexual content. Recommended for adult readers (18+)
only!
There’s a new guy in
town…
“Patrick Knight,
single, retired Guard-turned private investigator. I was a closer. A deal
maker. I looked clients in the eye and told them I’d get their shit done. And I
did…”
Patrick doesn’t do “nice.”
At least, not
anymore.
After his fiancée
cheats, he follows up with a one-night stand and a disastrous office hook-up.
His business partner (Derek Alexander) sends him to the desert to get his head
straight—and clean up the mess.
While there, Patrick
meets Elaine, and blistering sparks fly, but she’s not looking for any guy. Or
a long-distance relationship.
Patrick’s ready to
do anything to keep her, but just when it seems he’s changed her mind, the
skeletons from his past life start coming back.
(Standalone, M/F, HEA)
One to Protect
One to Hold Series Book 3
Expected Release: March 2014
WARNING: Recommended for adult readers (18+) only. Mature themes, strong language and sexual content.
Justice, revenge, retribution.
When
Melissa’s ex-husband Sloan manages to beat criminal charges, she stops
believing he will ever pay for what he did. Derek Alexander will not
accept that–a tiny silver scar won’t let him forget, and he is
determined to make the man who hurt his fiancee pay.
After
exhausting all legal options, Derek is ready to take matters into his
own hands. Until his partner Patrick Knight shows up with an unexpected
solution…
Note: This stand-alone adult romance will be best understood if read following One to Hold and One to Keep.
Tia Louise is a
former journalist, world-traveler, and collector of beautiful men (who inspire
all of her stories… wink)—turned wife, mommy, and novelist.
She lives in the
center of the U.S.A.
with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she
hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public
locations…
It’s possible she
has a slight truffle addiction.
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTiaLouise
On Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7213961.Tia_Louise
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorTLouise
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/AuthorTiaLouise
On Instagram: http://instagram.com/authortlouise
On Tumbler: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/authortlouise
Don’t miss a single
new release or announcement!
Sign up for Tia’s Book News:
http://eepurl.com/Lcmv1
February 13, 2014
Surprise, Surprise
Don’t miss out…I’ll even post you the link. myBook.to/Dark-Indiscretions-Shakuita...
February 12, 2014
Guest Post: 5 (Random) Things that Distract Writers
so many distracts so little time
Originally posted on My number one writing distraction is my busy three-year old toddler. I’ve had to become an expert at speed typing and managing my time. If only I could clone myself some days!
Writer, Karina shares some random things that could be distracting you…leave a comment and let us know what distracts you?
Dark Indiscretions: Monster Unleashed Blog Tour April 7-18
Hello Bloggers!!!
If anyone is interested in being a part of my blog tour the sign up is live!!! Lots of cool prizes and such going on. There will even be one just for the BLOGGERS who sign up to post!!! So if you want to get in on the fun just click the little link at the bottom You will also get the chance to review one or both books!!!!!
Thank you so much!!!
Dark Indiscretions: Monster Unleashed Blog Tour
The ‘R’ Word
I’ve been wanting to talk about this for a while now but never had the time. Now that I do let’s talk about why I wanted to write paranormal fantasy fiction. I don’t like doing the ‘R’ word. What’s the ‘R’ word you ask? Research. I hate it with everything in me. I do enough research for term papers so with my leisurely writing I didn’t want to have to make sure I was politically correct about what was going on in my story. So I made up a lot of the words and spells and the idea was formed and without a bit of research. Even for the city because I never really talk about the city at all. It’s just for gee whiz information. I let my audience decided what the city life is about based on their own knowledge. Nothing really takes place at a certain shop or club anyway. So I was all ‘middle finger to the world’ about research. The characters aren’t real or human so I had carte blanche with their abilities, ages, and so on.
Now I said all that to say this…I was wrong! Yep, I’m admitting it. I’m soooo wrong. I thought sticking to a genre where the characters were species that didn’t exist in the world wouldn’t require any former knowledge. Then I had this book idea and realized I would have to at least know some basic mythologies and characteristics just for my general knowing. Yes I will still be taking huge liberties with my own mythology of the characters but some of the stuff would have really seemed like gibberish without at least some plausibility. Now I know were-creatures, elves, and the like don’t really exist but there have been enough information on them that people have a general idea of what they should or shouldn’t be capable of. Like I said I will definitely be putting my own spin on these species so it’s not the same old song and dance but at least now I’m more aware of general characteristics.
I still strongly hate research of any kind when writing for fun. It feels too much like work to me but in order to bring the best story I can think of to my readers, I’ll bite the bullet and try to pretend that I somewhat know what I’m talking about
