Bookworm for Kids: Uncharted Storms by Jackie Anton with Giveaway: This stop is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions . Jackie will be awarding a paperback edition of “Wind River Refuge.
Check out this great source for kids books, and be sure to follow the "Uncharted Storms" Book Blast Tour. Comment at several stops to increase your chances to win the giveaways!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Pressed Leaf Publishing, Home of the Benjamin McTish Series: UNCHARTED STORMS by JACKIE ANTON
Pressed Leaf Publishing, Home of the Benjamin McTish Series: UNCHARTED STORMS by JACKIE ANTON: This is a different kind of book we are promoting here today at PLP. This is a collection of SciFi /fantasy stories based arou...
Monday, April 21, 2014
A Secret Worth Keeping By LaKisha Johnson
LaKisha will be awarding a download of A Secret Worth Keeping (format: winner's choice) to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Readers follow the link at the end of this post to other tour stops and comment often to increase your chances to be a winner.
BLURB:
Shelby is a career woman turned housewife who enjoys the friendships that have been built with her 5 best friends; Camille, Lynesha, Raylin, Kerri and Chloe. They are all career women with different businesses, husbands and even children but something is missing and they can’t seem to find it at home, in a store or even in a book. So, they search for this missing piece in the beds, arms, cars and even offices of other men who don’t mind paying for what Dem Dam Divas can offer. They enjoy the thrill of sneaking, creeping and even vacationing on someone else’s dime but they soon find out that all good things come to an end. What happens when it becomes too much? From secretly wanting someone who doesn’t want you, loving only to not be loved back and being caught up in a dream that you’re about to be awaken from; will it be worth it in the end? Will they regret their actions or stand by them? Will they finally question whether this secret is really worth keeping?
Shelby is a career woman turned housewife who enjoys the friendships that have been built with her 5 best friends; Camille, Lynesha, Raylin, Kerri and Chloe. They are all career women with different businesses, husbands and even children but something is missing and they can’t seem to find it at home, in a store or even in a book. So, they search for this missing piece in the beds, arms, cars and even offices of other men who don’t mind paying for what Dem Dam Divas can offer. They enjoy the thrill of sneaking, creeping and even vacationing on someone else’s dime but they soon find out that all good things come to an end. What happens when it becomes too much? From secretly wanting someone who doesn’t want you, loving only to not be loved back and being caught up in a dream that you’re about to be awaken from; will it be worth it in the end? Will they regret their actions or stand by them? Will they finally question whether this secret is really worth keeping?
EXCERPT:
Girls, this has been an amazing trip. I’m kind of sad that it’s ending but I am ready to get home to see my babies.
“Well, good for you; I can’t say the same,” said Kerri.
“Listen ladies, I know that these trips are supposed to be a release to renew our minds but they do no good if you go back to home and accept the same mess you left. If you all are not happy then make some changes. Life is too short to keep living in hell. You all are beautiful, educated and capable of taking care of yourselves so why continue to take less from your husband than what your husband is supposed to do? Please don’t get me wrong, I am in no way saying that you all should head to divorce court, however, I am saying stop lying down and accepting everything. Stop accepting less than what your husband should be giving. Why should you have to find part time love in the hands of someone else? Why should you find pleasure in the bed of someone else when your husband should be fulfilling your every fantasy and you should be filling his?”
“Shelby, I hear you but you have all that at home, we don’t” Chloe said with tears streaming down her face.
“Yea, you have a husband whose eyes light up when you enter the room, one who notices your new hairdo, one who doesn’t mind shopping with you, one who holds you when you cry, sit with you when you’re sick, stay up with you when the baby is sick; you have all that,” Kerri added.
“Yes, I do but this is because I wouldn’t accept anything less. Understand, we have our ups and downs but we work through them. We are not perfect and I’d be lying if I said anything differently but he knows my faults and accepts them and I know his and accept them.” I said.
Girls, this has been an amazing trip. I’m kind of sad that it’s ending but I am ready to get home to see my babies.
“Well, good for you; I can’t say the same,” said Kerri.
“Listen ladies, I know that these trips are supposed to be a release to renew our minds but they do no good if you go back to home and accept the same mess you left. If you all are not happy then make some changes. Life is too short to keep living in hell. You all are beautiful, educated and capable of taking care of yourselves so why continue to take less from your husband than what your husband is supposed to do? Please don’t get me wrong, I am in no way saying that you all should head to divorce court, however, I am saying stop lying down and accepting everything. Stop accepting less than what your husband should be giving. Why should you have to find part time love in the hands of someone else? Why should you find pleasure in the bed of someone else when your husband should be fulfilling your every fantasy and you should be filling his?”
“Shelby, I hear you but you have all that at home, we don’t” Chloe said with tears streaming down her face.
“Yea, you have a husband whose eyes light up when you enter the room, one who notices your new hairdo, one who doesn’t mind shopping with you, one who holds you when you cry, sit with you when you’re sick, stay up with you when the baby is sick; you have all that,” Kerri added.
“Yes, I do but this is because I wouldn’t accept anything less. Understand, we have our ups and downs but we work through them. We are not perfect and I’d be lying if I said anything differently but he knows my faults and accepts them and I know his and accept them.” I said.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
LaKisha Johnson is a girl after God’s own heart; doing what she believes to be her purpose..writing. In addition to being a self-published author, she’s also a wife of 15 years, mother of 2 and native of Memphis, TN. She comes from a huge family and has always been the go to girl whenever someone needed a poem written or read, an acknowledgement that would convey just what they were thinking or even an occasion written for that special day. She’s an all-around talented lady that makes everything she touch turn to gold. She has 2 degrees from Southwest TN Community College both in Information Technology and has worked in the corporate field for over 15 years. She is also a dedicated blogger, delivering a devotional blog 5 days per week entitled ”Kisha’s Daily Devotionals.”
LaKisha wants readers of her books to step outside the box and read with imagination. She wants them reeled in from the front cover to the last word, enjoying every second in between, asking for more. She doesn’t proclaim to be the best writer or even author in the world..she just proclaims to be blessed because her motto is ”God’s purpose is bigger than any problem!”
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ASWKeeping
Twitter - https://twitter.com/_lakishajohnson
Instagram - http://instagram.com/kishajohnson
Author Site - http://authorlakishajohnson.wordpress.com/
Email address – authorlakisha@gmail.com
Purchase Links:
Amazon for Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FMCGVGS
Amazon for paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Keeping-Delphine-Publications-Presents/dp/0991022807/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381159995&sr=1-1&keywords=a+secret+worth+keeping
Barnes and Noble for Nook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-secret-worth-keeping-lakisha-johnson/1115124960?ean=2940148575603
Barnes and Noble for paperback - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-secret-worth-keeping-lakisha-johnson/1115124960?ean=9780991022809
Follow the link below to the rest or the tour:http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-book-blast-tour-secret-worth.html
Friday, April 4, 2014
What A Bride Wants by Kelly Hunter
The author and publisher will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Ella Grace Emerson adores her father, but he keeps trying to marry her off to every eligible rancher in Montana. When he puts an ad in the paper on her behalf – for a docile house-husband – Ella retaliates with one of her own, pinned to the noticeboard of the local saloon. No husband required, housebroken or otherwise. What she wants is the perfect lover.
What a bride needs…
Newcomer Cam Sawyer is perfectly willing to tear up the sheets with Ella and be her partner in chaos. She wants a bad boy and he’s had experience aplenty. But what she really needs is a strong and loving partner, and until Sawyer stops running from his past he can never be that.
Sawyer’s the one Ella wants. But can he be the man she needs?
EXCERPT:
Sawyer laughed as he got to his feet in order to avoid being trampled by one very eager mama cow who was up and turning toward her calf. Moments later she was nosing and nudging and licking its little face. “What now?”
Now we wait for the calf to get to its feet and have a drink. Ella glanced at the sky, her eyes narrowing. “And then I think we might help dry the calf off and put it on the sled, and get them to shelter with the others. The cow will follow.”
Ella picked up her coat and shook it out, put it on and shoved her hands into the pockets. “Brrr. Bit chilly out.”
“And you do this how often?” he asked politely.
“Not that often.” She looked bright eyed, rosy cheeked and utterly content. “You did well, bartender.”
“What would you have done if I hadn’t been here?”
“Used the calf pullers strapped to the sled. But a hand-pull has more finesse, and besides, I wanted to see what you could do. You’ve a strong and steady way about you, Sawyer, underneath all that charm. You made it look easy and I know for a fact that it’s not. Gonna make a cowboy out of you yet.”
“Let’s not get carried away.”
“You don’t want to be a cowboy?”
“Put it this way… did you ever dress up as a kid?”
Ella nodded. “Annie Oakley, sharpshooter.”
“I was the fireman.”
Now we wait for the calf to get to its feet and have a drink. Ella glanced at the sky, her eyes narrowing. “And then I think we might help dry the calf off and put it on the sled, and get them to shelter with the others. The cow will follow.”
Ella picked up her coat and shook it out, put it on and shoved her hands into the pockets. “Brrr. Bit chilly out.”
“And you do this how often?” he asked politely.
“Not that often.” She looked bright eyed, rosy cheeked and utterly content. “You did well, bartender.”
“What would you have done if I hadn’t been here?”
“Used the calf pullers strapped to the sled. But a hand-pull has more finesse, and besides, I wanted to see what you could do. You’ve a strong and steady way about you, Sawyer, underneath all that charm. You made it look easy and I know for a fact that it’s not. Gonna make a cowboy out of you yet.”
“Let’s not get carried away.”
“You don’t want to be a cowboy?”
“Put it this way… did you ever dress up as a kid?”
Ella nodded. “Annie Oakley, sharpshooter.”
“I was the fireman.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Accidentally educated in the sciences, Kelly Hunter didn't think to start writing romances until she was surrounded by the jungles of Malaysia for a year and didn't have anything to read. Eventually she decided that writing romance suited her far better than throwing sterile screw-worm flies out of airplane windows, and changed careers.
Kelly now lives in Australia, surrounded by lush farmland and family, 2 dogs, 3 miniature cows, a miniature pig, a 3-legged cat and a small flock of curious chickens. There are still flies, but their maggots don’t feed on flesh. Bargain.
Kelly is a USA Today bestselling author, a three time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and loves writing to the short contemporary romance form.
Visit her at www.kellyhunter.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.hunter.73307?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyHunterova
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Hunter/e/B0034PYXL0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1395350607&sr=1-2-ent
Barnes and Noble author page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kelly-huntehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kelly-hunter
Accidentally educated in the sciences, Kelly Hunter didn't think to start writing romances until she was surrounded by the jungles of Malaysia for a year and didn't have anything to read. Eventually she decided that writing romance suited her far better than throwing sterile screw-worm flies out of airplane windows, and changed careers.
Kelly now lives in Australia, surrounded by lush farmland and family, 2 dogs, 3 miniature cows, a miniature pig, a 3-legged cat and a small flock of curious chickens. There are still flies, but their maggots don’t feed on flesh. Bargain.
Kelly is a USA Today bestselling author, a three time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and loves writing to the short contemporary romance form.
Visit her at www.kellyhunter.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.hunter.73307?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyHunterova
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Hunter/e/B0034PYXL0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1395350607&sr=1-2-ent
Barnes and Noble author page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kelly-huntehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kelly-hunter
READERS:
Follow the following link to other stops on Kelly's tour. Comment at each blog to increase you chances to win the gift certificate.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Uncharted Storms by Jackie Anton
Blurb:
Weather is our constant companion, and when it behaves like a benevolent parent we pay little attention to it. Angry or out of control it becomes terrifying and can change the landscape as well as lives. So I asked my characters to take a ride on the wild side of weather. “Uncharted Storms” takes readers on a journey from a gentle summer rain to raging storms in the cosmos.
What if you were caught up
in Uncharted Storms?
What if? Erica’s
world didn’t come to an end in 2012 while she was in middle school? She manages
to make it through college before an apocalyptic event changes her life
forever. The science fiction story Terra Beyond 2012 shares Erica’s voyage.
What if? You and
your best friend were traveling down the highway on the way home from an
extended trip when you are caught in a blinding thunderstorm, and then are hit
by lightning? To make matters worse you are injured, and wake in a strange
world. Find out what happens to Chris in the tale Riding Lightning.
What if? You were on
your way to meet a friend for dinner and caught in a flash flood? That is
exactly what happens to Alexandra in the story Flashflood Texas
Style.
What if? A boy you haven’t seen in two decades winds up
sitting on your front porch? Find out what Casey comes up with on A
Rainy Night.
What if? You were caught out in a winter storm on icy,
drifted, walks and streets when a skidding car comes directly at you? Find out
what happened to eighteen-year-old Annie when she is hit from behind in the
short story A Tumble in the Snow.
Other Books by Jackie and Links
Jackie is an
accomplished equestrian, with a life time of experience: as trainer, exhibitor,
4-H and youth club coach, as well as a horse show judge; the author brings many
years of experience working with horses and young riders to her award winning Backyard
Horse Tales Series:
Uncharted Storms: Short stories are aimed
at the Young Adult and older reader. Look for more short tales in the future.
Backyard Horse Tales: Sox 2nd
Edition Brings to light the mutual love
between a handicapped colt and a lonely child with a learning disability. Find
out how this pair team up to triumph over life’s roadblocks, and why their
story won the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award of Excellence for Family Friendly
Media. (Reading level age 8 thru Adult)
BYHT
2 “Frosty and the Nightstalker” was one of
four finalists in the E-Book Fiction category for the Next Generation Indie
Book Awards, then the paperback went on to earn the Mom’s Choice Award for Juvenile
Historical Fiction.
Jackie
is hard at work on BYHT 3 Don’t Call Me Love. You can catch a peek at her beautiful cover on the Backyard Horse Tales Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backyard-Horse-Tales/190283981002767
Author Website: http://talesbyjackie.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jackie.anton2
FB Adult Novel Fan Page: page: http://www.facebook.com/authorjmanton?ref=hl
Email: talesbyjackie@gmail.com
Online Autographed Book Covers: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/backyardhorse
Blog: Writing for readers in a .com world http://jackieanton.com/
BUY LINKS:
Uncharted Storms: Short
Stories of Hearts at Risk:
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/uncharted-storms-jackie-anton/1118931568?ean=2940045770101
Autographed Paperback Copies are available at Jackie’s
Author’s Den:
www.authorsden.com/jackieanton
U.S. Readers click on the cover of
your choice and follow the Signed Book link to order.
Amazon J. M. Anton (adult novels): http://www.amazon.com/author/jmanton
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Harvey by Krystal Shannan
Krystal will be awarding a necklace pendant depicting the cover of Harvey to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
BLURB:
Olivia Hampton
never thought she’d run into the guy of her dreams at a Gaming Convention, but
when Harvey MacLaughlin introduces himself a woman can’t help but notice. He’s
six and a half feet of tall-dark-and-yummy. Plus, he's a gamer too. But, how do
you tell the man of your dreams you decimate him at Soldier’s Call, the most
popular FPS game of the year, almost every night?
Harvey MacLaughlin was interested in Olivia the second she stepped on the plane. When he sees her again in the convention hotel, introducing himself becomes priority number one. He may have started out just looking for company, but what he finds in the beautiful Olivia Hampton may be more than he ever dreamed.
Will a secret
between them ruin their budding relationship? Or will Harvey take another path
and turn the game on her?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
“The wheels are turning,
Liv. I can see them. What are you thinking?”
“I was trying to decide if I
should invite you back to my hotel room.” Whoa! Where did that come from?
His eyebrows raised,
registering his surprise, and his pupils dilated, indicating he was very
aroused. She licked her lips and swore she heard a low growl come from his
chest.
Oh my God. He’s so sexy.
“Here we are, guys,” their
waitress appeared with two plates heaped with steaming food. “Waffles and
strawberries for both and then an extra plate of eggs and bacon for you.” She
set the protein-filled plate in front of Harvey. “Also, a glass of orange
juice.”
Liv reached and took the
glass from her hand. “Thank you.” She sipped the sweet juice and stole another
glance at Harvey. He met her gaze with silence.
What was he thinking now?
She’d put it out there. Did he think she was crazy? Who sleeps with someone
they’ve just met? Oh, God. He must think I just jump in bed with anybody.
“I’m sorry. That was really
forward of me. I don’t...I just...” Now sentences wouldn’t even form. Her
cheeks were hot with embarrassment. No doubt her face was redder than a tomato.
“I’ve never done this before.”
“Done what? Gone out with a
guy for dinner or slept with him?” His mouth didn’t curve into a smile, but his
eyes twinkled with amusement. “I wouldn’t have a problem accepting your invitation
if you chose to extend it.”
Liv took a bite of waffle,
enjoying the crunch with the syrupy sweetness of the strawberry topping. She
stared at her food and continued to eat in silence. His fork clinked against
his plate too as he ate.
He wasn’t pushing or asking.
He’d merely said he would accept if she offered. No pressure. But, what if she
was terrible in bed again? What if there was something wrong with her?
Wouldn’t it be better to
know right off the bat, instead of completely falling in love with a man and
then finding out they didn’t want her because she sucked in bed? Her heart
couldn’t take another bashing like Todd had dished out.
But, she didn’t want Harvey
to think badly of her for being willing to fall straight into bed with him
either.
She kept chewing and staring
at her food. A few minutes later her plate was empty. She hadn’t said another
word the whole time she’d been eating. Taking a deep breath, she looked up. His
plate was clean too.
He was sitting casually in
his chair, leaning back a little —watching her. He was gorgeous. She wanted to
touch him. To feel him touch her. Damn it. I don’t know what to do.
“Can I walk you back to your
room, Liv?”
“Yes.” The answer came
before she thought about it.
He smiled and stood,
extending his hand to help her up from her chair. She took his hand and fought
the urge to shiver at his touch. He dropped some cash on the table and led her
to the door. It was everything she could do not to plaster herself to his side
on their way out of the restaurant.
The light breeze outside
pushed the spicy scent of his cologne over to her. She took a deep breath and
wanted to run her free hand across his chest. I’m going to maul him on the way
across the street if I’m not careful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio
and Links:
Paranormal
Romance author, Krystal Shannan, lives in Texas and is married to the
love-of-her-life. They have a spunky young daughter who believes in fairies.
Krystal professes to loving shoes, but avoids wearing them at all costs. She
teaches in the public schools and writes as much as she can in her free time.
If any more spare time can be squeezed from her day, she enjoys reading romance
in all genres, but especially paranormal. If it has a 'Happily Ever After',
she's on board!
She
is an active member in her local RWA chapter DARA.
Krystal
Shannan
Putting
Magick in Romance one Soul Mate at a Time.
Contemporary
Romance
Indie
Published
Available
now @
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a free book for subscribing to my NEWSLETTER!
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Readers follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/virtual-book-blast-tour-harvey-by.html
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/virtual-book-blast-tour-harvey-by.html
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Dispatches from Paradise by Shelley Gitlow
Shelley will be awarding an autographed copy of her book to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Follow the tour stops and comment ofter to snag a copy of "Dispatches from Paradise."
Blurb:
Author and screenwriter Shelly Gitlow makes her fiction debut in
this colorful, lightning-paced, and often wildly unpredictable modern tale
about sex, lies, and love.
From the very first page, DISPATCHES FROM PARADISE takes readers to the family battlefield of three generations of women living together in the sultry city of Miami -- where DD cups abound, octogenarians recite erotic poetry and an S&M Fitness class is not for the fainthearted.
Written in the distinct voices of Liz (39) who pulls the plug on
her marriage and quits her job so she can re-boot her life, her over-sexed
mother, Claudette (55) who’s searching for her next partner/meal ticket, and
Darcy (18) Liz’s beautiful, reckless daughter who’s realizing she might also
have a brain and be a lesbian, DISPATCHES FROM PARADISE explores the complex
dynamics of the women’s relationships as they tear through Miami’s wild clubs
and outrageous art scene, changing, growing and reconnecting on new terms.
Drawing upon her unique insights as a family therapist, author
Shelly Gitlow gives readers three characters they will never forget. Her debut novel marks the arrival of a
bold brash narrative voice.
 |
Excerpts:
(MOM) LIZ: “I
couldn’t stand my cheating husband and that soul-sucking bank job for one more
nanosecond, so I declared my life a do-over and took action. Richard was
shocked, but (surprise!) he moved in with his bimbo. And my co-workers freaked
when I walked out, flinging my pantyhose over my shoulder like a bride’s
bouquet. But with my daughter Darcy (a former drug user) away at college, I was
about to fulfill my fantasies of opening an art gallery and learning to kayak.
Then all hell broke loose. My nymphomaniac mother manipulated me into letting
her move in, and Darcy quit school and came back home. How am I going to handle
the drugs, the sex, and (worst of all), the telling me how to live my life?”
(GRANDMOTHER) CLAUDETTE: “What a day! First Liz called and
interrupted me ….. Then [Alphonse] keeled over and croaked, and his heinous
children kicked me out on the street. I practically had to get on my knees and
beg my daughter to let me stay with her. She detests me because I have a sex
life, but that’s who I am, and I’m not changing. Talk about cramping a gal’s
style. How am I going to have any fun with her around?”
(DAUGTHER) DARCY : “OMFG. When I went to class
and saw my Hotties Gone Wild video playing, I knew it was time to haul ass out of that stupid college. The only place I could go was home, which seriously sucks. My mom kicked my dad out, not that I blame her, cuz he’s a total dog. But the crappy thing is that she’s positive I’m still using, so she’ll be all up in my business. Grandma’s here, which is way cool cuz she’ll help me get into modeling. And as soon as I have the bucks, I am so out of here.”
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Miami-based author Shelly Gitlow is the co-writer of the feature
film Boynton Beach Club and the author of the novel Dispatches From Paradise. In her former life, she was a family
therapist and wrote several books on quality management. She divides her time between New York
City and Miami.
LINKS: www.shellygitlow.com
|
Sunday, March 9, 2014
K.F. BREENE guest blogs - So you want to write a book.......
So you want to write a book…
I
should probably start a tally of the amount of times I hear something along the
lines of, “I’ve always wanted to write a book.”
My
answer is always—then do it!
Let’s
not forget, I’m an accountant. I love my trade. I love working with
spreadsheets and moving numbers around. And yes, I realize this makes me a nerd
to most people. My answer to that is a nod and a shrug. It is what it is.
I
also love the arts. I’ve dabbled in drawing and pastels, I’ve acted, and my
first major in college was film. So when I spend all day with my face in a
spreadsheet, my creative brain starts to rebel. I then daydream about different
worlds and different people. This leads into story ideas. This leads into a
concept.
So
how did I get started with writing?
I
sat down and began typing the daydream. That’s it. It is literally as simple as
that.
Get
yourself amerced in your own head, and suddenly you’re halfway through a story
and can’t wait to finish. It’s like a good book, only it’s your fantasies (this
is not limited to sexual stuff y’all—get your head out of the gutter).
My
latest work (Into the Darkness) is of a girl that learns she has magic. How
cool is that? It’s fun hunkering down into her shoes and living life with her.
Realizing with her that she was the one that beat the villain. And that
hunk…yeah, you’re meeting and falling in love with him as fast as your fingers
can fly across the keyboard. Why wouldn’t you write? It’s a fun way to do and
be anything you want.
So if you’ve always been thinking to yourself—I could write a book. Or—I have an awesome idea for a story. Or—that book I started was pretty good; I should keep going with that.
I say this to you—get your butt to that computer
and start typing. I’ll quote Finding Forrester, “No thinking - that comes
later. You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your
head. The first key to writing is... to write, not to think!”
This is one of my favorite quotes. And so true.
There is nothing like getting lost in a world of your own devising. You don’t
think you’re creative (or you know that you’re not creative), then don’t tax
yourself. Have your story set in your home town.
Don’t have any ideas for characters? Are you a
hermit (without friends for inspiration)? Yes? Okay, fine, start writing as
yourself.
No idea what would happen in the book? Who
cares—walk out your door.
“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out
your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no
knowing where you might be swept off to.” –J.R.R. Tolkien
It just occurred to me how many initials that
guy had. Large name.
You know what they say about large names… Big…signature.
Anyway…
A character, maybe your mailman, gives you the
evil eye. Is that because he killed someone last night and is worried you’re on
to him? Or is it because he is the hottest guy you’ve ever seen in your life
and wants you to stop being shy and go flirt.
Bottom line, react. Be a character (you count as a character) and react to things that happen. I find that through the reactions, which are split-second decisions on the keyboard, my characters are formed. And don’t worry if you finally “meet” your character halfway through the book. That’s what revisions are for. In film they say, “Fix it in post,” which means, fix it after the fact. To a writer, it simply means: revise. Finish the book, take your solid idea for a character, and then go to the beginning and incorporate those elements.
That sounds easy, so what’s the problem?
I know, Father Time. That guy is a huge jerk.
Sometimes he’s around too much, but often he gives you a wave as he steals your
stuff.
It then becomes necessary to make some trades.
For example, I don’t watch much TV. Sitcoms don’t wow me that much so I’ve
decided to write instead. Get lunch breaks? Well, if you’re in front of a
computer, there you go. Write a few things down.
Not in front of a computer? Get a keyboard for your ipad.
Still living under a rock? Grab a stick, pull up
some dirt, and make some magic happen.
When you can’t do those things, like when you’re
driving, use my method of daydreaming: think about the story and what the
characters do next. Then, once you start, you won’t be able to wait to get your
hands on a keyboard. Or wrapped around a pen. What you first thought was
mundane becomes a fantastic hobby.
Wouldn’t it be great if your hobby could also
make you money? Well, then. No more excuses. Get to work.
Continue down this page for excerpts, Author information, and links. Be sure to comment and follow the links provided on the second half of this post to enter the Rafflecopter drawing for a $50. Gift Certificate to Amazon or B&N.
INTO THE DARKNESS by K.F. Breene
Rafflecopter giveaway link at the end of this post. Comment for a chance to win a $50. Gift Certificate.
BLURB:
I’d always been
different. I saw objects in the night where others saw emptiness. Large, human
shaped shadows, fierce yet beautiful, melting into the darkness. I collected
secrets like other women collected bells; afraid to fully trust lest my
oddities be exposed.
Until I saw him.
He’d been gliding down the street, unshakable confidence in every step. It
wasn’t just that he was breathtakingly handsome with perfect features.
Something about him drew me. Sucked my focus to him and then tugged at my body.
As his eyes met mine, I was entrapped.
No one had
noticed him. He’d been right there, just beyond the light, but only I had
perceived.
I had to know if
he was real. Or maybe I really was crazy. And even when my secret box was
blasted wide open, dangers hurled at me like throwing knives, I couldn’t stop
until I unraveled his true identity.
I just had to
know.
“She was fated
to live.”
“Then why must
you save her?”
“Often Fate is
struck down by dumb luck.”
Excerpt:
Stefen approached the wide
bed, looking down on the limp human, her angelic face devoid of color. Her arms
rested on her chest, her body so still she looked dead.
A shot of fear pierced
Stefen’s chest. “Will she make it?”
Luke’s head shook before he
sighed. “She shouldn’t have made it last time. Yet she did. Something is
holding her to this life.”
“My blood helped last time.
Will it help again?”
Luke sighed, raising his
eyebrows in a facial shrug. “If you can get her to drink, she might pull out of
it. Might. She should be dead already; she’s largely catatonic. But…well, she
survived last time, so who’s to say?”
Stefen nodded, allowing
himself to bestow his gaze back to this woman that had a firm hold on his
vitals for reasons he couldn’t understand or explain. The only thing he knew
with certainty was that she could not die.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio
and Links:
A wine country native, K.F. Breene moved to San Francisco for college just shy of a decade ago to pursue a lifelong interest in film. As she settled into the vibrant city, it quickly became apparent that, while she thought making and editing films was great fun, she lacked cinematic genius. For that reason, her career path quickly changed direction. Her next goal was a strange childhood interest, conjured at the dining room table while filling out a form. For some reason, her young self wanted to be an accountant. Thinking on it now, she often wonders how she had any friends. Regardless, it was the direction she finally took.
While she could wrangle numbers with the best of 'em, and even though she wore the crown as the most outspoken, belligerent accountant in the world, her mind got as stuffy as her daily routine. It was here that she dusted off her creative hat and began writing. Now she makes movies in her head, not worried about lighting, shutter speed or editing equipment. Turns out, a computer is much easier to manage than a crowd of actors. She should know, she was an actor at one time.
RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN Gift Card
Comment often to increase your chances to win! Follow the link below to other blog tour stops.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Make Me: Twelve Tales of Dark Desire
The authors will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
BLURB:
Take a
trip to the dark side with 12 books by some of the hottest names in edgy
romance, including USA Today Bestselling authors CJ Roberts, Eliza Gayle, and
Aleatha Romig!
Pam Godwin - Beneath the
Burn
Skye Warren - Wanderlust
Claire Thompson - Enslaved
Cari Silverwood - Take Me
Break Me
Annabel Joseph - Comfort
Object
Aleatha Romig - Consequences
Shoshanna Evers - The Man
Who Holds the Whip
Annika Martin - The Hostage
Bargain
Jasmine Haynes - Take Your
Pleasure
Eliza Gayle - Play With Me
Pepper Winters - Tears of
Tess
CJ Roberts - Captive in the
Dark
Excerpt:
Excerpt from Consequences
by Aleatha Romig
One evening, Catherine told Claire that Mr. Rawlings wouldn’t be home until late. Claire didn’t like vague terms like late. Normally she would wait in her suite to see if he came to her, but the day was scorching and she knew late could mean not at all. With the sunset, she decided to take a swim.
Walking to the pool, Claire realized she rarely ventured out of her suite at night. The house seemed eerily quiet, like a museum after closing. The staff were mostly retired to their rooms and the lights were low. Her flip-flops echoed as she stepped onto the marble floor at the base of the staircase. After four months, Claire didn’t need lights; she knew her way through the arches and into the sitting room. She paused at the windows and looked out to the pool. The water changed from pink to green to yellow to purple to blue to clear and back to pink. The deck lights were off, creating the illusion of a colorful abyss engulfed in complete darkness. She considered turning on the deck lights and decided against it.
Stepping into the summer night, the air sat heavy and still. The contrast from the air conditioning reminded her why she stayed indoors all day. Looking toward heaven she knew she made the right decision about the lights. The velvety sky glistened with a million stars. The water enveloped her body as she walked down the steps, its temperature barely varied from the air and she quickly submerged herself. After swimming a few laps she floated on her back, watching the sky and thinking about constellations. Suddenly, Claire froze.
Deep in thought and enjoying
the stars, she realized Tony was standing at the edge of the pool. He’d been
speaking, but her ears were submerged and she couldn’t hear him. Seeing his
silhouette from the lights of the fountain startled her. She lifted her head
out of the water to clear her ears and began to tread water.
“Tony, you startled me.
Catherine said you wouldn’t be home until late.” She couldn’t see his eyes. She
waited for him to respond. He stood in silence for a moment; she thought about
talking. While she debated, he walked to a chair hidden in darkness. When he
returned she could only see his silhouette but knew he was now nude.
Still not speaking, Tony dove into the pool. He swam up to Claire and wrapped his arms around her. Within seconds, Claire’s bathing suit disappeared. His actions were fast and rough. Their mouths united as their tongues wildly searched for one another. He moved from her lips to the nape of her neck and all places in between. The pool depth allowed Tony to touch but not Claire. She wrapped her legs around his torso, allowing him to support her. He continued to nuzzle her neck, lifting her body so her round supple breasts found his lips. His kisses became nips and he gently bit the tips of her hard nipples. Claire groaned with pleasure.
His hurried movements caused his bristled face to scratch her soft skin. However, the pain of his beard was quickly forgotten as the pleasure from his touch filled her consciousness. His mouth tantalized and his hands explored. Claire’s back arched as she pressed her breasts toward his mouth and wrapped her fingers in his wet hair. In the silence of the country night her moans echoed as her body convulsed. Though the night was hot, Claire’s arms and legs cloaked with goose bumps.
Tony eventually led Claire
out of the pool, onto a chaise lounge. He resumed his exploration but not with
his hands. They still hadn’t spoken. Claire’s mind teetered between the
cognizant he doesn’t seem upset and the unconscious ecstasy. His actions
slowed, became more deliberate and sensual, causing sensations deep inside of
her. She held on to his massive shoulders and accepted everything he had to
offer.
The carnal heat intensified by the night’s humidity instigated perspiration. Claire tasted it as her lips and tongue seduced his neck. The salty sweat mixed with chlorine creating an amazing potion. When he finished they were both moist, more from one another than the pool.
Panting, they lay still,
listening to the cicadas and crickets. Finally, with a grin, Tony spoke, “Good
evening, Claire.” His eyes were soft suede brown. “I wasn’t happy when you
weren’t in your suite.” Claire started to speak but stopped as Tony’s finger
lightly touched her lips. “But your idea of a swim on this hot evening was much
better than what I planned.”
Claire smiled. They moved
back into the water to cool off, but found that even in the water they had
problems staying cool.
Author's Links:
Thank you for considering
MAKE ME: Twelve tales of dark desire. We hope you enjoy your trip! Please check
out the contributing authors to find out more about their books and upcoming
events.
Aleatha Romig - Consequences
Skye Warren - Wanderlust
Eliza Gayle - Play With
Me
Cari Silverwood - Take
Me, Break Me
Jasmine Haynes - Take
Your Pleasure
Pam Godwin – Beneath the
Burn
Annabel Joseph – Comfort
Object
Claire Thompson – Enslaved
Annika Martin – The
Hostage Bargain
Shoshanna Evers – The Man
Who Holds the Whip
Pepper Winters – Tears of
Tess
CJ Roberts – Captive in
the Dark
For release week only,
this set will cost $2.99. These
full-length e-books would cost over $40 if purchased separately. This set will
only be available for a limited time, so order your copy now!
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I2UGR4I
(Note to hosts:
Unfortunately, the B&N pre-order link is not up at this time. However, it
should be up by mid-February, well before the release date of March 3rd.
Hopefully this
link will find it easily, once it’s up.)
Readers follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-blast-make-me-twelve-tales-of-dark.html
Monday, February 10, 2014
After the Rain by Daisy Harris
Daisy will be awarding a $20 gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour. Comment at the other stops to increase you chances to win.
BLURB:
They’re going to
need a bigger tent.
Henri’s list of
bad exes is as long as his arm, but nothing prepared him for his latest,
heart-stomping breakup. He thought he couldn’t feel more abandoned, until his
ride for a group camping trip bails, leaving him stuck driving for hours with a
guy who is absolutely not his type.
After breaking
up with his girlfriend of five years, firefighter Logan is working up the nerve
to explore his interest in men. He knows he’s gay. He just hasn’t had the guts
to do anything about it…until now.
Henri’s big-city
attitude and tight jeans push every last one of Logan’s buttons, and when he
and Henri have to share a tent, Logan is thrilled. He should have realized
Pacific Northwest weather would get wet—forcing them to strip naked. Though the
steam between them is thicker than coastal fog, Henri’s not sure he can let
himself fall for another man. Not even the guy who finally treats him right.
Warning:
Contains bad ex-boyfriends, even worse weather, and more than your average
amount of sex in a tent. May not be suitable for those with germ phobias,
outdoor aversions or fear of damp shoes.
Excerpt:
Jesus fucking Christ. Henri
crouched to get a sweater from his bag, and more importantly, the cigarettes
out of his pocket. Hands shaking, he popped one between his lips.
His preliminary test had
been negative at the health center that morning—thank sweet God in heaven
above, and Henri was totally going back to church as soon as possible—but he’d
been informed he needed to get tested again in three to six weeks since
seroconversion so soon after exposure was rare. With the stress of that hanging
over his head, Henri wasn’t up to entertaining a complete stranger for five
hours.
“Warnin’ you now, no smokin’
in my truck,” Logan said in a voice that was quiet but firm.
“I’ll try and remember
that.” Imperiously, Henri flicked on a lighter and sucked in a drag. The paper
crinkled as it burned, and the ember flashed red right before a soothing rush
of nicotine sizzled through Henri’s bloodstream. If Logan was watching him,
Henri did his best to ignore it. Something about the giant, blond-haired,
blue-eyed cowboy rubbed Henri the wrong way.
Author Bio and Links:
Birkenstock-wearing glamour
girl and mother of two by immaculate conception, Daisy Harris still isn't sure
if she writes erotica. Her romances start out innocently enough. However, her
characters behave like complete sluts. Much to Miss Harris's dismay the sex
tends to get completely out of hand.
She writes about fantastical
creatures and about young men getting their freak on, and she's never missed an
episode of The Walking Dead.
Want to learn more about new
releases, general news and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for
my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX
Follow the above link to other stops on Dasiy's tour.
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