C.J. Burright's Blog, page 8
September 2, 2016
TGIF
I don’t know about you, but I’m freakin’ glad it’s Friday! There’s still a couple more days of the Beautifully Burned blog tour, and if you haven’t entered the giveaway…what are you waiting for? I had a ton of fun arranging the prize packs. And if you want to swing by and say hi, I’m at Urban Fantasy Investigations talking about my Phantom of the Opera love and cats. Of course.
September 1, 2016
King of the Friend Zone – Sheralyn Pratt
Hey, people! I’m still on the Beautifully Burned blog tour, and today I’m at Ramblings of a Book Nerd and T’s Stuff. Feel free to tag along…but I’m also so thrilled to share a new release by Sheralyn Pratt. It sounds so fun, and not only is there an excerpt for you, but there’s a great giveaway too. I’m definitely reading this one!
The King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt
Esme Taylor has an amazing fiancé, a lifelong best friend, and a problem.
The problem stems from the fact that her best friend is named Hunter and, well. . .he’s kind of (totally) hot. It’s hate at first sight when her fiancé, Jon, and Hunter meet. Jon’s convinced that Hunter is in love with Esme, and that Hunter must be out of the picture if their upcoming marriage is to succeed.
Esme thinks Jon is paranoid.
The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him.
When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance.
They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other.
Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?
Excerpt
While everyone around Hunter ate and drank, Hunter swirled the liquid in his glass and watched his friends and family interact with Jon.
The man was suave when he wanted to be; Hunter would give him that. He wore the right suits, said the right words, and charmed the right people.
What a hero.
He was also several inches shorter than Hunter, which meant Esme fit neatly against his shoulder as they stood and spoke with all their guests. Esme looked so content as she reclined against Jon, and Hunter wasn’t the only one who had noticed. The last person who had commented on Jon and Esme within Hunter’s earshot had called them “two peas in a pod” as if there were awards to be won in the category.
Well, there weren’t.
In that moment, Hunter was very glad he hadn’t been drinking that night, because otherwise he might have gone so far as announcing that fact to everyone. There are no awards for being two peas in a pod, everyone. Oh, and by the way, you should meet this guy when he isn’t trying to impress you. He’s a bit of a prick.
But, of course, no one wanted to hear that. No one wanted to hear anything from Hunter tonight except for a glowing toast endorsing the golden couple.
He still hadn’t written anything, although he had googled a generic speech and printed it out. It was in his pocket now, but he hadn’t practiced it and reading the prepackaged speech was pretty much out of the question now, thanks to his dyslexia. Reading on the best of days usually didn’t go that well for Hunter, but when he was seething mad?
Yeah, that wasn’t happening.
So he sat and swirled and watched and tried to imagine what in the world he could say that wouldn’t earn him more frowns than his jeans had already earned him.
Then it hit him: Why try? Why not be honest?
There wasn’t a face at this party that he hadn’t known for the better part of twenty years—well, except Jon. His smug mug was as new as it was unwelcome in Hunter’s book. But everyone knew Hunter and they’d know if he vomited some fake, glowing speech their direction.
So why should he?
Why not be honest?
The idea grew on Hunter as the night went on and the praise for Jon became more and more abundant. The clincher was when Jon’s best man stood up and gave a speech that proved he’d probably met Esme all of once, and everyone in attendance nodded and beamed as the guy praised Esme in the most generic of terms.
According to whatever the best man’s name was, Esme was kind and compassionate and a joy to all those who met her.
Seriously? The guy had clearly never been within earshot of Esme when an ice cream truck passed in July playing Christmas music. That would redefine the guy’s definition of “joy to all those around her.” Yet everyone ooohed and ahhhhed and clapped until the guy sat and Jon gave his bestie an appreciative slap on the back with a look that said, Well done.
Then everyone in the future wedding party looked at Hunter expectantly. It was his turn.
In that moment, Hunter had a choice to make. He could either repeat the same lame puffery the best man had, or he could give the speech that had been building up in him like a sneeze all night.
Be nice now and freak out later, or let it all hang out? That was the question. And one quick glance at Jon’s arrogant face gave Hunter his answer.
Author Sheralyn Pratt
Some describe Sheralyn as a girl who’s been around the block and worked at every shop. This isn’t far from the truth. Writing is what she loves most, however. There’s a magical power in stepping into new perspectives time and again, and seeing the world through different eyes. Few things increase empathy more than walking in another’s shoes for 100,000 words or so. At least that seems to be the trend so far.
Some random things to know about Sheralyn:
* She’s a wanderer (geographically)
* She can write a novel, but doesn’t have the attention span for one page in a journal
* She vehemently disagrees with Stephen King’s stance that authors should not watch TV
* She is pretty much incapable of sleeping before midnight
Website * Twitter * Facebook
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
Ends 9/23/16
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
August 31, 2016
Happy Hump Day!
Today I’m at Fang-tastic Books and The Book Junkie Reads. Want to know how I roll in my writing routine or join my musical pity party? Swing by and say hey!
August 30, 2016
Day Deux – Beautifully Burned Blog Tour
Happy Tuesday! Here are all the places I am today…leave your stapler behind and say hi. It will be okay, I promise.
Roxanne’s Realm
ParaYourNormal
August 29, 2016
Day 1 Blog Tour – Beautifully Burned
Happy Monday, people! Well, as happy as a Monday can be…
Today is the kickoff to the week-long blog tour for Beautifully Burned through the fabulous Bewitching Book Tours, and of course I’m giving stuff away. Not only is there a $50 Amazon gift card going out, but there are two prize packs too. In line with my dreamcaster theme, one prize pack includes things to help you sleep (fuzzy sheep slippers, anyone?), and the other is to keep you awake (I needed an excuse to give away chocolate covered coffee beans).
Today, I’m at:
Books,Dreams,Life
http://staceyschneller06.wordpress.com
Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
Mello and June, It’s a Book Thang!
http://mellojune.blogspot.com
Stop by and say hi!
August 26, 2016
Rendezvous With Yesterday – The Gifted Ones Book #2 by Dianne Duvall
I’m so psyched to share the cover for Dianne Duvall’s Rendezvous With Yesterday (The Gifted Ones, #2) AND an amazing pre-order giveaway!
RENDEZVOUS WITH YESTERDAY
The Gifted Ones Book 2
By Dianne Duvall
Coming October 17, 2016
Special Pre-Order Discounted Price—$4.99
Modern-day bounty hunter Bethany Bennett helps her brother track two fugitives to a forest outside of Houston, Texas. But what should have been a routine apprehension of two bail skippers spirals out of control and ends in violence. After Beth and her brother are both seriously injured, a mysterious figure suddenly looms over her. And, when the smoke clears, Beth finds herself not only in another place, but in another time.
As Lord Robert, Earl of Fosterly, attempts to identify and track down the nameless enemy who has been plaguing his lands and people with violence, the most peculiar woman stumbles into his path. Small, vulnerable, yet possessed of a bold, fiery spirit and wicked sense of humor, she persists in dubbing Robert and his men members of something called a medieval reenactment group . . . until she sees his castle and labels herself mad. It seems bounty hunter Bethany Bennett has come to him from the future, bringing with her laughter and chaos, swiftly winning the hearts of his people and inspiring within him a love he thought he would never experience again. But when Robert discovers a way for her to return to her time, will the love they share be enough to keep them together?
Now Available for Pre-Order!
Kindle | Kobo | Nook | iBooks | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Audiobook on Amazon
And don’t miss the book that started it all!
A Sorceress of His Own (The Gifted Ones, #1)
About the Author:
Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series and The Gifted Ones series. Her books have twice been nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews. Reviewers have called Dianne’s books “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews), “fast-paced and humorous” (Publishers Weekly), “extraordinary” (Long and Short Reviews), and “wonderfully imaginative” (The Romance Reviews).
Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn’t writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she has created in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com. You can also find Dianne online . . .
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Tsū | YouTube | Pinterest | Goodreads | Google Plus
Rendezvous With Yesterday Pre-Order Giveaway!
To celebrate the upcoming release and to thank readers who pre-order Rendezvous With Yesterday, Dianne is launching a big Pre-Order Giveaway with multiple prizes, including Amazon Gift Cards, tote bags, signed books, coffee mugs, and more. You can learn more on her website — www.DianneDuvall.com — or fill out the form below to enter to win:
https://goo.gl/forms/FpfskwrHYGXa5xol2
August 25, 2016
Giveaways and some Supernatural
Happy Thursday, everyone! I’m over at the Otherworld Diner today, comparing Daxen from Beautifully Burned to my boys, the Winchesters from Supernatural. And it’s another chance to enter the $25 Amazon giftcard giveaway…the hour countdown is on, so hurry up and enter, people!
And there’s still time to enter the other two giveaways going on, a $10 Amazon giftcard at I Smell Sheep and Godiva truffles at Tome Tender.
August 23, 2016
Whoop De Doo
Happy Tuesday, people! Today is release day for Beautifully Burned, which is, of course, super-exciting. For me, at least. 
August 20, 2016
Book Boyfriends and Giveaway
Happy Saturday, everyone! I’m over at the fabulous A Thousand Words, a Million Books today talking about a handful of favorite book boyfriends. Stop by and say hi – I’m also giving away a $25 Amazon gift card, you know, so you can find some MORE book boyfriends! And maybe to celebrate the upcoming release of Beautifully Burned on August 23. Oh, look! Another book boyfriend!
August 12, 2016
Write Now! Workshop
When I got the rights back to Wonderfully Wicked, I was a little lost. I don’t regret publishing it first with a small publishing house because it was a great learning experience and I met some fantastic people, some who I still stay connected to. But at the same time, I expected the publishing experience to be, well…more. It was super-exciting to have a publisher want my story, but I learned that not all editors are created equal. I learned that while you might have a little bit of say in the cover, it’s pretty much out of your hands. And I learned that a publisher expects you to wear your promotion hat a lot, even though they get the larger profit portion. Essentially, being published burst my newbie author bubble.
freedigitalphotos.net/arztsamui
I’d never considered self-publishing before, mostly because of the stigma, the misconceptions I had before doing my research. To a lot of people, “self-publish” is synonymous with “you’re not good enough for a publisher.” Nowadays, I believe that has changed dramatically. Authors are learning the ropes, that they can make more money by cutting out the middle men while having complete control. All that promotion is entirely on you, as well as the profits.
Now, my second self-published book, Beautifully Burned, will be released next week – hooray!
But I wouldn’t have made it to this place without the knowledge of the amazing Kitty Bucholtz, who guided me step-by-step through the entire self-publishing process. Not only is she a self-published author herself, she’s taught hundreds of writers how to improve their writing and publish their books, and right now sign-ups are happening for her next self-publishing course. There are even some bonuses for signing up before August 15:
7 Ways to Market and Promote Your Book Without Breaking the Bank, PINTEREST for the Confused and Terrified Writer LIVE private webinar, and a 30-minute coaching call with Kitty.
Don’t lollygag…space is limited to 50 students, and there’s a special price offer going on right now. Kitty makes the whole process easy to understand, from ISBNs to keywords to easy how-to instructions for uploading to sale outlets, and taking her class gives you access to the private Facebook group for questions and support. If you want to know how this whole self-publishing gig works, Kitty’s your gal.
Want more details? Check it out here: Write Now! Workshop
ABOUT KITTY BUCHOLTZ
In addition to writing romantic comedies and superhero urban fantasy, Kitty is a total geek for anything related to brains. (No, she’s not a zombie.) She loves reading about how to improve organizational and time management skills, and studying how to use our brains to improve every area of our lives.
In 2011, she decided to combine her undergraduate degree in business, her years of experience in accounting and finance, and her Master of Arts degree in creative writing to become a writer-turned-independent-publisher. Though her husband thinks she just likes to be the center of attention, Kitty thoroughly enjoys sharing what she’s learned with others, which is why she teaches as often as she can.
