Stephanie Summers's Blog, page 4

A Beautiful Chaos by Jessa Ely Releasing Soon!

Releasing December 15, 2015

A Beautiful Chaos

(Love & Lies #2)

by

Jessa Ely

Marguerite Callahan is working double time, both on the clock and with her heart. During a temporary stint as a masked pole dancer, Marguerite meets Dominic, a handsome businessman only interested in one thing. Now Marguerite must deal with a wicked temptation while hiding her biggest secret, her identity.

The moment Chaos appears on stage, Dominic is obsessed. But frustration mounts when Chaos refuses to remove her mask, and Dominic becomes distracted by a compelling new woman at the office. Now Dominic must decide, is the pure sexuality he has with Chaos enough, or is he ready for something more?


Excerpt

The house lights came on, illuminating the stark pole center stage. An eerie ambiance wafted over the prestigious and privately owned gentlemen’s club, The Swan.

Breaths were held.

Hearts pounded.

Expectations heightened.

Cigar smoke lingered in the air and drinks flowed while the patrons anticipated the single moment when they would see her. Everyone was so eager to catch a glimpse of this stunning, weekly performer that the admittance fee was doubled Friday’s at midnight. The price to glimpse her was five hundred dollars per person, non-refundable, and completely worth the money. As testament, The Swan was packed.

She was exclusive. Mesmerizing. Sensual.

A deep voice boomed, “Ladies and gentlemen…Chaos.”

Highly erotic, musical tones sparked through the hushed air as fog gathered in elegant spirals. She appeared, swathed in skimpy black panties and black coattails, her toned body glimmering under the brilliant spotlight. Chaos defied gravity in her sexy black stilettos, gliding elegantly on stage to the bump of the music.

An expertly tied bow tie rested around her neck, and a black top hat covered her hair, but it was her masquerade mask—black and adorned with feathers—which held all the attention.

She was a complete mystery.

Dominic Montgomery was obsessed with her. He came every week to see her. She was the luscious anomaly he craved more than sanity.

The Swan was posh, and no dancer went fully naked, keeping it classy. Chaos shed her jacket, exposing the thin wisp of fabric covering her breasts, and grasped the pole. Her top hat followed, releasing her luxurious mane of blonde hair in a seductive curl down her back as subtle gasps shot through the crowd. Her movement flowed over the metal pole as if water, perfect, her body a master’s touch of sensuality. She evoked complete control, matching her limbs to the beat of the music and twisting herself over her solid, metallic partner.

Everything within Dominic screamed for her; his breath to inhale her, his mouth to taste her, his hands to hold her. He stood transfixed, his gaze following every fluid thrust of her body, his heart nearly pumping out of his chest. Every grind of her hips amped his need. Every teasing caress of her hands was another dig at the deprivation he needed soothed. It was all he could do to stand there and watch her bump and grind over the pole. All he wanted to do was drag her off the stage by her hair, wrap her lithe legs around his hips, and find release. Four glorious minutes and a hard erection later, Chaos finished her performance. Dominic took a deep breath, willing his body under control, but it was no use. She had bewitched him. She plied him once again with erotic, visual stimuli until every animalistic desire shook his usual calm reserve. Damn.

He ordered whiskey and impatiently sipped the fiery liquid. He would wait just a little longer.

Double damn. He held back until he could at least breathe normally, and then he made his way to her.

Find Jessa here:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27778702-a-beautiful-chaos

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessa_elywrites

Giveaways!!

Check out the pinned post on my Facebook page for a chance to win a paperback copy of The Willow Creek Vampires Series Set (original cover) that has been signed by many of the attending authors of Rebels & Readers this year, as well as a paperback copy of Take Me On (original cover) signed by me. In the spirit of giving, I want you to show some love to one of your favorite authors. You can share their author page, share a teaser, post about a book you think the whole world should read, just to suggest a few ideas. Once you've done that, comment on my pinned post on www.facebook.com/authorstephaniesummers and let me know what you've done. Simple as that. This giveaway is open to the US and internationally.

I also recently announced that I am working with The Next Step PR, and they have a fabulous rafflecopter giveaway going on right now! Want to win this Anne Klein watch or this Kate Spad purse? Check out the rafflecopter link. This one is open to US residents only, and you must subscribe to each author's newsletter in order to qualify. If you don't, you'll be disqualified. https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f6aa11fd6/
Keep an eye on The Next Step PR's facebook page because they will be running another giveaway for a $300 Amazon gift card starting December 16. www.facebook.com/thenextsteppr

December 02nd, 2015

Authors in the City Romance Book Signing March 12, 2016The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center Kissimmee, FL
You are cordially invited to attend the third annual Authors in the City romance book signing, hosted byStephanie's Book Reports. The signing will be held at The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. Join 70 plus Romance Authors in Florida for this awesome event! Author list is subject to change at any time.

The event schedule is as follows:

11:00 AM - Check-in begins. Skip the Line and Bloggers have first priority checking and entry.

11:30 AM - Bloggers & Skip the Line winners allowed in signing room

12:00 PM - Signing doors open to ticket holders

4:00 PM - Signing ends.

6:00 PM - Dinner (All Day ticket holders)

7:00 PM - Awards/Christmas in the City Check Presentation (All Day ticket holders)

8:00 PM - The Great Gatsby After Party (All Day ticket holders)

Tickets: Tickets will be on sale Nov. 27, 2015 - Dec. 24, 2015. Sale prices reflected below

Signing Only - $10

Sighing PLUS After Party - $50

Purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/authors-in-the-city-kissimmee-fl-tickets-17191916485.

Hotel: We have rooms reserved in a block for Authors in the City starting at $159/night at The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.

Reserve your room: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/AuthorsintheCity One night stay deposit required.

Extras:

If you're flying into Florida and need a shuttle to the hotel Mears Transportation is the best and easiest. Also we have a small discount for Disney, Sea World, and Universal tickets.

Reserve here: https://www.hello-usa.com/tickets/ac16/index.asp

Ticket Holder Giveaway:

All persons purchasing a ticket for Authors in the City will be entered into our Annual Ticket Holders Giveaway. One winner will win a signed paperback from each author attending the day of the book signing. A minimum of five Skip the Line winners will be drawn to enter the signing room 30 minutes before the signing starts.

Winners will be picked via Random.org and emailed prior to the event so arrangements can be made for the paperback winner to collect their books and Skip the Line can arrive early enough for checking in.

Special Holiday Ticket Giveaway:

One winner will win a signed photograph of Cover Model Jase Dean for those that buy their tickets during the sale period. The photo is also signed by Furious Fotog Golden Czermak who took the shot.

Links:

Website: http://www.authorsinthecity.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorsinthecity
Attendees Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ATICAttendees/
Blogger Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AITCBlogs/
Host Blog: http://www.stephaniesbookreports.com
Host Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/StephaniesBookReports
Host Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SBRReadersGroup/

Take Me Home Available January 4th!

The title says it all, folks! Take Me Home will be releasing January 4th, and preorder will go up in the next week or so. Cover reveal will probably happen around December 13th.

Take Me Home Announcement Coming Soon!

Provided everything goes as planned this week and next, I will be announcing the release date for Take Me Home next weekend! The only hitch might be that I start a new class next week and am not sure what the workload will be just yet, though I don't anticipate it interfering with my writing schedule much, if at all.

I'm also going to Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving, but I will not be taking a break from working hard on Take Me Home. I always find myself inspired when I'm near the ocean, and I'm looking forward to getting this story to a place where I feel comfortable setting the date. It is very close to going into those final edits and revisions, and I am so excited for you all to read the conclusion to Ash and Lila's story. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to let me know how much you enjoyed the story or to ask when Take Me Home would be available! I know I kind of beat around the bush a bit in regard to the date, but I didn't want to set something in stone and then have the story potentially suffer if I got behind but felt like I had to stick to that date. I know how disappointing it can be to anticipate a book on the release date, only to have the book pushed back. I didn't want to risk doing that.

Be sure to follow my Facebook page or check back here for the announcement next weekend!

For those interested in receiving an ARC for Take Me Home in exchange for an honest review (to be posted on within two weeks of release), please contact me so I can add you to the list. I don't send them out to everyone, but it's where I pull names from.

Young Adult Version of Willow Creek Vamps

I guess the title probably says it all, but read on for more info...

I've been lucky enough to attend three different author signing events this year, and my Willow Creek Vamps always seem to do very well. However, I've had a ton of readers at each event ask me if they're appropriate for a younger audience. If you've read them, you know they're not, but it got me to thinking about an audience of readers who either aren't allowed to read adult books or who just prefer young adult. I think Craving, Haunting, and Awakening are really good stories (yeah I'll toot my own horn, but I can honestly say I do read them on the regular because I love them that much), and I'd like to get them into the hands of as many readers as possible.

I have decided to release a young adult version of The Willow Creek Vampires Series. I don't know when it'll happen as it won't be my main project, and I doubt it'll happen before next year. I'll be working on it when I get burnt out on whatever my main work in progress is. The original versions with all the eff bombs and steamy sex will still be available as well. I wouldn't yank them in favor of changing them to a different genre. I just want to make the story as a whole available to more people.

Here's a little Take Me Home update while I'm at it. I am working hard to get it released next month. If everything works as planned, I should be announcing a date soon. I've had a minor set back with being so sick at the moment, but I still managed to crank out 1,400 words last night in a really important scene that I'd been having trouble with. You see? I feel like death warmed over, but TMH is still my priority at the moment. lol :) I'm getting very close to  final editing/revisions (I do a lot of this as I write), so it shouldn't be much longer before I'll make that release date announcement and reveal the cover.

As always, thanks so much to everyone who has read my books or helped to spread the word about them. It means more to me than you'll ever know!

Rebels & Readers Author Event

Rebels & Readers is coming up fast! I cannot wait to attend this event. It's in my home state, and I'm ecstatic to be a part of it. Stop by my table and see me if you're planning on going. See you on November 7th and 8th!

Virginia is for Romance Author Event

If you live in the Richmond, VA, area or within traveling distance, and you want to come and see me, please get your tickets now! The signing takes place on October 3 at Four Points by Sheraton Airport Hotel. The signing is broken up into three blocks throughout the day to create a more intimate signing experience. Tickets are $10 and they include entrance to the catered after party. Hope to see lots of you there! I'll have free swag in addition to signed paperbacks available for purchase.

Paperback reservation form for my books: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wjG6eDYSLHGG9bolO9rYPOsQO6G_eiHyU0OurV6GnBs/viewform

Tickets: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/virginia-is-for-romance-author-event-tickets-15968874333?aff=eac2

Virginia is for Romance website: http://www.vaisforromance.com/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1461316434158213/

Desperate Whispers by Jessa Ely

Dane Corbett had left Eva Falls in pursuit of dreams. When he is drawn back to the very place from which he ran, he discovers the mayor’s daughter lying in a ditch. She is not the same vibrant woman he left behind, and he wants answers.The demons of Rachel Ryan’s past cloud her present, yet her carefully built walls of isolation weaken as she is drawn to Dane. She fights the desperate whispers telling her to flee, wanting instead to surrender her fears.
Reaching beyond shame and sorrow, they discover a love that even a deadly vendetta cannot destroy.


Releases August 15 and August 16 for Amazon. Available for preorder now!
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1LccsXj
All Romance eBooks: http://www.bookstrand.com/desperate-whispers
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/desperate-whispers
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/desperate-whispers

Ch-Ch-Changes...

I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I do mean a lot. I very rarely ever just jump into something all willy-nilly and hope for the best. I'd much rather go over it and over it in my head a hundred times before I act, so when I say I've thought about this, I really have... numerous times. I'm sure if you're reading this, you have no doubt heard of Amazon's Kindle Unlimited subscription services and the brouhaha that went down when they announced they'd be switching from royalties per book to royalties per page. Authors were outraged, books were pulled from Select, chaos ensued...

I stayed fairly silent on the topic, except for discussions here and there i had with one of my best friends, Beth, and my husband. At first, I felt it was a horrible thing and that I'd never enroll my books in Kindle Select ever again. In fact, I'd only enrolled Craving when it first released and my short story, Saved by the Bear, was eventually part of the program to test out the Kindle Unlimited waters last year. I wasn't impressed with the results I got from Craving and figured it'd be better to branch out into other retailer sites since I was just starting out and trying to build an audience.

But then I started to really think about it for myself and what it could mean for me. As it got closer to time for Take Me On to be released and the start of the new pay-per-page-read royalty policy, I decided to take the leap again and test things out for myself. To date, Take Me On has been my most successful release, and it isn't because of the sales it's getting (though I certainly can't complain there because that's been pretty darn good, too). It's because of the pages read in Kindle Unlimited.

The very first day TMO was in the program, I had over 3,000 pages read. That was a huge leap compared to the one or two borrows here and there of Saved by the Bear that I got before that and the one borrow Craving had before Unlimited. I figured it was all because it was a new release and it would die down in a few days. To my surprise, that has not been the case, and I have made it to close to 8,000 pages read a day on more than one occasion. It's been between 5,000 and 7,000 steadily for the last couple of weeks now. In fact, in the first 11 days of this month, I have over 65,000 total pages read. Granted, that could all change at any moment, but it got me to thinking. IF Amazon pays even a half cent per page, I stand to make over a grand from Unlimited alone this month if my numbers average what they've been for the rest of the month. That's a pretty good chunk of money...

I am still a relatively small time author who hopes to one day become a mid-lister (though The Willow Creek Vampires Series ushering in the next vampire craze would be pretty sweet, too, if I'm being honest). I have no reason to believe I won't make it to mid-lister status at some point if I keep heading in the direction I'm going now, especially since I'm leaps and bounds ahead of where I was a little over a year ago when I first published. I'm still building my audience and trying like hell to get my name out there.

On the surface it would seem like the more places my work is available, the better. I'm not sure that's the case for me at least not until I can build up a bigger presence. As you can see from the numbers I provided above, I could be making over a thousand dollars this month before I even look at my sales figures. Want to know how much I make everywhere else that isn't Amazon for The Willow Creek Vampires Series? On a good month, I make maybe $30 combined and that's a REALLY good month and it's usually closer t0 $15 or $20. Now that's not to say that I don't appreciate those readers because I do. I am beyond thankful for anyone and everyone who took a chance on my books. The problem is, $30 doesn't pay my bills and this is what I do for a living.

I love writing more than I ever thought possible when I first started almost three years ago now, but I'm a business woman at heart. I even have a bachelor degree in that. I view myself as a small business, and my mind is constantly looking for the best business decisions. I've heard from people in the know who have said going exclusive with Amazon isn't the best thing because you exclude the audience of other retailers. However, not going exclusive excludes Kindle Unlimited readers, and I think for me personally, I may have a bigger audience there.

Let me explain what I mean because some of you might be thinking that those readers could still purchase my books if they wanted to. I recently signed up for Unlimited myself. Last month, Amazon had some sort of dealy where you got 30% for a year's subscription, so I figured I'd try it for myself. Once I did that, I found myself scrolling right past books that weren't in the program without even really meaning to. How many Unlimited subscribers do the same thing? My bet is a whole lot of them. If you're paying a monthly subscription, you want to get the biggest bang for your buck. Why would you drop more money on books that aren't included in it when you're paying for unlimited reading for the month? I have since purchased a few other books that aren't in Unlimited, but I'm not sure that's a common occurrence once someone is enrolled in the program.

So basically I am giving KDP Select another shot on The Willow Creek Vampires Series. I *think* I will still have Craving set to free and not enroll it, but Haunting and Awakening will be enrolled for at least 90 days. During that time, those books won't be available in ebook format outside of Amazon. Paperbacks will still be available elsewhere. It might only last the initial 90 days, but it could be an indefinite thing if it goes well. I have to test the waters for myself and see where the waves take me. I will be making the transition over the next week, so if you want to read WCVS and haven't and you purchase books from B&N, iBooks, Smashwords, etc., you'll have a limited time to pick them up.

It could be a colossal fail, but I'll never know if I don't try. Thankfully, I have the support of my husband (both emotionally and financially), and writing has given me the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom to my two kids, but I have to go where I have the best chance of making a living from what I love to do so I can continue to live the life I want to live. If everything goes how I hope it does, my goal is to build up my name as an author and then go wide later on.

Before I sign off, I want to say that I in no way think every author should go exclusive with Amazon. In fact, I think there are a lot of authors that it would hurt if they did. If you already have an established readership or if your sales on other outlets are strong, then Select wouldn't make sense. But for me for now, all signs point to Amazon. Stay tuned for the continuing saga of Stephanie's writing journey... lol