Monday Musings: The Hats I Wear

Am I the only one who feels like they’re being pulled in a million different directions? I can’t be, can I?

Sometimes I get so caught up in all of the different roles I play, all of the different hats I wear, that I lose sight of myself. Of the things that I need in order to meet my goals and stay true to ‘me’.

How many hats do I wear? Let’s see…

Wife
Mother
Sister
Daughter
Bookkeeper (let me add this one is for 6 different companies)
Tax Preparer (ok, so it’s only at year end, but hey, it’s on my mind right now)
Dog Groomer
Cook
Parts Gopher
Maid
Taxi Driver
Writer
Friend

There’s probably more, but you get the idea. Just looking at that list makes me think of the old saying ‘Make time to stop and smell the roses.’ I’d love to, really I would. But sometimes, there are too many hats to fit on my head at once. And the one that most often falls off? Unfortunately that would be ‘Writer’. *sigh*

If your list looks like mine, and it most likely does, how to you balance them all? How do you find the time to stay true to yourself? I’d love to know. 

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Writer Wednesday: It ALL Began with Tom Jones

LOL. It's true! And this is my story.

My girlfriends and I were returning from one of our fun trips to see my sister in Tulsa. We were tired, and our conversation had died to mumbles. One decided to spark things up with her version of Car Games. Simple, really. She'd ask a question and we'd answer. No brainer.

Question: Pick one--Tom Jones or Englebert Humperdink. I picked EH because he was more romantic. The other three picked TJ because he is wild.

A few more rounds went by, and then she asked, "Write the opening paragraph of a book, using the word window." My insides sunk to the floor because deep down, I wanted to write. And she knew it. (She's never said if she asked this question to jumpstart me or not, but it did).

The others said something. I was afraid to. Afraid what I'd say would be stupid. So I had nothing. And since I was holding things up, they said I could email them something later on. Whew!

Once home, the regular stuff of life hit and I didn't get to the computer for a couple of days. In the back of my head, I knew I had to do this because they wouldn't forget. Just like the proverbial elephant. So I opened a word doc and holy moley, my fingers flew. They didn't stop. I went back and back and before I could *snap*, I'd written eight chapters.

Still, I had to show my friend. I copied it on to a disc, met her for lunch, and gave it to her. We met a few days later, she passed the disc and said, "Keep going."

And I haven't stopped.

~Vicki

From sassy writer Vicki Batman comes three romantic tales with a dash of humor: Little Birdie Who… and Other Stories

"This is NOT Working": One of those days at a new job when nothing is going right until the new boss steps in.

"Check Her Out": Gum: it’s a sticky situation, especially between the store manager and Auntie Caren when her nephew has to pay for the package he stole.

"Little Birdie Who… ": A new town, a new friend, a new beginning. Who would have thought a little bird could bring two people together?

Monday Musings: Swag

I'm attending the RT Booklovers Convention this year - and signing at the BookEXPO, yay! - so I've spent a lot of time lately brainstorming, creating and ordering new promo swag. I always try my best to come up with something fun and unique, something that pertains to the book but that readers will enjoy. From the feedback I've received, I usually manage, however I still feel the need to ask...

Are there any promotional items that you LOVE to receive?
What about those items you don't bother taking or keeping?

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Character Quickie: Justin Harrison

20 quickie facts about Justin Harrison:

Birthday? August 27
Favorite color? Red - like the highlights in Paige’s hair.
Nickname? None that I’m aware of.
Birthmark or scars? A round scar at my left shoulder from a .38 and another on my left side from the surgeon.
Siblings? None
City of residence? San Diego, California
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Cinnamon
Occupation? Homicide Detective with the San Diego Police Department
Hobbies? Sex
Favorite song? You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Moldy Cheese
Your greatest fear? That I won’t be able to protect Paige.
Most treasured possession? 1969 Pontiac GTO ‘The Judge’
Special talent? When bad things happen, someone needs to help restore order, solve the puzzle and uncover the identity of the bad guy. I’m very good with puzzles.
Cat or dog? Dog
Pet peeve? I have no stomach for people who take advantage of others weaknesses or misfortune for their own gain.
Unforgettable moment? The first time Paige told me she loved me. Although I could have done without the Beretta pressed against her ribs at the time.
Spicy or not? Spicy
Favorite guilty pleasure? A frosted mug of beer and a cigarette (which I was forced to give up).
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Was the Beretta really necessary?

Justin Harrison is the hero in Sarah Grimm's award-winning romantic suspense, NOT WITHOUT RISK.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/VCdnYz

Amazon.ca: http://amzn.to/WUvTcX 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/12I4rTr 

Nook: http://bit.ly/134DlkP

Breaking the Process By Sascha Illyvich

Most writers have a set process they use to write stories. They either plot meticulously (yo!) or they fly by the seat of their pants. Some set word count goals (again, yo) others do what they can when they can.

The creative process differs for all of us but the habits we establish help shape our careers, our futures. If we're diligent about work habits, success can be ensured. If we're persistent, if we're downright employing the concept of Kai Zen, the art of continuous improvement, then our processes get refined so much that every day seems the same, yet different.

Except when it doesn't, you find your editors are screaming at you because you know better about becoming a lazy editing author. Or when your agents are calling you with news that your last project needs another round of revisions but editors like the storyline…

It's maddening. Especially when you realize the reviewers are all saying how much they love your books, sales of your novels are steady but not as good as they could be, what then?

The one thing I'm evaluating in my career as of this writing is the process. Before, I pulled up the plotter pad my mentor gave me, filled out most of it, came up with some basic character descriptions, then just wrote. I wrote more and threw everything I had into that first draft, kept a rigorous schedule even when life got in the way.

It affected my health. I had to cut back on my hobbies, then cut back on how late I stayed up just to make or exceed word count. But the stories still had deadlines and I still had a life outside of publishing. The stories I've put out in the last few years have suffered not because they were poorly written, if that were the case they'd never have sold. But because they could have been longer, with more character development time spent. I was trained to write with my heart, but also with the idea that more is better. The more releases, the more the gravy train could keep rolling.

One year I was listening to a video interview from Rammstein, the German industrial metal band and the frontman said in translated German that "Rammstein has always been about militant structure. In this album (I think it was Rise, Rise) we broke free and let loose" or something to that effect. You know what? His statement about previous albums described me to a T.

Over the years I've realized I needed a change, a different structure. I needed something that flowed better with the emotional depth I put into my novels, while allowing me more downtime. I needed my readers to see I was capable of writing longer stories. I needed readers to understand me better and realize I screamed not just for me, but for them. But if I were to proceed in my usual militant way, I'd be dead and burned out before you finished reading this blog and obsessing about me. (Hint, you obsess about me, the bad boy of romance!)

Having a looser schedule allows me to begin breathing once again as a writer and more fully develop my characters while keeping my focus on the larger prize.

A little bit about Sascha:

Proclaimed by the Publishing industry as the Bad Boy of Romance, I started writing thirteen years ago. My erotic romances have been listed under the Night Owl Romance and Road to Romance’s Recommended read list, as well nominated for a CAPA by The Romance Studio.

Find me at http://saschaillyvichauthor.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/saschaillyvich

 

Character Quickie: Paige Sinster

20 quickie facts about Paige Sinster: 

Birthday? February 20th
Favorite color? Purple
Nickname? Principessa. Donovan, my mate, calls me Princess in Italian. Sometimes its sweet, sometimes its snarky.
Birthmark or scars? A mark of the Circle of Magdalena on my hip
Siblings? Six sisters. I’m part of the Seven Sin Sister prophecy.
State of residence? California
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Chocolate
Occupation? Pastry Chef & Café Owner
Hobbies? Baking & Shopping
Favorite band? There’s nothing like Abba to bake to!
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Creamer. I can’t drink my morning coffee without it.
Your greatest fear? Failing. Even now with my soul sin of Pride gone, I fear failing.
Most treasured possession? My mating jewels from Donovan
Special talent? Baking, especially with chocolate
Cat or dog? Cats are cleaner and when they purr, I can’t keep my eyes open.
Pet peeve? Interruptions in the kitchen
Unforgettable moment? My first spanking! Trust me, you wouldn’t forget it either!
Spicy or not? Spicy… very, very spicy.
Favorite guilty pleasure? Dessert in bed.
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why did you have to make me seem so bitchy in the beginning?

Paige Sinster is the heroine in Vanished Pride,
book four in the Seven Sin Sisters series.
BUY IT HERE

To learn more about Paloma Beck
and her writing please visit her WEBSITE.

Weekly Dose of Inspiration

I had a difficult time coming up with something that inspires me this week.
That is, until I found these...

I LOVE THESE SHOES!!!

I love these shoes so much I've decided that I'm going to find them and buy them. That is, once I hit my weight loss goal. Yup, these are my inspiration NOT to eat the last cookie. NOT to run to the corner gas station for that bag of white cheddar popcorn.

My inspiration to get out of my writing chair and out in the garage, where my husband has his very own 'gym' complete with everything you'd find at a local gym.

What's even better? 
Hubs won't even ask me how much they are.
Honestly!
He's got a bit of a shoe fetish and I think he loves these shoes as much as I do. LOL

 ~*~

What inspires you?

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Mentors by Diane Burton

I love mentors in a story. Gandalf (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings), Obi Wan Kenobi (Star Wars) and Morpheus (Matrix). And to prove that I don’t watch only sci-fi/fantasy movies here are some other mentors. Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) in The Sting, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) in the original The Karate Kid, and Glenda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz.

Mentors give advice, explain the big picture and, sometimes, give the hero something magical—Luke’s father’s lightsaber (Star Wars) or the ruby slippers which will enable Dorothy to return home (The Wizard of Oz). Mentors lead the young hero by the hand (sometimes, by the nose) to do what is right. Usually, the mentor must spell out the call to adventure for the hero then has to wait around (with gentle prodding) while the hero decides whether to answer the call. Mentors need patience, but sometimes they have to give the hero that kick in the patoot s/he needs.

My hero, Celara d’Enfaden, in The Pilot owes the life she leads now to her mentor. Though he’s only mentioned briefly, Celara’s affection is evident for the man to whom she indentured herself to escape her home planet, taught her starship mechanics and how to be a pilot.

But the mentor can’t take the journey with the hero. You know the old saying about leading a horse to water? The mentor can only take the lead up to a point. It’s the hero’s journey and s/he has to go on alone.

In my writer life, I’ve had many mentors. Writers who’ve generously shared their knowledge and experience in the industry. In mythology, the mentor is often called The Wise Old Man or Woman. In my case, the writers who’ve mentored me were usually younger. I just started my writing career later in life than they did. I still have mentors, writers I learn from. To pay it forward, I’ve tried to mentor others.

Who are the mentors you recognize from film or books? Your own life? 

Blurb: The Pilot

There’s no place like home and he just stole hers. Cargo hauler, risk taker Celera d’Enfaden must work with rule-bound Administrator Trevarr Jovano to save her brother from a galactic gangster.



Excerpt from The Pilot 

Celara pushed her chair away from the table and climbed up on it. “Quiet down, you Rimmer scum.”

The patrons laughed then quieted. Someone paused the Seinfeld vid.

She lifted her drink again. “A toast, Rimmers. Let’s hear it for the wonderful, fantabulous, yada, yada, yada, Administrator Jovano. May he live long enough to enjoy good health.”

To her surprise, silence met her toast. No one raised their glasses or mugs, even in jest. Everyone was looking at her, standing on the chair. No, they were looking past her. Only thing behind her was the door. Kleema groaned and buried her head on her arms on the table. Booted footsteps rapped on the rough-hewn plank floor then stopped behind her.

“Thank you for the compliments and the good wishes for my longevity.” The baritone-and-chokiris voice sounded just over her shoulder.

If ever there was a need for a personal cloaking device, it was now. Or a magic ring with which to disappear. Sec Admin Trevarr Jovano stood behind her. Waiting. She swore she could feel him breathing.

Undaunted, she turned around. As the room tipped, she reached for the back of the chair. “Whoa, those mudslides sneak up on you.”

Missing the chair, she grabbed the closest thing—Trevarr Jovano’s black-clad shoulders. Beneath her fingers, the strong muscles contracted. “Hey there, Admin Man. Heard my toast, did you?” She grinned down at him.

He wasn’t smiling. “You should sit down before you fall down. Or better yet, go home and sleep it off.”

A dark fury swept away the sweet tranquility of two, tall Kruferian mudslides. “I can’t go home, you snake. You stole my home.”

She swung a round-house punch at him, missed her objective and would have fallen ignominiously off the chair had he not caught her. For several long secs, he held her tightly against his chest, her feet dangling off the floor a good twenty-five centimeters. His green eyes caught hers and darkened.

The heat in the room rose ten degrees. Her heart tripped, the air leached out of her lungs. His eyes. She could drown in those green depths.

The Pilot is available at Amazon ~ Smashwords ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America as well as the Mid-Michigan, Young Adult and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal RWA chapters. She is the author of the Switched series, about twins exchanging places—from Earth to a starship and the reverse. With The Pilot, she begins a new series about strong women on the frontier of space. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Diane can be found around the Internet at:

website: www.dianeburton.com
blog: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmburton72
Facebook: http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthor
Goodreads: Diane Burton Author
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dmburton72/

Start Doing

I'm in the writing 'cave' today, so forgive me if all I share with you is this wonderful quote I discovered this weekend. I'm wondering if I could blow it up to poster size so I could place it on my living room wall?

Character Quickie: Jesse Snowe

20 quickie facts about Jesse Snowe:

Birthday? August 17, 1989.
Favorite color? Blue.
Nickname? Everyone just calls me Jesse.
Birthmark or scars? A leaf shaped birthmark on my hip, a small scar on my jaw.
Siblings? None.
City of residence? Las Vegas.
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Pina colada.
Occupation? Dancer in an all-male revue.
Hobbies? Dancing, yoga, gymnastics.
Favorite song? I have so many, but if I have to pick one, maybe Push Up by the Freestylers. It’s a great song to dance to.
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Blueberry yogurt.
Your greatest fear? Coming out to my fellow dancers.
Most treasured possession? Cell phone photo I took of Val when he wasn’t looking.
Special talent? I’m good at yoga and dancing.
Cat or dog? Dogs. They love you no matter what.
Pet peeve? People who think a ticket to the revue includes a grope session with the dancers. There’s always a few at every show.
Unforgettable moment? Hiking date with Val.
Spicy or not? Spicy, please.
Favorite guilty pleasure? Pepperoni pizza and beer.
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why did you have to give me a job as a stripper? Why couldn’t I be the bartender?

Jesse Snowe is the hero of 

Pender Mackie's book, 

STAGE FRIGHT, 

available now at Amazon, 

Loose Id, and ARe.

Don't forget to visit Pender's

 WEBSITE.

Writer Wednesday: Editing

I think it’d be safe to say that one of the banes of a writer’s life is editing. While I’ve learned to appreciate the editing process, I can probably speak for all of us out there when I say the process can be arduous and painful. The good thing is we hold the power to lessen our own pain in this process. Here are some tips and tricks that I’ve found to help keep the editing process from becoming a raging headache.

1. Print out your manuscript – Yes, I know ink is expensive and it will take a lot of paper. But you’ll be thankful in the end. It’s the old adage of looking at something in a different light makes it look completely different. Reading your words on the printed page can sound/look very different than how they do on the computer screen.
2. Read it out loud – this is especially useful for dialog. Reading your story out loud will help you with word flow. Think about it, if you stumble over reading a sentence out loud, you can bet you’ll have a number of readers that will get tripped up reading it too. I know some authors who like to read their stories into a recorder and listen to it as they are reading along with the written manuscript so they can focus more on the way it sounds. 
3. Critique partners – Try to find people that will give you the feedback you need. You can do yourself a favor by explaining in detail or making a list of questions to help your partners understand exactly what you need from them. Finding partners that understand your genre can be a plus too.
4. Read it backwards – This clearly wouldn’t work well for content necessarily, but this is a great way to help you proof read your manuscript for typos, grammar, and punctuation. It allows you to not focus on the story content and more on the technical aspects.
5. Put it away for a week or more – Now I know time isn’t always on our side, but sometimes the best thing to do is put it away and pull it back out after some time has passed. If you can manage, put your manuscript away for a month. The more time that separates the last time you read it and your next round of edits gives your mind time to clear out and gives you the opportunity to read it with fresh eyes. 

What do you think? Anyone else have some editing tips that work well for them?

Lizzy Bergstrum thought she finally reached a point in her life when she could honestly say she had it all. A thriving writing career. A wonderful daughter. And a marriage to the love of her life. But looks can apparently be deceiving because her husband just walked out on her and their eight year old daughter hates her.

Gavin Bergstrum can’t handle the direction his life has taken. Not only did he get laid off from his job, but his wife seems to barely remember he exists. Convinced he’s tried his best to change things, he begins to wrestle with the possibility of divorce. But he can’t think straight in the same house as Lizzy. Hating to leave his daughter, but needing time to think and come to terms with what he feels he needs to do, Gavin decides to return to his small home town in Oregon and stay at his family ranch with his father and brothers.

 In shock, Lizzy gives Gavin his space. But as time passes and he doesn’t say a word about their marriage, Lizzy decides it’s past time she takes matters into her own hands. Without a word, she follows Gavin to Oregon.

Now facing a daughter who blames her for everything, an irritated husband, and a small town that feeds on the drama, Lizzy finds herself trying to figure out how to convince Gavin to give her another chance, teach her daughter it takes two to make a successful marriage, and overcome her own insecurities – all without compromising who she is.


AUTHOR BIO: 

In between her to-be-read pile and trying to bring the characters in her head alive, Kristen spends as much time as she can with family and friends. Much to her husband’s dismay, she enjoys collecting purses, shoes, and jewelry. During those rare times she’s not working at her day job, rushing her daughters somewhere, watching movies with her husband, and trying to meet a deadline, she can usually be found energetically cheering for one of her favorite New York sports teams.

As with just about every other writer on the planet, Kristen grew up an avid reader. She started with young adult before she technically hit the age range and moved on to sci-fi classics by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. At fifteen, her best friend gave her a book she just had to read! The book was Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts. Always a sucker for a happy ending, she was a goner and fell in love with the romance genre. Having started writing novel length stories at the age of eleven, Kristen’s stories all took a romantic turn from that point on.

You can connect with Kristen here:

website www.KristenBeairsto.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorKristenBeairsto

Twitter www.twitter.com/AuthorKBeairsto

Courage

"Everyone is afraid of something." Isn't that what 'they' say? We say we are afraid of the dark, when in truth we are afraid of what's in the dark that we can't see. We say that we have a fear of heights, when it's the falling that we fear.

My husband is a deputy sheriff. He does things in any given day that send chills up my spine and goosebumps down my arms. He just shrugs it off and takes another bite of dinner.

How much courage does it take to put yourself out there, to submit your writing for other people to read and (gasp, swallow hard) reject? It takes a lot of more courage than some have. There are those of us who muster up this courage and send our work out to editors and agents, hoping to get back positive word.

Now what kind of courage does it take to self-publish?

Some may say none. After all, you don't have to deal with the rejection of the highers, but I disagree. Recently someone near and dear to me (*cough* Sarah) just released a previously published book with an updated cover and new sheen of polish. (Have you *seen* this cover?)

To me this is an amazing feat, a study of self-confidence and intestinal fortitude. I find it inspiring and...inspiring.

Am I announcing an intent? No, not yet. Just an idea, something to muse about this Monday morning.

How about you? How do you feel about self-publishing? Is it courageous or dangerous?

Arachnophobia means afraid of spiders. Does anyone know the word for "afraid to self-publish"?

Character Quickie: Jessie Hutchinson

20 quickie facts about Jessie Hutchinson: 

Birthday? August 3
Favorite color? Green. Definitely. Well, forest green. Like Lucian's eyes.
Nickname? Jessie is short for JessAnna, and everyone calls me Chatterbox. *blushes* And Lucian calls me his Temptress.
Birthmark or scars? None. I've lived a pretty boring life until my car broke down.
Siblings? My sister, Sally. She's always been such a… witch with a 'b', but now I know why, and it's okay. We get along now.
City of residence? Roseville, CA
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? A few weeks ago, I would have said Very Vanilla. Definitely. But now? Sometimes I'd be Blushing Berry. Other times, Sinful Sangria.
Occupation? Nurse.
Hobbies? *clears throat* Lucian
Favorite song? There's way too many to list. I love classic rock, and Lucian introduced me to classical music.
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Mustard? Maybe.
Your greatest fear? Making a fool of myself, and I do it regularly.
Most treasured possession? *holds up left arm to display beaded charm bracelet* This bracelet. Dorn gave us all one, to help us stay focused on the mission. The ones for the guys are gorgeous jeweled watchbands.
Special talent? That depends who you ask. Most people would say making a scene.
Cat or dog? Both.
Pet peeve? Women who bat their lashes and expect a man to fall at their feet.
Unforgettable moment? When I said Lucian was prettier than any woman I knew.
Spicy or not? Spicy.
Favorite guilty pleasure? It used to be chocolate, but now, it's watching Lucian. Though Lucian covered in chocolate… *sigh*
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why did Lucian have to get injured so seriously? That was horrible!

Jessie is a co-heroine in "Dorn" Book 2 in Azure Boone's and Kenra Daniels' Archangels Creed series. She and the other members of her Quadumvirate have to fight Satan's genetically engineered Khareformen and create their Holy Warrior. 

To learn more about Azure and Kenra please visit their BLOG.

Creative Marketing by Juliette Springs

As a new author or established author everyone is using these marketing essentials:

Website/Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Newsletters, LinkedIn and Good reads. When used effectively these items help authors establish their brand and platform and drive readers and potential readers to your books. Since a lot of writers are using these social media, it’s time to get creative and a personal touch to make your platform & brand stand out and gain new readership.

Gain new readers with a personal creative touch. Start by donating a book “gift-basket” to the following places: rest homes, hospitals, and senior citizen centers. Each of these facilities has patients/residents/staff who probably love to read. While you are personally promoting your books, you’re also brightening someone’s day.

How about donating a couple of your paperbacks to your local library for checkout as well as donating personalized bookmarks? Most libraries have free bookmarks on their counters for patrons to take at their leisure.

If you’re already published or (even if you’re not) chances are you have some expertise in the area of writing. Schedule a free (or low priced) writing workshop about some aspect of writing. It can be an all-day event or for just two hours. Not only will you gain aspiring or established writers for networking purposes you also will meet potential readers. Door prizes could include a free book, author swag, or a coupon for 15% off one of your ebook. Get the email addresses of each participant and add them to your email list. Your local library is a great place to hold this event. To make it bigger and better invite other writers you know to host a session and donate door prizes too.

The key to gaining readership and extending your platform is to give readers something they want. What genre are you writing? Based on the genre of your writing develop free, interesting tidbits of information your readership/potential readership would be interested in knowing. Here are some guidelines:

Paranormal genre: Articles/Info about haunted houses, astrological info, history of vampires/werewolves/witches in the US. If you’re writing about a witch living in a haunted house, who falls in love with the ghost- Write an article about haunted houses in your region or “design” a tour of haunted houses they should visit. Is your heroine an Aries that falls in love with a Scorpio? Write an article on your blog about the compatibility of a Fire/Water sign relationships.

Erotic: This genre lends itself to a multitude of possibilities. A series of articles on your blog could include:

“Spicing up your sex life”

“Sex toys for Dummies”

“BSDM 101”…just to name a few.

Historical: Tweet historical facts about the setting of your novel. Write an article on your blog about the life of women during that time period. Post pictures of actual homes, castles, etc. of the time period your novel takes place.

Things to also consider doing:

Offer online classes

Book signings

Lecture about historical aspect or interesting aspect featured in your novel.

Recipes featured in your book

Consider posting deleted scenes of your book on your website to keep reader interest until your next novel comes out. This will work especially well for a series.

I hope my tips have given your valuable tips or even sparked ideas for extending your reach.

Until the next time

Juliette 

Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/JulietteSprings

www.juliettesprings.com

The Karma Chronicles~Vanessa’s Story Blurb 

Devastated after an emotional break-up, Vanessa decides to finish her fall semester and leave Bear Creek University and the town of Bear Creek forever, certain starting over in a new place will soothe her wounded heart. Her plans are derailed when her ex-lover returns wanting another chance. Despite the chemistry between them and their sensual history, should she risk her heart again for a man who told her she wasn’t good enough for him or his tribe?

Bowing to tribal pressure, Sean Yonah was forced to hurt his best friend and lover, the one woman he couldn’t get enough of. Now the Spirits say she may be his “other.” Sean knows what he did was deplorable, but if he doesn’t convince Vanessa to forgive him, he’ll lose a lot more than the love of his life.

BUY IT TODAY

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / All Romance eBooks / Bookstrand

Juliette's Contact Information:

Website/Blog: www.juliettesprings.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JulietteSprings

Monday Musings

It's my morning to share with you my musings, and frankly, I have no idea what to tell you. I've had the most God-Awful sinus headache all weekend, have been struggling to upload a book to Amazon - it keeps reverting back to draft - and, I downloaded a 'safe' program last night and got a whole bunch of extra garbage I'm in the process of removing. Not really exciting stuff, huh? :-)

I think this morning I'll just leave you with this. (and if anyone has one of these signs, can you send it to me? I'm in desperate need of one. lol)

Sarah Grimm
where dangerously sexy & happily-ever-after collide 
Blog / Website

Character Quickie: Isabelle Carson

20 quickie facts about Isabelle Carson:


Birthday? January 2
Favorite color? Lilac
Nickname? The elf that waylays me prefers princess.
Birthmark or scars? I have a recent tattoo that I’d rather not talk about.
Siblings? 2
City of residence? Small town – Sherwood Hills
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Chili-mango – sweet with underlying heat.
Occupation? Antique store owner.
Hobbies? Home restoration.
Favorite song? I Don’t Want To Talk About It – rendition by Rod Stewart & Amy Belle – but I’m hoping this will change.
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? A Château De Gironville bordeaux. I like my red wine chilled.
Your greatest fear? That men will not see past my sex-kitten body to the person inside.
Most treasured possession? My Tudor Revival house.
Special talent? Finding treasures amongst the trash.
Cat or dog? Dog
Pet peeve? Men who can’t connect emotionally.
Unforgettable moment? When Serenity Resorts disappeared. I will never forget that moment.
Spicy or not? Spicy
Favorite guilty pleasure? Apple toffee cheesecake.
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Couldn’t you find a less dramatic way to bring Jonathan and I together besides giving us to that demented elf as playing pieces in his seductive game when you knew how committed I was to my relationship recovery program?

Find more about Isabelle in Sharon Clare's release, RHAPSODY, available now at Amazon.

Don't forget to visit Sharon's WEBSITE for more about her and her writing.

Weekly Dose of Inspiration

Just a thought to hold you through the weekend...

Writer Wednesday with Zrinka Jelic

Thank you for hosting me on your blog. It’s always exciting to connect with new readers.

There’s an old saying that goes “Write about what you know.” I’m from Croatia and I know about my country and its neighbouring countries that were once all part of former Yugoslavia. Therefore, you’ll find something about Croatia in each of my books.

At one time only well-travelled people like let’s say reporters, could write convincing stories about foreign to them cultures and landscapes, or cities and places. Now all the information is at our fingertips. With just a click of the mouse, we can be taken to the most remote places of this planet. Virtually of course, but it is still next best thing when we don’t have the luxury to travel there personally.

With the popularity of vampires and shape shifters, many new authors seem to want to try themselves in the paranormal genre. Perhaps it is the origin of the word vampire that is bringing their research to Slavic countries. Dictionary.com says this for the word’s origin:

1725–35; (< F) < German Vampir < Serbo-Croatian vàmpīr, alteration of earlier upir (by confusion with doublets such as vȁzdūh, ȕzdūh air (< Slavic vŭ- ), and with intrusive nasal, as in dùbrava, dumbrȁva grove); akin to Czech upír, Polish upiór, Old Russian upyrĭ, upirĭ, ( Russian upýrʾ ) < Slavic *u-pirĭ or *ǫ-pirĭ, probably a deverbal compound with *per- fly, rush (literal meaning variously interpreted) 

And as a result, I’m seeing more books out there on Serbian and/or Croatian vampires and werewolves. I read a few and it is apparent that the authors are not from either county, nor do they have any connection to them, and unfortunately neither did they do their research. As a result, the books have Slavic words in them that are used in a wrong context, the landscape is not described in any way other than “Serbian mountains”, which tells us nothing really, the names of the characters are incorrect, the historical facts such as epic battles and wars, are messed up, and many readers, especially those from these countries are not impressed.

A few things to consider when writing about other cultures: no matter what genre you write, do your research, and especially if writing paranormal. Find out if the population (in general) like this whole paranormal thing? Especially when mixed with love or erotic elements. Many countries like Croatia where 99% of people are devout Roman Catholics see erotica as porn. Every nation seems to have some sort of vampire legend and they have different names for them, but some would like to keep them in their folklore and not make a big deal out of it. So if you come across a legend and get hit with a story of your own that you want to base on that particular folk tale, research it. Friend someone from that country (on Facebook or other social media), dig out anything you can. Sprinkling foreign words throughout the manuscript will add the flavour but, don’t rely on Google translator. The worse thing that could happen is someone will check your facts or someone will know them, and bad reviews will follow. And if after all your efforts the best you can come up with is some vague facts, then do not reference it to that legend (don’t use names and locations from the legend), keep it vague as well and see if the readers will find the similarities.

Bio: Zrinka Jelic lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two children. A member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter Fantasy Futuristic &Paranormal, as well as Savvy Authors, she writes contemporary fiction—which leans toward the paranormal—and adds a pinch of history. Her characters come from all walks of life, and although she prefers red, romance comes in many colors. Given Jelic’s love for her native Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, her characters usually find themselves dealing with a fair amount of sunshine, but that’s about the only break they get. “Alas,” Jelic says, with a grin. “Some rain must fall in everyone’s life.”

My blog; http://bondedbycrimson.blogspot.ca/

The last thing Captain Sirena expected to find on a desolate island was...him!

When Carmen Ventura takes up her post as commander of the Strega, she becomes the new Captain Sirena, the legendary pirate most people think is just a myth created to scare children. Her first quest is to search for the “treasured chest” hidden by her predecessor. But before she can even begin the hunt, she runs into Marko Lucin, captain of the Levant and Carmen’s most insane adventure yet.

How can the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen be a bloody pirate?

Never one to pass up an adventure, especially where pretty women are concerned, Marko finds his ultimate challenge in Carmen. Not only does he fall for her courage, spunk, and intelligence, but the lady pirate can also help him get what he wants—the famous treasure everyone whispers about. His only problem—how long can he play the charming captain before she discovers his true intentions?

TREASURED CHEST by Zrinka Jelic
Available now at:

Black Opal Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks, KOBO, Smashwords

Time for a Muse...?

Well, I've been MIA lately and a little AWOL, but I'm back. It feels good to be blogging again.Sorry, I've been away, but I had a lot on my plate. I had a book due to an editor, then a submission call for a proposal, and now perhaps a project that is in another genre entirely. That has me thinking about my muse.

If you've been to my personal site then you've met Shirley, my muse. Shirley comes in handy in *many* situations, but sometimes, whether by her choice or mine, she doesn't take part in my creative process.

Such is the case with my latest project. Working without a muse can be kinda frightening. But I'm managing.

Still I know she's lurking there in the shadows...or on the beach...waiting for me to need her once again.

Hang on, Shirley, and don't forget the sunscreen!

Character Quickie: Kris Langley

20 quickie facts about Kris Langley:

Birthday? September 2
Favorite color? Forest green, like the eyes of my boyfriend Eric
Nickname? Kris, short for Kristine. Only my overbearing mother calls me Kristine!
Birthmark or scars? My scar is internal - the heartache from losing my cousin Nicole to a serial killer when we were kids
Siblings? Older sister Holly is an emergency room physician
City of residence? Fremont, Massachusetts
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Chocolate, as I go looking for chocolate in stressful times
Hobbies? Writing, reading and baking
Favorite song? Waiting for a Girl Like You
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Leftover Chinese food
Your greatest fear? Losing another loved one
Most treasured possession? A silver-framed picture of my cousin Nicole
Special talent? People tell me that I'm a good writer
Cat or dog? An adorable cat named Chipmunk
Pet peeve? When fellow journalists sensationalize their stories
Unforgettable moment? When I first read about the 25-year-old murder of Diana Ferguson on the microfilm and got drawn into her story
Spicy or not? Not
Favorite guilty pleasure? Chocolate chip cookies
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why did you have to give me such a rough childhood?

Kris Langley is the heroine in Stacy Juba's TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY, available now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

To learn more about Stacy Juba and her writing please visit her BLOG.

Weekly Dose of Inspiration

Yes, I should. Give me a few minutes though, okay? :)

Writer Wednesday: Beginning Romance Writing Again

Beginning Romance Writing Again
By Beth Barany

After writing two novels (one a historical novel, and one a romance that was grand adventure, mostly), I decided I was really an adventure writer, so wrote Henrietta The Dragon Slayer, a YA epic fantasy novel, Book 1 in a series. I published it myself in 2011, and even won a Grand Prize for it in 2012 in a California Independent Author Fiction contest. Woohoo!

But I never lost my love of romance, and read it as avidly as I read fantasy. Now I'm trying my hand again at romance novella.

So I feel like I'm beginning again and have had to take stock of what I knew and what I needed support on. While you read my list, note for yourself what you already know and what you need support on. I'll also list some resources for each of these elements. Because I'm always learning I may have forgotten some elements of writing a romance, so please add them into the comments. Thanks!

World Building 
As a fantasy writer, I spend a lot of time thinking about my new and wonderful world. I keep a word document with all the facts, lore, and history. For my novella, I call it a Wiki, because I think that's cool. As questions come up for me, I also list them here. Since I've also taught on this topic, I have a cool handout on world building topics I can send you if you write me http://bethbarany.com/contact.html.

Since I'm writing a paranormal romance, where my modern day heroine travels to 13th century France, to a town that is building their cathedral, world building isn't that different than when I write fantasy, except now I can use the Internet instead of my imagination for many of the world building facts. Well, I'll still be using my imagination about the magic.

So a brief spiel on the Rules of Magic: You get to decide on the level of scarcity, magic's difficulty, and the price of it to the magic's users.

Btw, I'm now using Scrivener to write this story, and keep all my world building notes handy. I like Scrivener because I can load up pictures, maps, and web links. Best of all, everything is in one place.

Plot & Story Structure
This is where I'm the weakest, no matter what the genre. One tool I've recently tried and enjoyed is a synopsis tool in beta by award-winning author, Patricia Simpson. (She's also one of my awesome critique partners.) Her beta tool helped me think about the theme of my novella: Trust, and to wrap the inner and outer conflicts through this theme. Her tool, Synopsis Maker, is here: http://www.patriciasimpson.com/PlotSpinner/snapsynopsis.aspx.

Character Building
I love creating my stories from my characters. But I notice that when I'm about a quarter to half way into my story, I've lost sight of my characters a little. I've gotten carried away by the new plot points I've come up with, because, yep, I'm a seat-of-the-pants writer, mostly. So I go back to my character notes (Scrivener is great for this!) and revisit the useful character tools of Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. For a resource, so visit the book by Deb Dixon on this title, Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. It's cheapest to get it directly from the publisher, Gryphon Books for Writers: http://www.gryphonbooksforwriters.com/.
(Thank you Deb, for bringing this powerful tool to us!)

Romance, Intimacy, & Sex 
I'm leaving the hardest bit for me the last. As I dive back into writing romance, I'm reminded to revisit the 12 stages of intimacy. Here's a good summary post by author Terry Odell: http://terryodell.blogspot.com/2010/03/12-steps-to-intimacy.html. I'm brushing up on this topic because I know I love writing about intimacy, but not so interested about writing about sex. My big question as I finish this novella is how do I write in a deliciously sensual and yummy way that doesn't bore me or make me uncomfortable. Any tips and resources welcome!

So, while I've written fantasy and dabbled in historical fiction, and feel confident in many aspects of writing, writing romance is new again for me. I look forward to getting comfortable and making the genre my own.

Beth Barany is a novelist of the award-winning YA fantasy, Henrietta The Dragon Slayer. The second book in the series is due out Spring 2013. Sign up for Beth's newsletter at her author site: http://author.bethbarany.com and enter her current fun Giveaway. The romance novella as part of an anthology will be out later this year.

Character Quickie: Tyler

20 quickie facts about Tyler: 

Birthday? May 6
Favorite color? Aqua, the color of Pryl’s wings
Nickname? Vio or Tiga
Birthmark or scars? none
Siblings? none
City of residence? Korinth
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Roasted Marshmallow
Occupation? Father
Hobbies? Playing with my young
Favorite song? Try by Pink
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Pomegranate Juice
Your greatest fear? Losing Pryl
Most treasured possession? The drawings of my family
Special talent? Keeping the young ones entertained
Cat or dog? Cat
Pet peeve? Intolerance
Unforgettable moment? Getting the twins Uzia and Koim
Spicy or not? Spicy most definitely
Favorite guilty pleasure? Spending one on one time with Pryl
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Will there be more books with my family?

Find more about Tyler in Angel Rothamel's new release, THE SOLSTICE, available now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Don't forget to visit Angel's WEBSITE for more about her and her writing.

Writer Wednesday: Mona Karel

Welcome, Mona, can you tell us a little about yourself? 

Hi, Sarah and Amie. Thanks for having me here today! I started writing on cave walls...okay I’m not quite that old. But I joined RWA so far back my membership number is three digits. I write as Mona Karel, and the rest of the world knows me as Monica Stoner. It’s hard to say which life is my “real” world I guess that depends on where I’m sitting in the house. I’m always up for champagne and happy to share my love of cooking with anyone who stops by.

Tell us about MY KILLER MY LOVE and where we can find it. 

When an immortal enforcer is sent to punish an innocent woman, she wakens the soul he'd forgotten he possessed. It's set in a magical spot in the ancient California forests and takes them through treachery and fear, bringing them finally to trust and love.

Kendra Weiss doesn’t realize she has inherited powerful gifts upon the death of her beloved grandmother. She retreats to their secluded cottage to mourn, and encounters a man of unearthly beauty and strength. 
Mykhael Alastor has become increasingly dissatisfied with his work as an immortal enforcer. When he is sent to punish a woman who could never be guilty of the accusations against her, he realizes he must defy his overlords even if it means his own death. 
Complicating matters is Kendra’s jealous cousin Clarissa and Mykhael’s half brother Gabriel, who is determined to destroy Mykhael. 

My Killer My Love is available in print and ebook formats from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Killer-Love-ebook/dp/B00529AJ6Y
and other retailers. Check with your favorite bookseller.

Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with? 

Kendra should be my favorite character but Mykhael calls to me on so many levels, and I don’t just mean physical. He’s always been an outsider trying his best to be accepted. It’s difficult for him to learn to love himself so that he can believe he is worthy of Kendra’s love.

Describe your writing in three words. 

Emotional. Evocative. Sensual.

Why did you choose your genre? 

I discovered Andre Norton when I was still in school and have been enthralled by the possibilities in fantasy stories ever since. My only disappointment was Ms. Norton’s delicacy about intimate scenes, which I’ve managed to overcome.

Where do you get your ideas? 

The actual story of My Killer My Love came to me while I was doing battle with the snails in my California garden. I reached for the bottle of snail bait and heard a masculine voice ask “You don’t want to do that, do you?” The story dumped into my head nigh on whole cloth and I wrote like a mad fury for several months to get the first draft done. Never did get that garden planted.

How do you do your research?

The house is filled to groaning with books. When we moved to New Mexico from California we had over forty large boxes of just research books, covering a myriad of subjects. Then there’s the Internet, of course, a fabulous time waster. For My Killer My Love, which is the initial story about a group overseeing the sacred places in the universe, I dug deep into mythology and folk lore to discover the Atrahasis, relating to the creation of humans.

What advice would you give to the new/unpublished author? 

Finish the first book. Even if you think it’s bilge. Even if it is bilge, finish it. You will have achieved something only a very small percentage of those who set out on this journey accomplish. Then put it away, and start another story. Write every day, even if it’s just a few sentences...something I’ve been telling myself for several months now. When I manage to listen to myself, I’m a much happier individual.

You will need to learn about marketing, about building a platform and attracting an audience. But to launch the magical mystical tour of literature, you need something behind the curtain to wow the audience. Concentrate on finishing the book.

What’s next for you? 

Much to my surprise, Mykhael’s brother Gabriel did not die. He is in disfavor with the Atrahasis, and must atone for his actions by spending time among humans, learning humility. Given his millennia of near godhood, that lesson might take a very long time. His story is coming out in an erotic novella. At least right now it’s a novella, and I know it will be as sensual as My Killer My Love.

Plus I’ve been thinking about the dearth of mature romances. Is there interest in romances about people who are past the age of perfect bodies and flawless skin? I’d love to hear other opinions.

Where can we find you on the web? 

Website: http://mona-karel.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonaKarel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mona-Karel/101308129961137?ref=ts&fref=ts 
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/monakarel/

Is there anything you would like to ask our readers? 

Even though I’m an avid reader myself, I always wonder what attracts people to certain books. Is it the characters, the emotions, the plot? What draws YOU to read a reach for a book you’ve read before, for the sheer joy of rereading?

Character Quickie: Isabeau Montgomery

20 quickie facts about Isabeau Montgomery: 

Birthday? September 23
Favorite color? Brick Red
Nickname? Izzy
Birthmark or scars? Too many scars to list.
Siblings? None
City of residence? Long Island City, New York
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Pina Colada
Occupation? Owner of Izzy’s Bar
Hobbies? Cooking, Running
Favorite song? Tempted by Black Phoenix
Name one item in your refrigerator right now? Black sea bass with chilies, herbs, and spinach.
Your greatest fear? That Noah will discover my secret, learn of the lie I’ve been hiding behind for 13 years.
Most treasured possession? The grand piano gifted to me by my mother when I was a child.
Special talent? I’m called a piano phenom. I can play any piece of music – perfectly – after hearing it just once.
Cat or dog? Cat
Pet peeve? When people stare at my scars.
Unforgettable moment? The night Noah Clark walked into my bar.
Spicy or not? Definitely
Favorite guilty pleasure? Sunbathing topless.
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? How did you know Noah was the one for me?

Isabeau Montgomery is the heroine in Sarah's award-winning contemporary romance, AFTER MIDNIGHT,
on sale for 99 cents!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/11kD7JS 

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/TNBRdL 
The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/VohFcm

Weekly Dose of Inspiration: Reblog, Retweet & Share to Win!

This week I hope to inspire you to join me in spreading the word -- and because I appreciate your help, there's a wonderful prize in it for you!!  Here are the details:

After Midnight is On Sale! 

It’s official, for the next two weeks my award winning contemporary romance, After Midnight, is on sale for the super low price of 99 cents! So, I’m celebrating with a re-blog, re-tweet and share to win celebration!

What can you win??? 

$25 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM BARNES & NOBLE or AMAZON
(winners choice) 

Here’s how to play:

1. Tweet (or retweet) about the sale. Every tweet will earn you one entry in the drawing. Make sure to include @SarahGrimmAuthr in your tweet so I can track your entry. 
2. Post or Share the sale on Facebook. Every post/share will earn you one entry in the drawing. Be sure to tag Sarah Grimm – Author in your post so I can track your entry. 
3. Reblog this post. Make sure to leave a link here so I can keep track. 

That’s it. Pretty simple, yes? The more you tweet, retweet, share or repost, the more entries you receive! I will announce the winner of the gift certificate on this blog on February 11, 2013.

  

Can music heal a fractured soul? 

Or will it tear them apart forever? 

Thirteen years—that’s how long Isabeau Montgomery has been living a lie. After an automobile accident took her mother’s life, Izzy hid herself away, surviving the only way she knew how. Now she is happy in her carefully reconstructed life. That is until he walks through the door of her bar…

Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal—one that doesn’t include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won’t be easy, but he can’t get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.

Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?

2012 Romance Through the Ages Award Winner ~ 1st Place Contemporary 

2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist 

2012 Readers Favorite Award Finalist 

2011 Book of the Year Finalist ~ Long and Short Reviews 

GET IT TODAY – Just $0.99! 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/11kD7JS (1/25 – 2/08) 

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/TNBRdL (1/25 – 2/08) 

The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/VohFcm (1/25 - 1/28) 

"After Midnight is one hell of a love story! I was hooked at the end of the first chapter. I had to read more. I had to know more. And Sarah Grimm definitely delivered more." —5 Stars, Fire Pages

"Ms. Grimm creates characters that grab hold of your heart and never let go. This is an emotional ride that you won't want to miss."—BEST BOOK, Long and Short Reviews

"I am in love. This book was amazing. I would even go as far as to say that it was one of the best books that I read this year." — 5 cocktails, Cocktails and Books

Welcome Special Guest Angel Rothamel

Hi everyone!

First I want to thank the wonderful ladies at OfftheKeyboard for having me here today.

My life of writing really started early on in life. I think that I have always been doodling some tale or other since I was probably about 6 or so, even before I really knew what writing was I was always going off to fantasy land, or creating my own ‘mission’ in the latest Wonder Woman episode, I’ve sent myself to Paradise Island a time or two. Or one of the other shows I watched when I was younger.

I started writing stories down when I was in junior high, usually as a way to escape the real world and be either the hero or more often times than not, the unwitting victim of some nefarious bad boy who has to be save by the hero. It’s surprising that not all the time were my hero’s male. I liked the strong female characters as well, so every once in a while one would suddenly pop up and save the day.

I was introduced to Nano a few years ago and I try every year to participate, rarely do I not complete it, but nothing has ever came from those projects. Until last year. In 2012 I used Nano to complete 3 of my stories. 1 of them is now in the post contract-pre publish stage and I am excited for that, the second was released on January 11, while the 3rd will be released on Friday, January 23.

My first ‘real’ (at least in my mind) project, the one that I had written with the intent of publishing came as I was living with a friend of mine in Australia. While Australia didn’t pan out, and I didn’t get the story written that I wanted to. It is where my first book idea was created and the first draft was written.

Granted it was, 8 years ago if my memory is correct, but everything I have written in the last 8 or so years I have managed to keep on my computer. And it paid off.

The hardest thing about writing, at least for me is the submissions. And let me tell you that I have had several BAD experiences…

I’ve been told things from: “While the sex is good, the story sucks and sex doesn’t sell.” - That book as is will be released later this year.

“I don’t think this book is what our readers want to read,” - That book is also set to be released as is this year.

I’ve been told by some editors that I need to just give up on writing because I am not good at ‘grasping the ideas that the readers want and my characters are flat and undefined’.

Yet this year I am set to have at least 3 books under Angel Rothamel published and my best friend and I are set to have at least 3 books released under AJ Kelton.

Needless to say those opinions from editors were devastating to me and almost made me quit. I’m stubborn though and I worked through the writer’s block that they caused. And believe me after the last one, every time I pulled up a document it was like frogs and crickets in my head… No ideas, no stories, no characters… nada! They all ran for the hills.

But I got them back and now, thanks to my wonderful editor at MRL and my beta reader, and of course my best friend… They are back and ready to tell all!

So, if anyone has had a bad experience with an editor, and I’m sure you have… It’s ok… Either that publishing house isn’t right for you… or the editor isn’t the one you need. If that is the case, don’t be afraid to contact the executive editor and talk to them.

The one thing that I’ve found in the last year that I’ve been dealing with a publishing house… It’s ok to ask questions if you don’t know something… They may grown (grin), they may be intimidation, but they don’t bite. I thought that once upon a time, but last October just talking to someone about concerns I had really did change my life!

And I wouldn’t change that for the world! Here is the result! :D

The Solstice by Angel Rothamel 

It was time the family heard the whole Story on how their parents came together. 

Tyler and Pryl are busy preparing for the arrival of their family for the Solstice. A time of much joy that is tinged with sadness as the pair deal with a dear, pregnant friend who is dying. To help cope with the pain, and share the joy of themselves with their family, Tyler and Pryl agree that it’s time to reveal the whole Story of how Tyler, a Nature sprite forced to hunt for lazy villagers, came to be the husband of Pryl, a Water sprite who abhors hunting but loves Tyler’s voice. 

 THE SOLSTICE by Angel Rothamel
Available now at:
MLR Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble,
Bookstrand and All Romance eBooks