MariaLisa deMora's Blog, page 5

Cover reveal for Fury, RWMC book #11

Cover Reveal
Fury, Rebel Wayfarers MC book #11

Release November 2017

Photography: Sara Eirew – https://www.facebook.com/saraeirewphotographer/

Model: Gabe LaDuke – www.instagram.com/nodigity666/

Artist: Debera Kuntz

As soon as he could, Gabriel Ledbetter fled his family’s home in the mountains of Kentucky. Those hills and valleys were undeniably beautiful, but they masked a painful legacy of loss and betrayal. Gabe counted himself fortunate to have gotten out, his scream-filled nightmares a reminder that not everyone had been as lucky.  

Gabe, now called Fury, has built a family for himself with the men he calls brothers. Over time, he worked his way from club to club, managing to climb the ladder of responsibility until in his small world he was the top dog. Big man, but one with an empty bed.

Bethany Mason-Taylor has lived her whole life in survival mode. From her first memories of a traumatic childhood, it always felt as if she were skating a mere stone’s throw ahead of disaster. Everything finally seems to be on track for success, and now that she’s put her most embarrassing fiasco behind her, managing the come-back tour for a band signed by her brother’s record label should be a breeze.

That is until one gloriously handsome redhead slipped into her hotel room and derailed all of Bethy’s carefully laid plans. She’s the forbidden fruit, sister of his MC president. He’s her ultimate weakness. Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun.

#RWMC #RebelWayfarersMC #TeamFury #MariaLisadeMora

The post Cover reveal for Fury, RWMC book #11 appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

Road Runner’s Ride – LIVE!

 

☆♡¸.•*´¨ Road Runner’s Ride, including bonus short story, Never Settle – NOW LIVE ! ¨´*•.¸♡☆

Amazon: http://getBook.at/RoadRunnersRide

iBooks: http://bit.ly/RoadRunnersRide-iTunes

BnN: http://bit.ly/BnN-RoadRunnersRide

Road Runner’s Ride

Sexy as hell chef. 

Rough and ready biker. 

Controlling and determined … Dom?

What happens when we begin living out our dreams? Are you brave enough to push past society’s barriers to see who you are? Kevin is, and he’s willing to take us along on his path of discovery, promising to grant glimpses into secret worlds.

Road Runner’s Ride, as sent out to my newsletter subscribers, was a nice, eighteen chapter, kinda longish novella. Now, after more than a year and a half of being sent out every month, he’s resting. Kinda. Actually, he talked me into adding more than 15k to his manuscript! Which means even the folks who read his story every month only got a portion of the tale! I hope everyone enjoys seeing even more of Kevin and his Aurelie.

Includes short story, Never Settle. Goose’s story cried out to be told, and a one-sided short featuring Kris and Francine was originally published in one of the Biker Chicks anthology books. This version is expanded, too. Hope you enjoy this small window into his part of the RWMC.

Thanks to Eric David Battershell (https://www.instagram.com/ericbattershellphotography/) for the stunning image, and to Alex Boivin (https://www.instagram.com/Alex_Boivin_Official/) and Marie Eve (https://www.instagram.com/marie_b95xo/), for gracing the cover. Thanks to Debera Kuntz for working her magic on the design!

#RoadRunnersRide #RWMC #RebelWayfarersMC #MariaLisadeMora

The post Road Runner’s Ride – LIVE! appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

Cover Reveal: Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad

✬✬ ▬▬ ✬✬

Cover Reveal

Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad

Release date: Sept. 18, 2017

Book #2 in the ‘Neither This, Nor That’ MC series

Photography, WANDER AGUIAR :: PHOTOGRAPHY​ – www.wanderaguiar.com/

Model, James Clippinger – www.instagram.com/jamesclippinger/

Artist, Debera Kuntz

Fate is a fickle mistress. No matter a man’s desires, she tends to give with one hand, and take with the other. Good or bad, it doesn’t matter to her, as long as there’s balance.

Ralph Lewis, otherwise known as Po’Boy, made one decision that changed the trajectory of his entire life. On the losing end of a schoolyard fight, he’d been on his back in the dust, glaring up at the boy who’d flattened him. Had watched unbelieving as that same boy stretched out his hand, offering to help Ralph to his feet. Against every instinct, he had accepted.

In that instant, he went from friendless pariah to having a partner and ally. For the first time in his life, he was respected … and feared. Po’Boy spent the next decade defending his position at his best friend’s side. Life was good. Fate has a way of taking back the reins, though.

A long-ago action places him directly in the crosshairs of their enemies, and circumstances force Po’Boy’s hand. Members of motorcycle clubs, men like him who live an outlaw’s life don’t treat kindly with traitors, and in their world, that is what Po’Boy has become.

With events threatening to pull him away from everything he holds dear, he’s made to walk a careful line to keep those he loves safe. Bound by silence, for his brothers’ sake, he’ll suffer through the worst thing that can happen to a man who lives and breathes the brotherhood. Out Bad.

#NTNT #NeitherThisNorThat #PoBoy #PoBoyIsComing #OutBad

The post Cover Reveal: Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

With My Whole Heart – LIVE!

 

 

Title: With My Whole Heart

 

Author: MariaLisa deMora

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

 

Release Date: March 20, 2017

 

 

With My Whole Heart is a complicated story about family. Jaime’s a young, single mother who is trying to make ends meet, feeling like she’s always waging an uphill battle to make sure she and her son are housed, fed, and healthy. Connor’s designed his life to stay too busy for relationships.

How complicated is it?

 

She’s his big brother’s surrogate, and he’s the sperm donor. How in the hell would this ever work? Connor didn’t know, but he was determined to convince the feisty little blonde to take a chance on him. What he didn’t realize was it meant taking a chance on himself, too.

 

Caution: This isn’t an MC story. If you’re looking for grit, you’ll need to get your hard on somewhere else. No one gets kidnapped or assaulted in this one. Or even runs around without underwear on, I mean … the hero wears boxers at one point. Come on! It’s like I don’t know the me who wrote it. Plus it’s super sappy in places, and an unusual story setup. It’s not a feckin’ unicorn, but it’ll do.

 

 

“This book has a special place in my heart. I was pulled in from the first words to the last. I love when a story calls to my heart, when you can honestly relate to the characters.” – Shay from Mommys a Book Whore

 

“This author’s writing is just so sublime – the hard edges of the brittle life she depicted through clipped dialogue and terse prose in Bones being smoothed out and rounded eloquently into this intimate romance, centred as it is around warm, loving people who care so deeply for one another.” – Carcoura LaRomantique, Goodreads review

 

“This book is epically brilliant. Between her genius little boy and her tough backbone, you can’t help but admire Jaime.” – Angela, Goodreads review

 

“I finished reading with a smile on my face and joyful heart. I recommend to all who want a story full of emotions and good feelings.” – Lu Bielefeld *Book Whore Brazil*

 

Amazon  Nook  iBooks  Kobo









From Chapter 6
Connor

Standing just around the corner from the living room, Connor was glad no one had heard him come in the front door.

Marie and Cooper both knew where he stood on this meeting, and it wasn’t in favor of it at all. If they’d seen him, they would have clammed up, afraid to set him off. He was excited about them having another baby, knew it was something Marie had dreamed of nearly since Sam was put in her arms.

With a gestational carrier, he had no worries there. There was absolutely nothing to tie the baby back to the womb that nurtured during the pregnancy. Needing an egg donor, well, he got that it took two to tango, and with Marie’s eggs not an option, a donor was necessary. But he’d urged them to do a blind donation, not someone you had to look in the face for nine months. Sperm donor, also a necessity, and one he was honored his brother had asked him to do again.

Connor didn’t get confused, though, didn’t have any issues with Sam calling him Uncle Con. Never thought of the boy as his child. Sam was Cooper’s kid, end of story. This, though? Having the egg donor and carrier in one person and then getting to know that person intimately? Mistake.

That was how he’d felt until five minutes ago, at least.

Hearing this woman express sorrow at the death of someone she never knew shocked him, but her sincerity couldn’t be questioned. She sounded like she knew how it felt, and the genuine sadness in her voice picked at the scar he carried inside him.

When Cole had died, he’d known it. The minute it happened, he’d felt it. That damn psychic tie so many twins had that he and science couldn’t explain. The echo that had been so strong between them, always. Bicycle wrecks and broken hearts, everything had been shared between the two of them.

It meant the very instant his brother was no longer breathing on this earth had branded in his brain. Connor had been on the basketball court, taking a class of freshmen through a new set of drills when it felt like his heart exploded. He’d fallen to his knees, hands clutching his chest, silent in the face of an overwhelming pain. Scared the fuck out of the kids. They’d thought Coach was having a heart attack, and two of them had dialed 911, calling the sheriff to the school before he could stop them, leaving Connor to have to try and explain something he couldn’t even put words to.

Four days later, when the same sheriff came visiting they’d shared a knowing look. It wasn’t news to Connor that Cole was gone. Not to him. The silence in his head was enough proof for him.

If I’d gone in the military with him, I would have been there. Could have saved him. That was the only thing he and his twin had ever really argued about, and in the end, Cole’s driven need to protect and serve had won out, separating the two men for the first time in their lives.

Connor hadn’t felt the same calling, though. Cole had enlisted and headed to boot camp, and Connor had gone to college instead.

He listened to the murmur of voices grow softer, more distant and knew Cooper, Marie, and the woman had gone into the kitchen. Connor had been supposed to meet her, not understanding why Cooper wanted him to have a face to go with the carrier’s name, Jaime Grimes, but he’d been willing to go along with it. He’d laughed and told his brother, “Least I can do.”

Connor lifted a hand, knuckles grinding roughly across his sternum, accepting the pain as his due.

Knowing this woman standing in his big brother’s kitchen understood about loss, too, he couldn’t go in there. Couldn’t face her, afraid she’d see the guilt he tried to keep buried. If I’d been there.

Turning on his heel, he stalked to the door and went out, closing it soundlessly behind him.

 











Rebel

Wayfarers MC series

 

 

Series Reading Order & Series Buy Links

 

Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  Kobo  •  iTunes

 

Occupy

Yourself Band series

 

Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  Kobo  •  iTunes

 

Neither

This, Nor That MC series

 

Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  Kobo  •  iTunes

 

Raised in the south, MariaLisa learned about the magic of books at an early age. Every summer, she would spend hours in the local library, devouring books of every genre. Self-described as a book-a-holic, she says “I’ve always loved to read, but then I discovered writing, and found I adored that, too. For reading … if nothing else is available, I’ve been known to read the back of the cereal box.”



A hockey fan, hiker, gamer, and single mom of a special needs son, she embraces her inner geek and has been working in the tech field for a publishing company for a couple decades.



Music is a driving passion, and she says, “I love music of nearly any genre — jazz, country, rock, alt rock, metal, classical, bluegrass, rap, hip hop … you name it, I listen to it. I can often be seen dancing through the house in the early mornings. But I really, REALLY love live music. My favorite thing with music is seeing bands in small, dive bars [read: small, intimate venues]. If said bar [venue] has a good selection of premium tequila, then that’s a plus!”

Connect with MariaLisa

 

Facebook • Twitter • Website • Goodreads • Pinterest • Amazon • Instagram






 Hosted by

The post With My Whole Heart – LIVE! appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

Biker Chicks v3 – NOW LIVE!

** IT’s LIVE **

 

 
One Click NOW to get your copy of

Biker Chicks 3

 

AN ANTHOLOGY OF HOT MC ROMANCE

 

 

 

 

 

 Add to your TBR:







Blurb

 

Bikers, the ultimate alpha males. But what of women who ride?

These sexy independent road warriors shirk the conventions of lady-like

behavior and live life by their own terms – wild and free.

 

 

 

BIKER CHICKS is full of sexy stories about women who ride,

whether they be lone wolves or part of a gang. Some of the best authors in MC

romance along with some new names and faces to the genre tell us how these

strong women find the sexual satisfaction and romance we all long for, for one

of the best causes.

 

 

 

All proceeds of this anthology go to Bikers Against Child

Abuse*, so come take a ride with us.

 

 

 

Authors in this Anthology include…

 

Susan Child

 

MariaLisa deMora

 

A.J. Downey

 

Emma Lee

 

Vera Quinn

 

K. Renee

 

Bibi Rizer

 

G.M. Scherbert

 

Erin Trejo

 

Text copyright © 2017 multiple authors

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s

imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons,

living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

 

All rights reserved.

 

*Bikers Against Child Abuse International (B.A.C.A.) is not

directly affiliated with this charity-driven anthology and use of their name to

indicate funds distribution does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or

guarantee on their behalf for the efforts of these individual authors. No

liability of any kind, implied or expressed, is given with respect to B.A.C.A.

or their activities.

 

The Fallen by Susan Child

Lisa’s scooter breaks down, can she handle Connor’s Harley?

 

About Susan Child
When Susan was in high school, she never really liked to read,

but when she was a child she did. Go figure. It wasn’t until after she

graduated that she caught the reading bug. Susan had to go to a book store to

sell off her text books and a particular book caught her eye. This book stood

out from the other second-hand books because it had a pink cover. It was only a

couple of dollars, so she thought, “Why not?” But she couldn’t quite bring

herself to read her bargain book. It had a pink cover!


Then, after it tormented her for three weeks, she finally

picked it up and… could not put it down. Susan finished it in two days! After

Google-ing the author, she found that she’d written a heap of books for

Harlequin Mills & Boon as well as Single Titles.


So of course Susan had to buy all her other books! And when

she realised that there were other Mills & Boon authors out there, she just

had to search out their books, too. And she loved them!


Susan got a ton of inspiration from those books. But the most

important thing she realized was that she wanted to write those books, too. She

wanted to be a Paranormal author! Because let’s face it, who doesn’t like

things that go bump in the night?

Amazon   Honey Haven   Facebook   Newsletter   Street Team   Twitter     Website

 

 

Never Settle by MariaLisa deMora

Fran wanted a love like her grandparents, she didn’t find it

with Pete, has she found it with Kris?

 

About MariaLisa DeMora
Raised in the south, MariaLisa learned about the magic of

books at an early age. Every summer, with the help of a gracious librarian who

did not believe in age-restricted stacks, she would spend hours in the local

library, devouring books of every genre. Self-described as a book-a-holic, she

says “I always loved to read, then I discovered writing, and I adored that,

too. For reading … if nothing else is available, I’ve been known to read the

back of the cereal box.”


She still reads voraciously, and always has a few books going

in paperback, hardback, or on devices.

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Pinterest

Instagram   Amazon   B&N   iBooks   Website

 

 

Never Ride Faster by A.J. Downey

Adelaide is finally free and alone with Tabbris, her very own

guardian angel.

 

About A.J. Downey
A.J. Downey is a born and raised Seattle, WA native, and the

author of the bestselling Sacred Hearts Motorcycle Club series. She finds

inspiration from her surroundings, through the people she meets and likely as a

byproduct of way too much caffeine. She has lived many places and done many

things, though mostly through her own imagination. An avid reader all of her

life, it’s now her turn to try and give back, entertaining as she has been

entertained.

You can find her:

Amazon

Blog   Goodreads

Facebook

Pinterest

Website   YouTube

If you want the easy button digest, as well as a bunch of

exclusive content you can’t get anywhere else, sign up for her mailing list

right here http://eepurl.com/blLsyb

 

 

 

Stubborn by Emma Lee

Angelfish is headstrong but Prescott can be stubborn too.

 

 


About Emma Lee
Emma Lee is a native Californian wanderer currently

experiencing the wonder of rain in the Pacific Northwest. She loves to garden

even though she’s lousy at it, and often finds herself staring blankly while

her son discusses Minecraft. An avid reader and prolific writer all her life,

she’s recently turned to sharing the kinky, crazy stories in her head instead

of hiding them in the closet.
Goodreads

 

Laying

Ghost to Rest by Vera Quinn

Six years ago, Lottie left her home and family living her life

on her terms, returning for her Grandmother’s funeral will she finally let go

of the past?

 

About

Vera Quinn
Vera Quinn has always been an avid reader and had an active

imagination. When her sister became sick in 2015 she spent a lot of time in

doctors’ offices and hospital rooms. She filled that time reading. Her kindle

and laptop became her good friends. She started writing storylines and doing

background research. Her sister convinced her to

follow her dream, so she did and the rest is history.

Her sister passed in February 2016, and Vera published her

firstbook, Never Forever, in March 2016. She says she is learning as she goes,

and that is true. She’s been lucky to make good friends in the indie book

community and she works with some of the best. She doesn’t know what is next

but she is excited to meet it head on.

Vera has been married to her husband, Charles, for 22 years

and he is her rock. She has two grown sons.
Facebook   Twitter   Amazon   Web

 

 

Past Ride by K. Renee

Willow left Flynn 4 years ago, but now he’s found her.

 

About K. Renee
K. Renee started writing in 2015, but has loved writing since

she was young. She started writing because she couldn’t get the stories out of

her head, no matter what she did. She’s twenty-seven years old and typically

writes in her free time or on her lunch break. K. Renee works full-time and

tries to go to the gym every day. She reads constantly and has hundreds of

books she can’t wait to start.

Website

Amazon

Tsū   Instagram

Facebook Fan

Page  
Twitter   Author Goodreads Page  
Blogger Notification list

Sign up   ARC

Sign Up Sheet

 

 

Wolf not Wild by Bibi Rizer

She thought she’d lost Wild forever, but he’s back for his

Angel.

 

 

About Bibi Rizer
Bibi Rizer (http://www.bibirizer.com)

is a mom, blogger, teacher and writer living in the Pacific Northwest. While

she’s been writing professionally for many years, romance and erotica are

relatively new pursuits.

 

Bibi likes writing about strong kinky women and brave willing

men living in realistic and imperfect worlds.

 

In her spare time Bibi sings Karaoke and hangs around on film

sets with child actors. Having the the firm belief that no one can be too weird

or too funny, she happily admits that most of her favorite people and

characters are both.

 

Goodreads

Facebook

 

Twisted Pleasures by GM Scherbert


She wasn’t looking for anything that summer but she found

Lilly and Dominic.

 

About GM Scherbert
GM Scherbert was born on a brisk late April morning and grew

up in a small town in the Midwest, but quickly decided that was not the life

for her. She quickly moved away for college and thought better of returning to

that small town on a long term basis. City living is definitely the life for

her…

 

GM’s day job, working with people on the Autism spectrum,

keeps her on the go most of the time. That is when her three small daughters

and husband are not pulling her in different directions. GM is the kind of gal

who is quirky, unique, smutty, crazy, hard to hate, harder to love. She has

taken her love for telling stories to the next level by putting her hat in the

romance writing game

 

If you are interested in romance with twists and some darker

themes Author GM Scherbert will be right up your alley.

 

Oh, and she loves herself a good stalker – if you think you

are up to the task!

Facebook page   Friend me on Facebook   Amazon   Street team

 

 

Neely by Erin Trejo

 

Neely’s past has kept her traveling on the same road for

years, will she change routes for Braddon?

 

 

 

About Erin Trejo
Erin Trejo is a stay at home mother of 4. Her general

interests are, of course, writing and reading. She loves to be able to put down

all her ideas into story form for others to enjoy. She also loves spending time

with her kids and family. She’s a pretty down to earth person and usually a

goof ball.
Newsletter   Website   Blog   Second Blog   Twitter   Amazon  
Facebook friend page   Facebook Author Page   Goodreads
 
[image error]
Hosted by

The post Biker Chicks v3 – NOW LIVE! appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

Cover reveal: Bones

I’m thrilled to have worked with Eric Battershell, photographer, Stefan Northfield, model, and Debera Kuntz, artist, on this cover. I met Eric in Houston in 2015, and his approach was so sweetly kind he made quite the impression on this author. Fast forward to spring of 2016 when I was searching for the right model to portray Bones. I spent hours looking at portfolios from various photographers and models, finding nearly a dozen guys who were almost perfect. I needed this character to be powerful, larger than life, enigmatic, and awe inspiring.

I did find a couple of models who were perfect, but due to distance, scheduling, or other commitments, not an option. That was until I saw a post from Eric that one of the perfect guys, Stefan, was coming to Ohio from his home in the UK to work a shoot. A bunch of fast-flying messages and a few hours later, they had captured this image for me: Bones, Rebel Wayfarers MC book #10.

And here it is, the cover for Bones. Hope y’all like it.

 

Bones

Rebel Wayfarers MC, 10

2017

Raised in a hellhole echoing with the sounds of conflict, Bones most profound childhood memory is of the day he died. Decades later, he has built an empire where he is king. His brothers have his back, and life is good. So good, he doesn’t realize what’s missing until he meets her. Ester seems to be the one woman capable of looking beyond his mask and seeing … him.

Full description:

Salvador Ramos’ world was upended the day before he turned twelve. The stick-thin son of a small-time drug king, his demand for justice fell on deaf ears, and the identity of his sister’s killer remained a mystery. From that day forwards, Sal vowed he would never forget how it felt to be powerless.

Now he’s ready to make good on that promise. Positioned as one of the dominant outlaws in Chicago, he deals from a place of strength and power, leveraging fear as a weapon. He is a leader among men, having honed loyalty through harsh lessons, and earned trusted friendships until none can stand against him. He is Bones.

Bones. A man who looks like a monster. Covered in tattoos, black and grey, with hardly any inch of skin left bare. A hundred different sigils and symbols on each arm, ink crawled up his neck like the collar of a closely fitted shirt. Black and colored ropes of pictures disappeared underneath his shirt. Strong hands, with muscles that danced beneath the images as he moved. Bones wore his skin like a shield, a barrier to hold at bay those who wouldn’t put in the time to know who he is. Who didn’t care enough to learn about the man behind the bars written on his skin. The ink as isolating as any jail cell unless you held the key.

Ester has been on her own since she was ten. She spent much of that time on the run from her own fears, failing to escape from the demons in her mind. Her life on the fringe of society has given her a unique perspective on humanity, and a cautious but abiding curiosity about the nature of people. She sees pain and terror everywhere, except when she looks at him. Bones alone helps relieve the piercing agony of her thoughts.

He should be frightening to a woman like her. But he wasn’t. He isn’t.

Excerpt

Goodreads

Playlist

The post Cover reveal: Bones appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

Shaded with Love: A Coloring Book for a Cause

We are so excited to show you the cover of Shaded With Love: A Coloring Book for a Cause!

This coloring book, featuring 75 designs inspired by your favorite authors & bloggers, will release on DECEMBER 14th, just in time for the holidays and all proceeds will benefit FREE2LUV, an anti-bullying non-profit. So get your one-click finger ready! #ShadedWithLove2017

Illustrator: Jessica Hildreth

Find out more about Free2Luv here: http://free2luv.org/

Participating Authors/Bloggers:

Jessica Hildreth, Vicki Green, Katharina LeBoeuf, Beantown Bitches Book Page, A.L. Wood, Noelle Bodhaine, Angela Coffey,Amy Briggs, Little Shop of Readers, Gillian Jones, Avelyn Paige, GM Scherbert, Jennifer L. Armentrout, also known as J. Lynn,Charlotte Fallowfield, Geri Glenn, Janine Infante Bosco, Christine Hughes,Cecilia London, T.K. Leigh, Jen Luerssen,Tiffani Lynn, Sister Spot Book Blog, MJ Fields, Jenika Snow, Jennifers Taking A Break, Reading After Dark, J.C. Valentine, Alyvia Paige, Maria DeSouza, Rhonda James, Mary Elizabeth, JL Long, J.L. Beck, Brooke May, Emery Jacobs, Amelia Sue, J.M. Walker, Annelise Reynolds, Harlow Stone, Katie Fox, Mary B Moore, Read and Share Book Reviews, Len Webster, Cat Mason, Elizabeth York, HJ Bellus, Stacey Lewis, J. A. O’Donoghue, JL Long, MariaLisa deMora, Alphas Do It Better Book Blog, Evan Grace, Niquel, Xana Jordan, K. Renee, Anna Paige, Elizabeth Princeton, Cory Cyr, N. E. Henderson, L.J. Shen, Kennedy Fox, K.L. Kreig, Ginger Ring, Relentless Book Chics Ramblings & Reviews, Leisa Rayven, Alyson Raynes, Emerson Rose, FG Adams, Stevie J. Cole, Gemma James, M. Robinson, A. Zavarelli, Books and Boys Book Blog, Heather Carver, HEA Bookshelf, Kim Jones, Rachel Robinson, R+M Photography, Angie Brashears

The post Shaded with Love: A Coloring Book for a Cause appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

I find it interesting that there’s very little middle ground for how folks feel about my book, Mica. It’s a polarizing title, and from the ratings and reviews it’s clear people either enjoyed the book, or felt so violently angered by the heroine or the outcome that they are affronted at even reading it. I don’t get a lot of, “It was okay, but …” Nope. I get, “This was amazing. I connected with [character name].” Or I get, “You shouldn’t ever write anything ever again. Ever. In your life. This was terrible.”

I will say that it is my least favorite of the books that I’ve written. But only because it was the first time I’d ever tried to write creatively and I had no idea what I was doing. I’d like to think I’ve learned much from the process of doing this through another 10 titles.

I have considered going back and revising sections to be more like how it was in my head, because in many places I failed to accurately capture the emotions of the folks involved. Straighten up dialogue, make things more consistent, smooth the technical issues I now see with the book. Take out a couple of bits that I know now will never matter. I think … but that’s the thing with these characters, sometimes I write something and then only find out three books later how critical it was to include.

That doesn’t mean I don’t like the story – because I do. I wouldn’t change the outcome of the story. It was right, and as I move through this series, I can see just how right it was. I love that Mica got me started, and that she moved from my dreams to the page, because without her persistence in showing up, we wouldn’t have any of the rest of the folks we enjoy.

So that’s my tale of thanksgiving. I’m thankful for Mica.

Woofully yours,

~ML

Amazon Reviews for Mica

The post Happy Thanksgiving appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

Watcher is LIVE!

Watcher is launched into the world

I cannot wait. Wait to hear from you about your thoughts on the story, Watcher. Wait to know where you thought the story would go, but then it doglegged a bit, meandering down a different path.

Because there are critical character development elements in this book, once you’ve read it, you might want to join the Facebook group for discussion about the storyline. That will help keep spoilers out of main timelines:


https://www.facebook.com/groups/watcher.rwmc/

Now, my thanks. To so many folks.

For any given book, there are scores more people involved in bringing it to print than you might imagine. Of course, there are those who actively assist in every endeavor—photographers, editors, alpha and beta readers, graphic artists, and distributors. These people are important, and their roles are key. But frequently it is the behind the scenes folks who play just as critical a role, often without thanks.

People who provide inspiration through their actions, usually without realizing how they’ve impacted others. Individuals who become the conscience of the characters, and help shape the actions within the pages. This book is one of those, where the list of thank you notices would far outstrip the page count of the story.

Thank you to the gal at the concert who told me I looked amazeballs. That helped lead to Juanita accepting herself in ways that might surprise folks.

Thank you to the biker at the Veterans’ ride who complimented my riding. That helped give Carmela self-confidence to best her situation.

Thank you to the elderly veteran outside the gas station in southern Louisiana. The pride you took in your service shone through our conversation, and I carried that with me all year.

Thank you to the co-worker who gave me a gigantic beer mug. It helps to know there are good people who have my back.

Every interaction helps build my world, and these in turn enrich the one I’ve created in my mind. Thank you all.

I do have a few specific thanks to give. Bear with me, because these are important.

Thank you to all active military and every veteran, man or woman, who served on home soil or overseas; to each hero who didn’t make it home; to all the families of those who serve. Thank you for your service. You have my unending gratitude. I am humbled at the gift of sacrifice you have presented to all Americans.

An enormous thank you to Charles Thomas Rogers Photography for capturing the image on the cover of Watcher. His work with Anthony Varrecchia was brought to my attention by a dear friend, and the swiftness with which everything fell into place meant this cover was destined to be. Anthony is amazing, and is as sweet and gracious a being as you could ever ask. Also, a big thank you to Debera Kuntz for your talented ability to clarify my muddled ideas and bring them to life.

Becky Johnson and the gals at Hot Tree Editing have done a fabulous job, as always. I appreciate your willingness to go the extra mile to help shine my babies. XOXO

To my critique partners, Kristen, MirandaPanda, Kori, Jamey, and Kelsi: Thank you. Watcher is the better for your feedback. Plus, you didn’t kill me. So, bonus!

To the readers. You folks who vote with your wallet. The ones who read these stories and come back for more. Y’all rock hard. Miles of gratitude.

To my cadre of personal motorcycle men and women who have grown to be more family than friends, thank you. From the bottom of. Except Tinker. You’re still an ass. No, that’s neither a metaphor nor an allegory.

And, that’s it. Like I said, if I keep going, I’ll double the page count, and none of us want filler in front of this story. Y’all enjoy, yeah? Muuwah!

Woofully yours,

~ML

Amazon: http://getBook.at/Watcher

BnN: http://bit.ly/Watcher-BnN

iTunes: http://bit.ly/mldemora-itunes

Kobo: http://bit.ly/mldemora-kobo

The post Watcher is LIVE! appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.

I solemnly swear

I love receiving the following type of communication from readers, “Can you promise me that will happen?” No matter how it comes—email, instant message, in person standing in front of a signing table—my reaction is always, always the same.

That’s when my chin tips down and my lips quirk up. I can actually feel the quirk because I usually have to bite them to keep them closed. This is awkward when it’s in public, but whatever. Asking a writer to adhere to your imagined storyline is like … asking a cat to stop doing anything, ever. The cat’s gonna look at you and, while he might seem to acquiesce, you know come 3 a.m., he’s still going to be tearing through the house like aliens are trying to probe his asshole. So I look down and smile my small smile and try to be noncommittal, because—and let’s be honest here, you expect no different—there is no way in hell I’m doing anything except letting the characters lead the way.

“Why is that?”

Because they demand nothing less. I can struggle and fight, try to pull them back to where I think we need to be, and if it’s important to the saga (I’ve fallen in love with that word when it comes to the RWMC), then the characters will not stop until they have their way. Either they will continually drag me to the brink of insanity as they ignore everything I am trying to do…or—and this is arguably the most frightening—they go silent. Like a three-year-old, if you don’t play the game as they decree, they’ll take their toys and go home. If you dare ask them what they want, you need to be prepared for what you get in response, because they will be blunt, take over your mind, and run the game their own damn way. They will take you and abuse you, rolling your emotions into a ball they chuck over their shoulder, because you can come play in their world, but you need to leave your damn touchy-feelie self at the door, because in here, it is their rules, their game, nonstop.

I love that. That’s where the fun stuff happens, where I look up from writing and realize my hands and arms ache and my belly is growling and I gotta pee because it’s been 10 hours and I feel like I’m taking my first breath in forever. When things I don’t know I need to happen have happened, and I won’t find out until the next book why that was. When the characters create complex storylines and arcs and introduce ideas and themes that I never considered. When I realize that the world in which they live is so much larger, vaster, and richer than any outline I could ever dream up in my sterile world of reality. When they take me and immerse me into their universe of imagination.

I. Love. That.

So, when a reader asks if they’re going to get their fantasy scene/character/ending, the answer will always be no. Why should you get what you want, when I don’t? But, like the child told to save room for something sweet without being told what it is, if we do that—save room for the unknown—the rewards will be breathtaking.

So. I solemnly swear to always, always let the characters lead the way.

Woofully yours,

~ML

The post I solemnly swear appeared first on MariaLisa deMora.