M.J. Greenway's Blog, page 7
March 28, 2016
Are Book Trailers Worth the Money?
I had friends help me make a trailer for Dating Maggie. Some don't like them and most say they don't sell books. But I enjoyed making it. I'm not sure if I will make them for future books. What do you think?
March 25, 2016
Bridget Jones's Baby
I was watching The Today Show the other morning and heard the news that the affable Bridget Jones is back and having a baby! I can't wait to see it. After all, the original Bridget Jones's Diaries helped inspire me to write Dating Maggie. Bridget's deadpan, dry English humor is what sets her apart as a heroine Americans love.
In addition, I was just thinking about the fact that her story featured both an alpha male and a beta male. Hint: Darcy is the beta IMHO. How's a girl to choose between a handsome, slightly jerkish alpha or a dependable nice guy? Part of the fun of these books is that she's been able to have both! This has been on my mind since I just finished and submitted my co-written romance which features a rich alpha male. It was fun to write but has had me craving a chance to write a beta hero. Maybe he'll be a software engineer, poet or elementary school teacher...
On the other hand, I've also been dreaming about writing a hero based on Tom Keen from The Blacklist and he's no beta. Decisions, decisions...
Anyhow, I got off on a tangent. The point is, now this charming neurotic, weight obsessed British gal is having a baby. I can't wait to see what happens next. I will be gathering my gal pals for a night out soon.
Here's the trailer:
In addition, I was just thinking about the fact that her story featured both an alpha male and a beta male. Hint: Darcy is the beta IMHO. How's a girl to choose between a handsome, slightly jerkish alpha or a dependable nice guy? Part of the fun of these books is that she's been able to have both! This has been on my mind since I just finished and submitted my co-written romance which features a rich alpha male. It was fun to write but has had me craving a chance to write a beta hero. Maybe he'll be a software engineer, poet or elementary school teacher...
On the other hand, I've also been dreaming about writing a hero based on Tom Keen from The Blacklist and he's no beta. Decisions, decisions...
Anyhow, I got off on a tangent. The point is, now this charming neurotic, weight obsessed British gal is having a baby. I can't wait to see what happens next. I will be gathering my gal pals for a night out soon.
Here's the trailer:
March 18, 2016
Sarah Starting Over Excerpt
Now that my co-writer and I have submitted our co-mance to publishers, I am working on fine tuning my women's fiction novel Sarah Starting Over. Fingers crossed, it will be published in the very near future.
Here's the premise: It's about a widowed mom who is determined to figure out who murdered her husband. With the help of a handsome black PI with a prosthetic leg, she will find answers and hope.
***
Brandon appeared at the front door. He was holding a pink box. He slipped it open and inside was an anniversary cake.“We didn’t have a real wedding cake in Vegas, so figured it was time,” Brandon said.“That’s so sweet of you,” I said as I leaned in to kiss him.“It’s marble cake inside with chocolate ganache.”“Mmm…That sounds decadent.”“I know chocolate always puts you in the mood,” He said with a wink.Brandon walked inside and put the cake on the kitchen counter. “If you’re not hungry, maybe we could do something physical to work up our appetites.”“Are you coming on to me?”“Maybe.”He threw his arms around my waist and pulled me close. His lips met mine and I was hit by his kale smoothie breath.“Why don’t you go to the bedroom and get rid of all of those clothes. I’ll meet you in there once I get this cake put away,” Brandon said.As I turned to head in that direction, he gave my backside a flirtatious slap.Once in our room, I shimmied out of my skirt and panties. Then I unbuttoned my top and unsnapped my bra. I tried to arrange myself seductively on the bed while I waited. I glanced at the alarm clock and ten minutes had passed. Feeling a chill, I shoved myself under the covers. How long could it take to maneuver a cake into the fridge? Well we did have a lot of leftovers crammed in there. A few more minutes ticked by. Finally I walked back toward the kitchen. Once I got there it was crowded with fifty people wearing black. There were loads of casseroles and baked goods on the counter and the kitchen table. Brandon’s sister came up to me and gave me a hug.“Have you seen Brandon, he was just in here trying to get a cake to fit in the fridge?”“Oh, Sarah, are you okay? Do you need to sit down for a minute?”Megan touched my forehead like she was checking my temperature.“I’m fine. Where’s Brandon. As you can see, I’m naked. We had sexy plans, if you know what I mean.”Tears streamed down Megan’s face. She pulled a wadded up tissue from her pants pocket and dabbed it on her eyes.“He’s gone.”What she said wasn’t making any sense.“Gone where? Did he run out to the store for something?”“I know it still doesn’t feel real. I’m in shock too.”Megan took off her cardigan and threw it over my shoulders. I ran from room to room. He was nowhere to be found. “Brandon, Brandon,” I shouted.Back in the master bedroom I screamed, “Come back to me.”You are My Sunshinewas now playing in my head. Hands clutched my arm. “Brandon?”With an audible gasp, I opened my eyes. It was Milo touching me. He held his lullaby-singing bear in his other hand. I wished he hadn’t woken me. I was so close to getting to spend more time with dream Brandon.“It’s Milo Mama. Were you dreaming about Daddy again?”“Yes, honey.”“I did a few nights ago. We were at Disneyland and he was riding the Dumbo ride with me.”“That sounds nice.”
Janet called these visitation dreams. She’d lost her mother as a teenager and had them sporadically over the years. Her belief was that it wasn’t just a dream, a loved one was actually paying a visit. I hoped she was right.
Here's the premise: It's about a widowed mom who is determined to figure out who murdered her husband. With the help of a handsome black PI with a prosthetic leg, she will find answers and hope.
***
Brandon appeared at the front door. He was holding a pink box. He slipped it open and inside was an anniversary cake.“We didn’t have a real wedding cake in Vegas, so figured it was time,” Brandon said.“That’s so sweet of you,” I said as I leaned in to kiss him.“It’s marble cake inside with chocolate ganache.”“Mmm…That sounds decadent.”“I know chocolate always puts you in the mood,” He said with a wink.Brandon walked inside and put the cake on the kitchen counter. “If you’re not hungry, maybe we could do something physical to work up our appetites.”“Are you coming on to me?”“Maybe.”He threw his arms around my waist and pulled me close. His lips met mine and I was hit by his kale smoothie breath.“Why don’t you go to the bedroom and get rid of all of those clothes. I’ll meet you in there once I get this cake put away,” Brandon said.As I turned to head in that direction, he gave my backside a flirtatious slap.Once in our room, I shimmied out of my skirt and panties. Then I unbuttoned my top and unsnapped my bra. I tried to arrange myself seductively on the bed while I waited. I glanced at the alarm clock and ten minutes had passed. Feeling a chill, I shoved myself under the covers. How long could it take to maneuver a cake into the fridge? Well we did have a lot of leftovers crammed in there. A few more minutes ticked by. Finally I walked back toward the kitchen. Once I got there it was crowded with fifty people wearing black. There were loads of casseroles and baked goods on the counter and the kitchen table. Brandon’s sister came up to me and gave me a hug.“Have you seen Brandon, he was just in here trying to get a cake to fit in the fridge?”“Oh, Sarah, are you okay? Do you need to sit down for a minute?”Megan touched my forehead like she was checking my temperature.“I’m fine. Where’s Brandon. As you can see, I’m naked. We had sexy plans, if you know what I mean.”Tears streamed down Megan’s face. She pulled a wadded up tissue from her pants pocket and dabbed it on her eyes.“He’s gone.”What she said wasn’t making any sense.“Gone where? Did he run out to the store for something?”“I know it still doesn’t feel real. I’m in shock too.”Megan took off her cardigan and threw it over my shoulders. I ran from room to room. He was nowhere to be found. “Brandon, Brandon,” I shouted.Back in the master bedroom I screamed, “Come back to me.”You are My Sunshinewas now playing in my head. Hands clutched my arm. “Brandon?”With an audible gasp, I opened my eyes. It was Milo touching me. He held his lullaby-singing bear in his other hand. I wished he hadn’t woken me. I was so close to getting to spend more time with dream Brandon.“It’s Milo Mama. Were you dreaming about Daddy again?”“Yes, honey.”“I did a few nights ago. We were at Disneyland and he was riding the Dumbo ride with me.”“That sounds nice.”
Janet called these visitation dreams. She’d lost her mother as a teenager and had them sporadically over the years. Her belief was that it wasn’t just a dream, a loved one was actually paying a visit. I hoped she was right.
March 11, 2016
Preparing our Co-written Romance, or "Co-mance"
I've been co-writing a contemporary romance with my writing partner Amber Roshay. We decided to choose a pen name for books we write together. After much consideration, we chose
Anna Starr which is a mash-up of our real middle names. Anna has a Facebook group where we'll talk about romance novels and share updates.
We don't live in the same city, so we relied on Google docs and weekly phone calls to get things done. We also split shifts to make it easier. I wrote in the mornings and she wrote in the evenings. As moms with different schedules, this worked well for us.
We've just finished our revisions and have sent the manuscript off to beta readers for feedback. It was exciting to finish our first book as a team!
Now we are preparing for #PitMad, the Twitter pitch contest for writers. It will be fun to throw our hat (or manuscript) in the ring. That means we will need to integrate beta reader feedback and polish up our query letter and synopsis this weekend.
Writing a book is a labor of love and in this case, a story about love. In case you're curious, here's the premise:
BUNDLE BY THE BAY is a sexy contemporary romance set in San Francisco. Rowan is a hot billionaire philanthropist and Hannah is a feisty non-profit director. After her grant proposal is turned down by his foundation, she tries to change his mind to avoid program closures and lay-offs. When they meet, he offers to give her non-profit money from his own pocket under three conditions. Still stinging from divorce and infertility struggles, Hannah’s closed herself off to love. Rowan has suffered his own heartbreak at the hands of his cheating fiance. His sexy proposition may lead them toward a future they never imagined possible.
Anna Starr which is a mash-up of our real middle names. Anna has a Facebook group where we'll talk about romance novels and share updates.
We don't live in the same city, so we relied on Google docs and weekly phone calls to get things done. We also split shifts to make it easier. I wrote in the mornings and she wrote in the evenings. As moms with different schedules, this worked well for us.
We've just finished our revisions and have sent the manuscript off to beta readers for feedback. It was exciting to finish our first book as a team!
Now we are preparing for #PitMad, the Twitter pitch contest for writers. It will be fun to throw our hat (or manuscript) in the ring. That means we will need to integrate beta reader feedback and polish up our query letter and synopsis this weekend.
Writing a book is a labor of love and in this case, a story about love. In case you're curious, here's the premise:
BUNDLE BY THE BAY is a sexy contemporary romance set in San Francisco. Rowan is a hot billionaire philanthropist and Hannah is a feisty non-profit director. After her grant proposal is turned down by his foundation, she tries to change his mind to avoid program closures and lay-offs. When they meet, he offers to give her non-profit money from his own pocket under three conditions. Still stinging from divorce and infertility struggles, Hannah’s closed herself off to love. Rowan has suffered his own heartbreak at the hands of his cheating fiance. His sexy proposition may lead them toward a future they never imagined possible.
March 7, 2016
Love Between the Covers Trailer
I was lucky to see a local screening of this documentary.
It explores romance writing and reading from many
perspectives. If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it!
It explores romance writing and reading from many
perspectives. If you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it!
February 25, 2016
A Stone's Throw by Debbie De Louise
A STONE'S THROW by Debbie De Louise↻ SYNOPSIS ↺
Widowed librarian Alicia Fairmont needs answers…
After her husband is killed in a hit and run accident, Alicia travels upstate to his hometown of Cobble Cove, New York, hoping to locate his estranged family and shed light on his mysterious past. Anticipating staying only a weekend, her visit is extended when she accepts a job at the town’s library.
Secrets stretch decades into the past…
Assisted by handsome newspaper publisher and aspiring novelist, John McKinney, Alicia discovers a connection between her absent in-laws and a secret John’s father has kept for over sixty years. But her investigation is interrupted when she receives word her house has burned and arson is suspected, sending her rushing back to Long Island, accompanied by John.
Back in Cobble Cove, cryptic clues are uncovered…
When Alicia returns, she finds a strange diary, confiscated letters, and a digital audio device containing a recording made the day her husband was killed. Anonymous notes warn Alicia to leave town, but she can’t turn her back on the mystery—or her attraction to John.
As the pieces begin to fall into place, evidence points to John’s involvement in her husband’s accident. The past and present threaten to collide, and Alicia confronts her fears… Has she fallen in love with her husband’s killer?
↻ PURCHASE ↺KINDLE: http://amzn.to/1MjaJgNPAPERBACK: http://amzn.to/1MjaHWb
↻ DEBBIE DE LOUISE ↺
Debbie De Louise is a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. Her self-published romantic suspense novel, “Cloudy Rainbow” (Booklocker 2008) received an honorable mention in the Writer’s Digest self-published awards. She was awarded the Lawrence C. Lobaugh Memorial Award in Journalism from Long Island University/C.W. Post where she earned a B.A. in English and a M.L.S. in Library Science. A member of the Cat Writer’s Association, she has published articles in Cats Magazine and Catnip (Tufts University Veterinary Newsletter). Her short mystery, “Stitches in Time” was published in the Cat Crimes Through Time Anthology, (1999). She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and two cats.Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/debbie-de-louise/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.authorTwitter: https://twitter.com/DeblibrarianWebsite: https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com/
Stay updated by signing up for Debbie's Newsletter at her website:https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com./
February 22, 2016
My Local Library has Dating Maggie in Circulation!
In a writer-nerd moment, I snapped this picture of my book at my local library. I've spent so many wonderful hours at the library, it was nice to give back a tiny bit by donating a book.
February 17, 2016
His Confession by Sophia Valentine (New Release)
HIS CONFESSION by S. ValentineThe Black Door Trilogy, #1GENRE: Erotic RomancePUBLISHER: Limitless Publishing★ SYNOPSIS ★ When Gabriella Woods finds matches from a gentlemen’s club in her fiancé’s pocket, her suspicions require a search for answers.At the club, she realizes it’s not her fiancé's fidelity that can’t be trusted...
It’s her own.
Darion Milano is daring, intriguing, and unpredictable…
Unable to get him out of her head—and against Darion’s explicit warning—Gabi begins a torrid affair. No longer fighting the urge to enter the depth of his dark and mysterious lifestyle, she indulges in his most intimate desires.
They become the most exciting, wild, infatuated couple everybody knows.
Until his confession changes everything…
Her heart is telling her to stay.
Her instinct is telling her to run.
She can never match his outrageous ex-wife and become the fun, fearless woman he craves…Or can she?
Discover a world of sex, secrets, and seduction.
★★ PURCHASE ★★AMAZON US - Kindle: http://amzn.to/1PA96NrAMAZON US - Paperback: http://amzn.to/1oEu3OvAMAZON UK - Kindle: http://amzn.to/1NTaEhjAMAZON UK - Paperback: http://amzn.to/1NTaEhj
★ BOOK TRAILER ★WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoVV8l943j4
★ ★ WHAT EARLY REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HIS CONFESSION ★ ★
"His Confession was a surprisingly engaging read with believable characters who were easy to connect with.It dealt with subjects a little different to what I'm used to, but the author did a great job of pulling me into her world.” - Mia Hoddell, YA/NA author.
”His Confession pulled me through from the first paragraph! The enigmatic Darion practically leapt off the pages and I could picture his every move and facial expression clear as day in my head! This story is definitely one to add to your “want-to-read” list-especially if you love a captivating plot as well as scenes so hot that they fog up your glasses. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it for future readers but DARION and GABI put Christian and Ana to SHAME! Enough said. LOL.” - Kiarra M. Taylor, contemporary romance author of THE QUARTER CHANGE.
”I loved it and I'm excited to read more to find out what happens. Darion is a great guy who was hurt badly and doesn't know how to handle, which in steps Gabi. Love love love her! Hopefully she fights for him! When does the next book come out, as I'm dying to know what comes next! I also hope the girls get their own stories.” - Susan Flynn, Beta reader Writers club.
”S. Valentine does an exquisite job at creating a dynamic between two characters, both from different worlds, that goes beyond a physical attraction. His Confession is book one in The Black Door Trilogy. It is a fast paced story that is full of hotness and anticipation that heats you up from your head to your toes. Gabi, is tired of always playing it safe. Darion, has demons that he can no longer control. When these two get together, boundaries are pushed, control is tested and emotions run wild.” - AV. Scott, author of High Heels & New York.
"A brilliant book which leaves you wondering what happened in Darion's past that has left him so wary and so afraid to put himself and his heart out there not to mention to put his faith and trust in Gabi, the one woman whose managed to penetrate the walls he's built. I can't wait for book 2 and I'm hoping that Darion and Gabi can overcome the obstacles that stand in front of them, including Eva, Darion's ex wife.” - Rebecca Barber, author Nobody's Obligation.
★★★ GIVEAWAY ★★★Fancy WINNING an eBook of His Confession and book swag, consisting of: 4 bracelets, 6 key-ring, 1 notepad, 1 pen, postcard teasers, stickers and more? All you have to do is 'like' S.Valentine's Facebook page, and add her book cover as your Facebook profile image for the rest of the day :) Comment on the page when done! www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthor
★ ★ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ★ ★
S. Valentine grew up in England. Studying English language and literature, as well as law, she worked in a solicitors for many years before moving to Spain. She does however still visit the UK, which in a way, will always be home.Returning to her lifelong passion of writing books, she’s also a weekly columnist for The Ibizan newspaper on: lifestyle and fashion. Her other interests include reading, shopping and a nice glass of wine. She’s a social media addict, and loves connecting with new people.
For more information, please visit: www.s-valentine.wix.com/books. If you join her newsletter, you will be the first to receive sneak peeks of chapters, teasers, news, giveaway prizes and more!
WEBSITE: www.s-valentine.wix.com/booksFACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/SophiaValentineAuthorTWITTER: www.twitter.com/SophiaVAuthorINSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/SophiaValentineAuthorPINTEREST: www.pinterest.com/SophiaVWritesGOODREADS: www.goodreads.com/SophiaValentineBLOG: www.lifestyleandliterature.wordpress.comNewsletter sign up: www.s-valentine.wix.com/books
February 14, 2016
Easy Valentine's Day Dessert
While my husband was in Spain for a work conference, my son and I decided to make our own Valentine's Day chocolates. Who needs an expensive box of See's Candy when you can make your own approximation?
First step, melt some chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every thirty seconds until melted. Ghiradelli 60 percent dark chocolate chips are what we used.
Second step, stir in your favorite nuts. We used salted cashews.
Third step, scoop small spoonfuls onto a plate covered with wax paper
Last step, put in the fridge for an hour.
Enjoy these salty sweet treats with someone you love!
First step, melt some chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every thirty seconds until melted. Ghiradelli 60 percent dark chocolate chips are what we used.
Second step, stir in your favorite nuts. We used salted cashews.
Third step, scoop small spoonfuls onto a plate covered with wax paper
Last step, put in the fridge for an hour.
Enjoy these salty sweet treats with someone you love!
February 12, 2016
Valentine's Day Sale: Dating Maggie e-book will be 99 cents!
Click this link to Buy on AmazonAnd it's still FREE for Kindle Unlimited members.
Curl up with a handsome cowboy and a spunky actress on V-day:)
