M.J. Greenway's Blog, page 9
December 23, 2015
Making Magic: Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas
I was just talking to a friend about Christmas. When she asked if I was excited about the holidays, I grumbled a little. "The thing is, now that I'm a mom, instead of receiving magic, I have to make the magic," I said.
It's my job to pick meaningful gifts for everyone including my six year old. And I'm still like Santa's personal assistant. Like when is that man gonna come down the chimney already???
There's the decorating, baking and the race to get deals in the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Don't get me wrong, I love doing nice things for my family. And seeing my kiddo light up is the highlight of the holiday, but I could do with a little less "stuff-ness" in Christmas.
And this friend I was speaking to, has hard holidays because of grief that comes around every December. I have some of that too.
But I will push aside my first world gripes and think of all the things I'm grateful for. We try to make donations during this season too. But I feel a little guilty that I have all I need and not everyone does. My New Year's resolution is to volunteer and try to help the community in new ways.
We just got a surprise from our neighbors. They left a gift on our doorstep. I was moved that despite having a brand new baby and big family and probably dealing with more chaos than I am, they thought to surprise us with a gift.
So, this holiday I wish everyone peace and good cheer. Even though a part of me is kind of dreaming of sleeping through it all and waking up on the 26th:)
P.S. Kiddo and I just finished a baking spree. If you need a hostess gift, try these awesome Split Second Jam Cookies
Photo courtesy Taste of Home
December 21, 2015
Christine Hartmann On Writing & Wild Within
I'm happy to welcome author Christine Hartmann to the blog today. Her new release, a romantic suspense, Wild Within has an intriguing premise. She was kind enough to answer a few questions about her writing life. Her book is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What is your process for plotting out your novel?I make a rough outline of the plot. Then I work on the scenes. I love the book Story by Robert McKee. I don’t do it his ideal way, but I have used a lot of the advice in that book.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?Finding the balance between my busy full-time job and my book writing career. I love my job—it’s meaningful and important to me. But so is my book writing. Finding a balance sometimes involves compromises, and it’s usually the book writing that has to compromise.
Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?I write in multiple genres. My first book was a memoir, So Far Away: A Daughter’s Memoir of Life, Loss, and Love, published by a university press. I have another non-fiction book under contract. The non-fiction work overlaps with my life and my job a great deal. My romantic suspense books tap into the part of me that loves to get away from reality for a while.
What was your path to publication like?For Wild Within I was lucky enough to have an agent who did all the heavy lifting of pitching the book. Parkeast Literary. They are fantastic.
What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?I have had great experiences working with publishers. I think it’s worth the time to find a place that takes your book. You get the design, editing, and marketing help that you don’t get if you self-publish.
What is the premise of you book? Here's the blurb:
Wild Within, Book One of the Wild at Heart Series
A year after a family tragedy, Grace Mori embarks on the journey of a lifetime…
Two thousand, six hundred miles of blistering heat, wilderness, and soul searching—that’s what Grace signed up for when she decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s not a voyage for beginners, but with no husband and her family still recovering from her bother’s death, Grace is more alone than ever.
This trail meant something to her brother, and she’ll hike it in his memory, but she can’t do it alone. So with her brother’s gear and a small group, Grace takes the most important first steps of her life.
Grace finds something more than peace and magic on the trail…
When her first day of hiking ends in heat stroke, Grace is rescued by a handsome, red-haired hiker who calls himself Lone Star. Grace has an immediate connection with him, and their brief encounter leaves her fearing her soul mate has slipped through her fingers. Although he vows to keep in touch, Grace doubts she’ll ever see him again.
When fears become reality, the only people Grace can rely on may be killers...
Grace is surprised to find notes left at supply posts along the trail. Lone Star’s eloquent letters keep Grace going, clinging to the hope she’ll find him—and happiness—at the end of her journey. But as the trail becomes more perilous, menace grows within the group. And when Lone Star’s letters mysteriously stop coming, Grace fears the worst.
As tensions flare and a killer emerges, Grace must battle to survive…and reunite with the man she’s sure is her future.
AUTHOR BIO: Christine Hartmann grew up in Ohio and Delaware and loves traveling to exotic, romantic settings. After a college semester in Kathmandu, her first three “real” jobs were all in northern Japan, where she lived for almost 10 years. She currently splits her career between her daytime occupation (improving the quality of veterans’ nursing home care) and her nights/weekend avocation (writing both fiction and non-fiction books). Her husband Ron Strickland is a well-known long-distance hiker, trail guide writer, and the founder of the 1,200-mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Christine loves reading, pilates, bicycling, snorkeling, and health foods that taste like they’re bad for you. You will often find her at a keyboard, a German shepherd at her side, and Ron whispering sweet edits over her shoulder.
RELEVANT LINKS:Hyperlink to Amazon:http://amzn.to/1RU12Js
Book trailers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0rgga2z-M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq-GpiheW_I
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.w.hartmann
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chartmannbooks
Website: http://chartmannbooks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/chartmannbooks
CONTACT INFO:chartmannbooks@gmail.com
What is your process for plotting out your novel?I make a rough outline of the plot. Then I work on the scenes. I love the book Story by Robert McKee. I don’t do it his ideal way, but I have used a lot of the advice in that book.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?Finding the balance between my busy full-time job and my book writing career. I love my job—it’s meaningful and important to me. But so is my book writing. Finding a balance sometimes involves compromises, and it’s usually the book writing that has to compromise.
Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?I write in multiple genres. My first book was a memoir, So Far Away: A Daughter’s Memoir of Life, Loss, and Love, published by a university press. I have another non-fiction book under contract. The non-fiction work overlaps with my life and my job a great deal. My romantic suspense books tap into the part of me that loves to get away from reality for a while.
What was your path to publication like?For Wild Within I was lucky enough to have an agent who did all the heavy lifting of pitching the book. Parkeast Literary. They are fantastic.
What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?I have had great experiences working with publishers. I think it’s worth the time to find a place that takes your book. You get the design, editing, and marketing help that you don’t get if you self-publish.
What is the premise of you book? Here's the blurb:
Wild Within, Book One of the Wild at Heart Series
A year after a family tragedy, Grace Mori embarks on the journey of a lifetime…Two thousand, six hundred miles of blistering heat, wilderness, and soul searching—that’s what Grace signed up for when she decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s not a voyage for beginners, but with no husband and her family still recovering from her bother’s death, Grace is more alone than ever.
This trail meant something to her brother, and she’ll hike it in his memory, but she can’t do it alone. So with her brother’s gear and a small group, Grace takes the most important first steps of her life.
Grace finds something more than peace and magic on the trail…
When her first day of hiking ends in heat stroke, Grace is rescued by a handsome, red-haired hiker who calls himself Lone Star. Grace has an immediate connection with him, and their brief encounter leaves her fearing her soul mate has slipped through her fingers. Although he vows to keep in touch, Grace doubts she’ll ever see him again.
When fears become reality, the only people Grace can rely on may be killers...
Grace is surprised to find notes left at supply posts along the trail. Lone Star’s eloquent letters keep Grace going, clinging to the hope she’ll find him—and happiness—at the end of her journey. But as the trail becomes more perilous, menace grows within the group. And when Lone Star’s letters mysteriously stop coming, Grace fears the worst.
As tensions flare and a killer emerges, Grace must battle to survive…and reunite with the man she’s sure is her future.
AUTHOR BIO: Christine Hartmann grew up in Ohio and Delaware and loves traveling to exotic, romantic settings. After a college semester in Kathmandu, her first three “real” jobs were all in northern Japan, where she lived for almost 10 years. She currently splits her career between her daytime occupation (improving the quality of veterans’ nursing home care) and her nights/weekend avocation (writing both fiction and non-fiction books). Her husband Ron Strickland is a well-known long-distance hiker, trail guide writer, and the founder of the 1,200-mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Christine loves reading, pilates, bicycling, snorkeling, and health foods that taste like they’re bad for you. You will often find her at a keyboard, a German shepherd at her side, and Ron whispering sweet edits over her shoulder.RELEVANT LINKS:Hyperlink to Amazon:http://amzn.to/1RU12Js
Book trailers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht0rgga2z-M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq-GpiheW_I
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.w.hartmann
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chartmannbooks
Website: http://chartmannbooks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/chartmannbooks
CONTACT INFO:chartmannbooks@gmail.com
December 20, 2015
4 Books on my Holiday Wish List
Sometimes I'm lucky enough to get an Amazon gift card for Christmas. I've been adding lots of books to my Amazon wish-list lately just in case I'm gifted one this year.
I admit to getting lots of books from the library and from a good friend who is always loaning me good paperbacks from her collection. Now that I'm a writer, I'm going to make a resolution in the New Year to actually spend money on more books. To that end, I thought I would share my list here for writers or readers looking for something to do on the cold winter nights.
Elizabeth's Gilbert's Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy
For Love or Money by Susan Kaye Quinn
A Window Opens by Elizabeth Egan
I admit to getting lots of books from the library and from a good friend who is always loaning me good paperbacks from her collection. Now that I'm a writer, I'm going to make a resolution in the New Year to actually spend money on more books. To that end, I thought I would share my list here for writers or readers looking for something to do on the cold winter nights.
Elizabeth's Gilbert's Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy
For Love or Money by Susan Kaye Quinn
A Window Opens by Elizabeth Egan
December 17, 2015
The Reason I Write by Alexandra Moore
Author Alexandra Moore discusses why she writes and answers some other questions about her writing process and her new book. Her recently released New Adult Suspense Novel Exit Wound is now available on Amazon.
What Compels You to Write?
If you ask some members of my family, they’ll tell you I’m a good liar, and always have been—but if you ask any other family members, they’ll tell you I tell stories. When I was thirteen, I was at the beginning stages of what would become some of the darkest times in my lifetime. Depression, self-harm and PTSD to list off a few things of what was circulating in my life; I didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t want to shower, I didn’t want to do a damned thing, except for one: write. I write to keep those horrible memories at bay, and yet utilize them to help others who may grab my book, expecting a good story and see themselves and their rarely spoken of traumas laid out right in front of them. That was what I aimed to do from the beginning. I wanted to write what hurt me the most, and what was hurting others.
Because between reading books and writing them, I found things that made me want to live. It took a while to get me back in the shower, to get on the right antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds, to find the right therapies. It took a long time to admit to myself how fucked up I had become. But I don’t say I’m fucked up anymore. I say I’m rough around the edges—I don’t say I’m broken, I say I’m bent.
Yes, on bad days I will shout: “I am so beyond fucked up.” And I will cry to God, asking where in my life did I start to break into pieces. But I know I may never be fully repaired. But I’ll be stronger. I’ll keep writing books until my hands deform from the rheumatism or until I’ve died living my life happily, fully, and wonderfully. I write so I may have that life, and so others can see that one day too, they will have that life.
What is your process for plotting out your novel?:Usually I don’t do a lot of plotting. For this book, I plotted out the first eight chapters and used a lot of notes and guides, but in the end I let my characters take over. Plotting be damned!
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?:Sticking to my characters story, not the story I want to tell. To me, it’s their story and I’m the one who gets to tell it. If I rob them of the truth of their story, well, things get pretty ugly.
Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?:I write in multiple genres simply because I like to challenge myself, and I enjoy doing something new every once in a while. I want to be able to write any genre at some point—maybe except erotica.
What was your path to publication like?:It was insane. I queried at least a dozen agents with a lot of rejections and no replies. I tried #PitchWars on Twitter and didn’t get picked, and then I did #PitMad a few days later and within a week I had a contract and was working on my book to be published. Within three months I had a draft of my novel on my computer which turned into a real book. It still amazes me.
What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?:Never give up. Simple as that. If you really want to do this with all of your heart, you can never give up. That’s like letting Voldemort win.
What is the premise of you book?:
Here's the Tagline:
“A secret society and a crazed stalker are only the beginning of Bea’s problems…”
Being crowned as royalty in Rosewood Academy’s secret society wasn’t in Bea Morrison’s plans…
A senior in high school, Bea’s life changed forever when a tragic car crash claimed her best friend’s life, leaving her devastated and alone. Now at Rosewood Academy of the Arts, Bea owes a debt. With her best friend no longer queen, it’s up to Bea to be fulfill the role until graduation.
There is nothing money can’t buy, including Crosley’s king status…
When Bea accepts her place as queen, the arrogant Crosley is quick to remind her of her royal duties. Obsessed with the era of the Tudors, Crosley insists they must consummate their relationship—but spousal duties aren’t what Bea signed up for. When she rejects Crosley’s proposal, his expectations twist into absolute obsession.
A sadistic mind makes for an expert stalker…
After graduation, Bea thinks the nightmare of Rosewood Academy is over. She’s pleasantly surprised to reconnect with the gorgeous Everett Thompson, a drummer for her brother’s band. As feelings from their past fling resurface, Bea hopes for a fresh start with the guy who got away.
Bea’s hopes are shattered when she receives threatening texts from Crosley, who is still determined to collect his debt. And as Crosley continues to pursue her, a terrible tragedy proves he is even more dangerous than she feared.
If Bea has learned one thing, it’s that life is too fragile, and it’s anybody’s guess who will make it out of this nightmare alive.
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Author Bio: My name is Alexandra Moore. I've been creating stories since I could talk. I've been putting them onto paper since I could write. Writing books is my dream and my passion, along side with rescuing African Pygmy Hedgehogs, retired race Greyhounds, French Bulldogs, and other various animals I'm probably allergic too.
I'm convinced I'm the blood of the dragon, and the Mother of Dragons.
When I'm not watching GoT, I'm watching Grey's Anatomy (again) on Netflix, and crying over all the MerDer feels. I also spend time with my Boston Terrier Tank and my boyfriend. Both are my cuddle buddies, and I'm afraid the dog is around more often. I don't bite (unless provoked) so feel free to tweet at me, or leave a comment on one of my InstaPics. I can't wait until my book is in print, and to share my thoughts with the rest of the world.
What Compels You to Write?
If you ask some members of my family, they’ll tell you I’m a good liar, and always have been—but if you ask any other family members, they’ll tell you I tell stories. When I was thirteen, I was at the beginning stages of what would become some of the darkest times in my lifetime. Depression, self-harm and PTSD to list off a few things of what was circulating in my life; I didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t want to shower, I didn’t want to do a damned thing, except for one: write. I write to keep those horrible memories at bay, and yet utilize them to help others who may grab my book, expecting a good story and see themselves and their rarely spoken of traumas laid out right in front of them. That was what I aimed to do from the beginning. I wanted to write what hurt me the most, and what was hurting others.
Because between reading books and writing them, I found things that made me want to live. It took a while to get me back in the shower, to get on the right antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds, to find the right therapies. It took a long time to admit to myself how fucked up I had become. But I don’t say I’m fucked up anymore. I say I’m rough around the edges—I don’t say I’m broken, I say I’m bent.
Yes, on bad days I will shout: “I am so beyond fucked up.” And I will cry to God, asking where in my life did I start to break into pieces. But I know I may never be fully repaired. But I’ll be stronger. I’ll keep writing books until my hands deform from the rheumatism or until I’ve died living my life happily, fully, and wonderfully. I write so I may have that life, and so others can see that one day too, they will have that life.
What is your process for plotting out your novel?:Usually I don’t do a lot of plotting. For this book, I plotted out the first eight chapters and used a lot of notes and guides, but in the end I let my characters take over. Plotting be damned!
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?:Sticking to my characters story, not the story I want to tell. To me, it’s their story and I’m the one who gets to tell it. If I rob them of the truth of their story, well, things get pretty ugly.
Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?:I write in multiple genres simply because I like to challenge myself, and I enjoy doing something new every once in a while. I want to be able to write any genre at some point—maybe except erotica.
What was your path to publication like?:It was insane. I queried at least a dozen agents with a lot of rejections and no replies. I tried #PitchWars on Twitter and didn’t get picked, and then I did #PitMad a few days later and within a week I had a contract and was working on my book to be published. Within three months I had a draft of my novel on my computer which turned into a real book. It still amazes me.
What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?:Never give up. Simple as that. If you really want to do this with all of your heart, you can never give up. That’s like letting Voldemort win.
What is the premise of you book?:
Here's the Tagline:
“A secret society and a crazed stalker are only the beginning of Bea’s problems…”
Being crowned as royalty in Rosewood Academy’s secret society wasn’t in Bea Morrison’s plans…
A senior in high school, Bea’s life changed forever when a tragic car crash claimed her best friend’s life, leaving her devastated and alone. Now at Rosewood Academy of the Arts, Bea owes a debt. With her best friend no longer queen, it’s up to Bea to be fulfill the role until graduation.
There is nothing money can’t buy, including Crosley’s king status…
When Bea accepts her place as queen, the arrogant Crosley is quick to remind her of her royal duties. Obsessed with the era of the Tudors, Crosley insists they must consummate their relationship—but spousal duties aren’t what Bea signed up for. When she rejects Crosley’s proposal, his expectations twist into absolute obsession.
A sadistic mind makes for an expert stalker…
After graduation, Bea thinks the nightmare of Rosewood Academy is over. She’s pleasantly surprised to reconnect with the gorgeous Everett Thompson, a drummer for her brother’s band. As feelings from their past fling resurface, Bea hopes for a fresh start with the guy who got away.
Bea’s hopes are shattered when she receives threatening texts from Crosley, who is still determined to collect his debt. And as Crosley continues to pursue her, a terrible tragedy proves he is even more dangerous than she feared.
If Bea has learned one thing, it’s that life is too fragile, and it’s anybody’s guess who will make it out of this nightmare alive.
[image error] [image error]
Author Bio: My name is Alexandra Moore. I've been creating stories since I could talk. I've been putting them onto paper since I could write. Writing books is my dream and my passion, along side with rescuing African Pygmy Hedgehogs, retired race Greyhounds, French Bulldogs, and other various animals I'm probably allergic too.
I'm convinced I'm the blood of the dragon, and the Mother of Dragons.
When I'm not watching GoT, I'm watching Grey's Anatomy (again) on Netflix, and crying over all the MerDer feels. I also spend time with my Boston Terrier Tank and my boyfriend. Both are my cuddle buddies, and I'm afraid the dog is around more often. I don't bite (unless provoked) so feel free to tweet at me, or leave a comment on one of my InstaPics. I can't wait until my book is in print, and to share my thoughts with the rest of the world.
December 14, 2015
Giveaway Reminder + I Made My First Book Teaser
There are 9 Days left to enter to win an e-book of Dating Maggie at Apryl Baker's Blog!
In other news...I've recently discovered Picmonkey. They make it easy to edit photos or make logos or graphics. I'm a writer with no graphic design experience. I learned about this site from a group of fellow Limitless writers. I made my logo at the top of this page. I also used a photo I took of a snowman to create a winter book teaser. Sure, I still need to practice but it's fun learning something new. And I apologize for inserting a shirtless cowboy in this winter scene...like I said...still learning.
Now if only I could find a Star Wars tie in for DATING MAGGIE promo I'd be set. Maybe I should show up at the long lines where folks are "camping out" and hand out paperbacks. I'm just spit-balling here:) I hope you all get a chance to build your own snowman sometime during or after the holidays!
In other news...I've recently discovered Picmonkey. They make it easy to edit photos or make logos or graphics. I'm a writer with no graphic design experience. I learned about this site from a group of fellow Limitless writers. I made my logo at the top of this page. I also used a photo I took of a snowman to create a winter book teaser. Sure, I still need to practice but it's fun learning something new. And I apologize for inserting a shirtless cowboy in this winter scene...like I said...still learning.
Now if only I could find a Star Wars tie in for DATING MAGGIE promo I'd be set. Maybe I should show up at the long lines where folks are "camping out" and hand out paperbacks. I'm just spit-balling here:) I hope you all get a chance to build your own snowman sometime during or after the holidays!
I Made My First Book Teaser
I've recently discovered Picmonkey. They make it easy to edit photos or make logos or graphics. I'm a writer with no graphic design experience. I learned about this site from a group of fellow Limitless writers. I made my logo at the top of this page. I also used a photo I took of a snowman to create a winter book teaser. Sure, I still need to practice but it's fun learning something new. And I apologize for inserting a shirtless cowboy in this winter scene...like I said...still learning.
Now if only I could find a Star Wars tie in for DATING MAGGIE promo I'd be set. Maybe I should show up at the long lines where folks are "camping out" and hand out paperbacks. I'm just spit-balling here:) I hope you all get a chance to build your own snowman sometime during or after the holidays!
Now if only I could find a Star Wars tie in for DATING MAGGIE promo I'd be set. Maybe I should show up at the long lines where folks are "camping out" and hand out paperbacks. I'm just spit-balling here:) I hope you all get a chance to build your own snowman sometime during or after the holidays!
Haley Despard's Diary of a Rocker's Kid + Interview/Excerpt
DIARY OF A ROCKER'S KID
by Haley Despard
Series: DORK #1
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
- SYNOPSIS -
Madison Daley’s father has concealed the truth from her for seventeen years…
Raised on a Kentucky farm, Madison is stunned when a conversational slip reveals her father Michael is a famous ’90s rock star known as the Grim Weeper. Michael left the spotlight and his mansion behind when Madison was dropped off on his doorstep by a woman in a black mask. A dark past is revealed, and the only thing Madison isn’t allowed to know is her mother’s name.
The answers Madison needs can only be found in Beverly Hills…
Though she does hope to persuade her dad to return to the stage, Madison’s real mission is to discover the identity of her mother.
But she is slightly distracted—literally—by the boy next door. Giovanni Abate’s father is an action film star, his stepdad is a major designer, and Gio has his own claim to fame. Madison catches the handsome, young Italian actor’s eye, and their mutual attraction makes for a hotter summer than she ever could have imagined.
Madison hasn’t set foot in California since infancy, but a lot of people are certain she has…
After Madison has a makeover, people are sure they’ve seen her somewhere before, and she is extremely curious about the identity of her supposed doppelganger. As she looks into this strange situation, she’s unaware that Gio is hiding a potentially devastating secret.
Could finding the answers she seeks change Madison’s life forever? Or will it just lead to more questions to fill the…Diary of a Rocker’s Kid.
- PURCHASE -KINDLE: http://amzn.to/1XE4T1SPAPERBACK: http://amzn.to/1TDgetu
- EXCERPT -June 2, 2015Mission L.A. Complete
We’re here…and it’s the best feeling in the world.As soon as I walked in those double doors, I immediately felt at home. That has never happened to me before. The farmhouse felt like home because it was all I had, but this place has Dad, Cass, and me written all over it. It’s a rocker’s mansion for sure, and Dad already told me some stories about the wild parties they used to have in here. I enjoyed hearing about how completely off the walls Cass and he were. It makes me think maybe he’ll forgive me for the shit I plan to do once I’m legal…or not so legal.He’s loosening up a lot now that we’re in L.A. He’s even treating me like an equal in a lot of ways. I guess he’s finally realizing I’m close to becoming an adult. Also, he said he plans to go out with Cass a lot while we’re here. Score for me! The less parental supervision, the better. I’m not sure how to feel about meeting Stephan Lowe’s family tomorrow. According to Ana, Steph’s partner is Alfonzo Abate, a major action film star. He’s easily an A-list actor, and I’ve watched and obsessed over all his movies. His teenage son Giovanni is an actor, too. He was a supporting actor on one of my favorite tween-teen shows, Jackson and Julia, until it got cancelled last year. He is constantly in the news, and girls everywhere obsess over him. My palms sweat and my throat dries up just thinking about him. I mean, this guy is swoon-worthy, and I’m about to meet him tomorrow. That has me terrified. What am I going to say to two actors I’ve worshipped for the past few years of my life? Especially one my age?I can see it now—“Hi, I’m Mads. You’re gorgeous. I want to marry you. I know I’m the Basket Baby, but maybe we can look past that. I’m even willing to start over on a deserted island together and forget either of us has a name. We can just sit on the beach day and night in nothing but our birthday suits and let the world fade away for the rest of our lives. Sound good? Great. I’m on my way to the courthouse to get emancipated right now.”I’m dying laughing over here. That’s so unrealistic it’s almost not funny.Almost.Anyway, now that I know who I’m meeting, I’m considering letting Ana give me a full-scale makeover tomorrow. She’s been wanting to do that for years, and now we’ve finally got the perfect opportunity. Plus, it’s kind of necessary. I’m looking at the ends of my hair, and…yep, I’ve got split ends. They’re all over the place. Definitely getting a haircut, and I might color it, too, even though that’s wayyy outside my comfort zone.Here goes nothing. Hopefully I won’t come back bald. That’s my secret fear when entering a salon.Ttyl,Mads
Diary of a Rocker’s Kid #1 Playlist
Diary of Jane – Breaking BenjaminAmerican Idiot – Green DayWhisper – EvanescenceFire and Ice – Within TemptationVictim – Avenged SevenfoldUnholy Confessions – Avenged SevenfoldMeant to Live – SwitchfootExtraordinary Girl – Green DayLet’s Get Rocked – Def LeppardBeverly Hills – WeezerThe Best Damn Thing – Avril LavigneMadness – MuseI Love Rock N’ Roll – Joan JettSweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ RosesDani California – Red Hot Chili PeppersRockstar - NickelbackRiot – Three Days GraceComplicated – Avril LavigneTitanium – Madilyn BaileyOceans – EvanescenceYou’re Gonna Go Far, Kid – The OffspringFamous – Puddle of MuddLost in Paradise – EvanescenceAfterlife – Avenged SevenfoldWelcome to the Family – Avenged Sevenfold
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Haley Despard was born and raised in small, yet ever-expanding Simpsonville, South Carolina. She discovered a love of writing at age fourteen and hasn’t been able to turn off the motor fingers since then. Today she lives just a stone’s throw over in the country side of Greer, SC with her husband, son, and Boston Terrier. Her loves include cats (even though she’s allergic because the universe hates her), reading, composing music, blogging, amateur photography, fro-yo, mall shopping trips, and anything that begins with, ends with, or includes the words “milk chocolate.” She also enjoys gaming with her husband on occasion and driving through the countryside with music on full blast.Haley’s books will include a combination of feminism, romance, diversity, family values, complicated storylines, and maybe even a scheming heroine or two. She loves to defy conventions and standards and continually thinks outside the box. If you want to read something fresh and original, pick up a Haley Despard novel. A book should be able to make you gasp, sob, laugh hysterically, and want to hug the main character all at the same time. Haley is very interactive on Facebook and Twitter so don’t hesitate to contact her at one of the links below, or you can email her at hdespardauthor@outlook.com.
LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/haley-despard/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/haleydespardTWITTER: https://twitter.com/HaleyDespardGOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14171202.Haley_DespardWEBSITE: https://diaryofarockerskid.wordpress.com/
- GIVEAWAY -
3 ecopies of Diary Of A Rocker's Kid up for grabs!a Rafflecopter giveaway
INTERVIEW WITH HALEY
What is your process for plotting out your novel?
It’s a mess. I usually start with chicken scratch ideas which morph into an outline, then a multi-paragraph summary, then a bunch more chicken scratch notes, another (more detailed) outline, 20+ rough drafts, and finally the rough draft that sticks.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?
My greatest challenge at the moment is finding the time and energy to write more while marketing the first book.
Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?
I write in multiple genres because I have multiple ideas. Plus, it’s a great way to broaden your fan base. Some people aren’t interested in YA fiction but like my CR or Fantasy ideas (which are not yet books). But mostly it’s just because I’ve got a head full to bursting with random, crazy ideas.
What was your path to publication like?
It was complicated. I first self-published my novel (in a very amateur, no clue what I was doing way) and it sorta failed, mostly because nobody knew about it. Then I submitted it to various indie publishers and Limitless was the first one to offer me a contract. They were my first choice anyway, so I went for it!
What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?
First, daydream. Then write. It really is that simple. Just write until your fingers almost fall off, even if you have to restart over and over. If you have a good idea, and you write it, you might get published.
December 13, 2015
Thin Mint Knock Off with Ritz Crackers
This is a great treat to bring along to any holiday party. If you want to make them even more festive, you could crush some candy cane bits on top of them. Ingredients 2 sleves of Ritz Crackers 1 1/2 lbs mint chocolate chips OR add a few drops of peppermint extract to regular chocolate chips. How to make it Melt Mint Chocolate Chips in microwave. (About 1 -1/2 minutes) or on stove topStir till creamyDip crackers in chocolate.Put cookies on wax paper or silpatRefrigerate until they set. Here's the link to Group Recipes where I found this gem!
photo courtesy Girl Scouts website
photo courtesy Girl Scouts websiteDecember 11, 2015
Harley: Michelle Jo Quinn's Cover Reveal
Harley
Michelle Jo Quinn
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: January 19th 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
All of her life, Cadence “Cade” Williams has been lied to…
With her ailing father on his deathbed, a whispered secret sends Cadence’s life into a tailspin. Determined to either confirm or debunk her father’s claim, she sets out on a mission to grow close to the only man with evidence to set things straight. To do that, Cadence earns a position in an elite security firm owned by her father’s old army buddy, Noah “Mac” Mackinley.
Mac is the only man who could hold the evidence to support her father’s claims…
But first, she must prove herself worthy of Mac’s trust and get close enough to find the truth. Her first mission is to watch over an eight-year old girl, Harley Clark.
Harley is not an ordinary girl. She’s the daughter of a rock star…
Despite her fragile appearance, Harley has tenacity and brilliance like nothing Cade has ever seen. To everyone’s surprise—including her own—Cade forms an unlikely friendship with the beautiful wallflower.
Her first assignment just became more interesting…
When Harley’s rock star father, Jax Clark, enters the scene, Cade can’t deny the instant attraction for the self-proclaimed bad boy. Tattoos, piercing eyes, and a raspy voice that sends thousands of fans into a screaming frenzy, he’s more than just a heartthrob. Worse, Jax starts to pay her more attention than she expects.
She’s faced with a choice—get lured in by the celebrity world and lose any chance of finding out the truth, or stick to the plan and avoid Jax at all costs to earn Mac’s trust.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00033]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1449934633i/17359760._SX540_.jpg)
Author Bio:
Michelle ‘s love for writing blossomed when her father gave her a diary. However, instead of recounting her daily life, she wrote stories of fictional people. Like most of her characters, she believes in Happily Ever After. Naturally, she finds harmony in writing romance.
An unabashed, self-proclaimed foodie, Michelle loves to try new food whenever she travels. She once had triple crème Brie and duck rillette for lunch on top of Grouse Mountain. She enjoys watching foreign films and reading a good book by the fireside.
Michelle is an active member of RWA and several of its chapters. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids.
Hosted by:
December 8, 2015
Thomas S. Flowers Discusses Dwelling & Writing
Thriller author Thomas S. Flowers just released a new book called Dwelling. The book is part of a series called The Subdue Series, book two is titled Emerging. Dwelling released on December 8, 2015 and Emerging will follow right after, releasing on December 15th. He was kind enough to answer some questions about the book and his writing process. The post below contains more details about his latest release.
What is your process for plotting out your novel?A: I’ve been called “traditional.” And maybe I am. I’ll let you be the judge. I start any story with a simple/basic notion of what I want to write. I start first with the characters, who are they. I don’t normally write anything down in great detail at this stage, it’s more of a brainstorming exercise. I typically jot a few notes down, especially if I’m doing research. Once I’ve got an idea of where or who I’m going to be talking about, I jump in. I start writing longhand. I believe longhand helps keep the creative flow moving without the tedious stop and edit of typing. Unless you’re disciplined enough, which I am not, typing can be a distraction to the stream of consciousness.
My editing process starts when I begin typing. Not everything gets transferred. As part of the editing process, I considering this to be my second draft. After that, I go through the story again with a third edit. And sometimes even a forth. After this, I find it’s beneficial to have an extra pair of eyes. I have a list of trusted “beta readers” who have helped me in the past. From here, as my betas return my story (betas do not proofread or edit, they simply read and jot notes for you, corrections or thoughts on the story itself, nothing more), I take in what they thought and see if changes need to be made.
After this, it’s off to the publisher…and comes the hardest part. Waiting. You have to wait. You cannot sneak your story out there. You need to be patient. And it’s bloody hard. Sitting on a story you want to share with the world is the hardest thing, I think, for a writer to do. But if you want a quality story and if you want it “out there” the right way, you have to wait. After the publisher gets back with me regarding accepting a new book, depending on your publisher, you are assigned an editor, the editor reads and makes corrections and discusses the book and said corrections with you. After a couple rounds of this, it’s off to the proof reader for final corrections and to ensure proper formatting. And I’m not even mentioning the marketing team and cover design team, etc. etc. Needless-to-say, a lot goes in to publishing a book.
Consider my own upcoming releases, both Dwelling and Emerging were started last year around this time. I finished my half of the process sometime in May, I think. I shopped it around. Was eventually picked up by Limitless Publishing. And went through their publishing process, which took a couple months, which isn’t bad. I’ve heard some publishers take a year to get your books out there.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?A: While I am really good at developing a schedule, sometimes I find it difficult keeping to it, keeping up with all the things we have to do other than writing. As a small beans writer, we have to take an active role in everything, from production to promotion and everything in-between whilst also keeping our day-to-day job. And there is the cross-promotion stuff we need to keep up with too and it’s horrible when we cannot support everyone. We are a community, but in the end, we have to pick and choose what or who we can help support.
Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?A: I typically work in the horror/thriller genre, but you’ll see literary fiction and historical as well, and sometimes I’ll adapt, depending on the story, cosmic Lovecraftian horror mixed with a dash of dark science fiction. Overall, I’d say my sum genre is dark fiction.
What was your path to publication like?A: Tedious…! Hmm…let’s see. I first started out self-publishing. I thought that’d be okay. Less costs. More profit for the stories I was selling. Unfortunately, there are aspects in the publishing world I am not very good at. I’m horrible at editing. I can read and read and re-read and re-read again, but I’ll miss a bunch of mistakes. I’m not very good with formatting. And I’m also not very good at marketing, or at least developing the tools necessary for marketing.
After self-publishing, I decided I needed to get with a publisher. A friend of mine had just joined up with Booktrope. My first book was already out, but they accepted self-pub works, so I thought, “Why not?” I submitted the book. They picked it up. But getting my book through Booktrope’s system, which is a mix of traditional/self-hybrid, was precarious, especially due to a lack of leadership within the imprint I was assigned. Getting a quality book out with BT requires putting together a good hard working team. Needless-to-say, I had some issues putting together a team that wanted to actually put in any kind of effort. Without going into too much detail, let’s just say I was kinda burnt out with BT.
When I finished writing my second book, I knew I didn’t really want to go the BT route again. I would if I had too, but I wanted to see if I go get into traditional small press first. I began shopping my book around. No big secret there, you just have to use the magically search engine known as Google with certain parameters. I had a huge list, emailing both agent and publishing houses direct. I got a TON of rejections.
I had a few bites, but for whatever reasons non-disclosed here, they just weren’t a great fit for me or my story. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon Limitless Publishing, LLC. To be honest, I was a little hesitant. Judging based on their website, it seemed that they only really worked with romance, or romance thriller, or fantasy romance thrillers. While love certainly exists in Dwelling, it’s not my subject matter. But, I went ahead and submitted, based on the fact that they are open to almost everything, including dark fiction/thrillers. I think it was a month later, maybe two, when I heard back from Limitless, requesting a full manuscript for review. A month later, I was signed up with Limitless.
They loved the book and wanted to help get it out in the world. While still being a small beans author, I still have to play a very active role in the promotional life of my work, but being signed on with LP has helped ease a lot of that stress as well as the editing/formatting aspect. I’m not gushing over LP, they are sincerely a fabulous publishing house to work with. I’m very blessed to have stumbled upon them.
What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?A: Hey, I’m small beans too, but if there was one piece of advice I could give to some up and comer it would be to never give up. I know that sounds cheesy or like a standard line everyone says, but it’s true. It breaks my heart when I see someone truly excited about their story, whatever it may be, and then through the process of getting the work out there, they become bummed out and end up giving up on the whole thing altogether.
Publishing is a tedious business that puts a lot of strain and stress on the author, more so if they’re going it alone. Like most things in life, or as those spiritualist meta-thinkers say, no one is an island. We need a community. The same could be said about writing. Even if you really like to self-pub, that’s okay too, but you need a base. You need to make connections. Build a circle of fellow authors and cross-promote each other. You can share advice or just talk things though. It helps, trust me.
What is your process for plotting out your novel?A: I’ve been called “traditional.” And maybe I am. I’ll let you be the judge. I start any story with a simple/basic notion of what I want to write. I start first with the characters, who are they. I don’t normally write anything down in great detail at this stage, it’s more of a brainstorming exercise. I typically jot a few notes down, especially if I’m doing research. Once I’ve got an idea of where or who I’m going to be talking about, I jump in. I start writing longhand. I believe longhand helps keep the creative flow moving without the tedious stop and edit of typing. Unless you’re disciplined enough, which I am not, typing can be a distraction to the stream of consciousness.
My editing process starts when I begin typing. Not everything gets transferred. As part of the editing process, I considering this to be my second draft. After that, I go through the story again with a third edit. And sometimes even a forth. After this, I find it’s beneficial to have an extra pair of eyes. I have a list of trusted “beta readers” who have helped me in the past. From here, as my betas return my story (betas do not proofread or edit, they simply read and jot notes for you, corrections or thoughts on the story itself, nothing more), I take in what they thought and see if changes need to be made.
After this, it’s off to the publisher…and comes the hardest part. Waiting. You have to wait. You cannot sneak your story out there. You need to be patient. And it’s bloody hard. Sitting on a story you want to share with the world is the hardest thing, I think, for a writer to do. But if you want a quality story and if you want it “out there” the right way, you have to wait. After the publisher gets back with me regarding accepting a new book, depending on your publisher, you are assigned an editor, the editor reads and makes corrections and discusses the book and said corrections with you. After a couple rounds of this, it’s off to the proof reader for final corrections and to ensure proper formatting. And I’m not even mentioning the marketing team and cover design team, etc. etc. Needless-to-say, a lot goes in to publishing a book.
Consider my own upcoming releases, both Dwelling and Emerging were started last year around this time. I finished my half of the process sometime in May, I think. I shopped it around. Was eventually picked up by Limitless Publishing. And went through their publishing process, which took a couple months, which isn’t bad. I’ve heard some publishers take a year to get your books out there.
What is your greatest challenge as a writer?A: While I am really good at developing a schedule, sometimes I find it difficult keeping to it, keeping up with all the things we have to do other than writing. As a small beans writer, we have to take an active role in everything, from production to promotion and everything in-between whilst also keeping our day-to-day job. And there is the cross-promotion stuff we need to keep up with too and it’s horrible when we cannot support everyone. We are a community, but in the end, we have to pick and choose what or who we can help support.
Do you write in one genre or multiple genres? Why?A: I typically work in the horror/thriller genre, but you’ll see literary fiction and historical as well, and sometimes I’ll adapt, depending on the story, cosmic Lovecraftian horror mixed with a dash of dark science fiction. Overall, I’d say my sum genre is dark fiction.
What was your path to publication like?A: Tedious…! Hmm…let’s see. I first started out self-publishing. I thought that’d be okay. Less costs. More profit for the stories I was selling. Unfortunately, there are aspects in the publishing world I am not very good at. I’m horrible at editing. I can read and read and re-read and re-read again, but I’ll miss a bunch of mistakes. I’m not very good with formatting. And I’m also not very good at marketing, or at least developing the tools necessary for marketing.
After self-publishing, I decided I needed to get with a publisher. A friend of mine had just joined up with Booktrope. My first book was already out, but they accepted self-pub works, so I thought, “Why not?” I submitted the book. They picked it up. But getting my book through Booktrope’s system, which is a mix of traditional/self-hybrid, was precarious, especially due to a lack of leadership within the imprint I was assigned. Getting a quality book out with BT requires putting together a good hard working team. Needless-to-say, I had some issues putting together a team that wanted to actually put in any kind of effort. Without going into too much detail, let’s just say I was kinda burnt out with BT.
When I finished writing my second book, I knew I didn’t really want to go the BT route again. I would if I had too, but I wanted to see if I go get into traditional small press first. I began shopping my book around. No big secret there, you just have to use the magically search engine known as Google with certain parameters. I had a huge list, emailing both agent and publishing houses direct. I got a TON of rejections.
I had a few bites, but for whatever reasons non-disclosed here, they just weren’t a great fit for me or my story. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon Limitless Publishing, LLC. To be honest, I was a little hesitant. Judging based on their website, it seemed that they only really worked with romance, or romance thriller, or fantasy romance thrillers. While love certainly exists in Dwelling, it’s not my subject matter. But, I went ahead and submitted, based on the fact that they are open to almost everything, including dark fiction/thrillers. I think it was a month later, maybe two, when I heard back from Limitless, requesting a full manuscript for review. A month later, I was signed up with Limitless.
They loved the book and wanted to help get it out in the world. While still being a small beans author, I still have to play a very active role in the promotional life of my work, but being signed on with LP has helped ease a lot of that stress as well as the editing/formatting aspect. I’m not gushing over LP, they are sincerely a fabulous publishing house to work with. I’m very blessed to have stumbled upon them.
What advice do you have for someone who dreams of writing and having a book published?A: Hey, I’m small beans too, but if there was one piece of advice I could give to some up and comer it would be to never give up. I know that sounds cheesy or like a standard line everyone says, but it’s true. It breaks my heart when I see someone truly excited about their story, whatever it may be, and then through the process of getting the work out there, they become bummed out and end up giving up on the whole thing altogether.
Publishing is a tedious business that puts a lot of strain and stress on the author, more so if they’re going it alone. Like most things in life, or as those spiritualist meta-thinkers say, no one is an island. We need a community. The same could be said about writing. Even if you really like to self-pub, that’s okay too, but you need a base. You need to make connections. Build a circle of fellow authors and cross-promote each other. You can share advice or just talk things though. It helps, trust me.
