I'm guest blogging at You Gotta Read Guest today! Stop by and comment you might win something!
http://yougottareadguest.blogspot.com
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Welcome Antonia Tiranth
1. Tell us about your upcoming/recent release.
The Gathering released on Monday, July 20th. It's the second in my Tales of The Rikashi Series. This installment follows Aer's brother, Shirak as he tries to figure out a puzzling prophecy and his feelings for the daughter of an enemy.
2. What gave you the idea for your upcoming/recent release?
I kinda got the idea from a Dragonforce song.
3. How much time does it take you to finish a book?
It depends. For The Quickening, I wrote the first draft in 30days for NaNoWriMo. It took a few months to edit that on my own and then a few more with Lyrical. The Gathering was written in about three months. The same is happening for a new series I'm working on. The first book I finished in about a month but the second is a little slower.
5. What is your favorite part of being a writer?
I love plotting. There is no greater feeling than talking out your ideas with your writing buddy, learning about your new world and characters.
5. What is your least favorite part of being a writer?
I really don't like coming up with blurbs and excerpts. I would say that's the hardest part.
6. What are you working on now?
Mulling around in my brain is the fourth installment in the Rikashi Series and what I'm actually writing is the second of my new series, The Tarot Kings
7. All writers started out as readers - who're your favorite authors?
Anne McCaffery and Stephen King are my two oldest favorites. My newer favorites are Angela Knight and Elizabeth Hoyt
8. What are your goals as a writer?
Hmm…I would have to say that my goals are to grow as much as I possibly can and maybe one day be able to write full-time. I would love to be able to focus 100% on my writing but right now, still working for The Man LOL.
Sorry about the formating - Can't seem to get blogger to work right today.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Welcome Betty Ann Harris
First, let me say that it's a pleasure to be here as a featured author on your beautiful blog, Delilah. I'd like to introduce myself to your readers. My name is Betty Ann Harris and I'm a romance author. I've always been a hopeless romantic and the genre I enjoy most to read is the same as what I write, romantic suspense. I have written a series of books titled The Special Agent Series, with Red Rose Publishing.
My third release in the Special Agent Series, The Darkhorse Conspiracy, which was released on July 9th, at Red Rose Publishing, will introduce you to the sexiest special agent to date. James Kelly is charming, witty, and very good at his job. But he’s got his hands full with the Stephanie Alexander case.
Stephanie Alexander is an international journalist who is missing, and under suspicious circumstances. The beautiful blue-eyed blond and ex-fiance of Simon Fox, owner of The Darkhorse Stables, who raises Kentucky Derby winning thoroughbreds, has vanished. James must find her, if she’s still alive, and finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a terroristic conspiracy that is a threat to the security of the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Will he find her in time? Can they work together to find the answers they need so that the State Department can defray The Darkhorse Conspiracy? You can find out all the answers to these questions when you read, The Darkhorse Conspiracy, available NOW at Red Rose Publishing (http://www.redrosepublishing.com/).
Before James Kelly and The Darkhorse Conspiracy came about, there were two other sexy agents and great books in this series. First came the spellbinding romantic suspense story, Eureka Point, and the most romantic and caring agent, Tom Owens, who is assigned to protect a breathtakingly beautiful and talented woman, Katie, who is being hunted by her jealous and deceitful husband, as well as by a dangerous South American drug cartel. Next was the deeply dark and twisted story of best-selling romance author Maggie Tyler who is being stalked. My Very Special Agent has the sexy and ruggedly handsome FBI Special Agent Michael O'Leary on the case, who has eyes for the beautiful author, but whose first priority is to keep her safe. There is a definite sensual and emotional chemistry between them and the reader desperately wants them to get together! All the books in this series are available at Red Rose Publishing, http://www.redrosepublishing.com/
To find out more about me, please visit my website: http://www.bettyannharris.com/ and feel free to befriend me (PLEASE!) on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/baharris
My third release in the Special Agent Series, The Darkhorse Conspiracy, which was released on July 9th, at Red Rose Publishing, will introduce you to the sexiest special agent to date. James Kelly is charming, witty, and very good at his job. But he’s got his hands full with the Stephanie Alexander case.
Stephanie Alexander is an international journalist who is missing, and under suspicious circumstances. The beautiful blue-eyed blond and ex-fiance of Simon Fox, owner of The Darkhorse Stables, who raises Kentucky Derby winning thoroughbreds, has vanished. James must find her, if she’s still alive, and finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a terroristic conspiracy that is a threat to the security of the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Will he find her in time? Can they work together to find the answers they need so that the State Department can defray The Darkhorse Conspiracy? You can find out all the answers to these questions when you read, The Darkhorse Conspiracy, available NOW at Red Rose Publishing (http://www.redrosepublishing.com/).
Before James Kelly and The Darkhorse Conspiracy came about, there were two other sexy agents and great books in this series. First came the spellbinding romantic suspense story, Eureka Point, and the most romantic and caring agent, Tom Owens, who is assigned to protect a breathtakingly beautiful and talented woman, Katie, who is being hunted by her jealous and deceitful husband, as well as by a dangerous South American drug cartel. Next was the deeply dark and twisted story of best-selling romance author Maggie Tyler who is being stalked. My Very Special Agent has the sexy and ruggedly handsome FBI Special Agent Michael O'Leary on the case, who has eyes for the beautiful author, but whose first priority is to keep her safe. There is a definite sensual and emotional chemistry between them and the reader desperately wants them to get together! All the books in this series are available at Red Rose Publishing, http://www.redrosepublishing.com/
To find out more about me, please visit my website: http://www.bettyannharris.com/ and feel free to befriend me (PLEASE!) on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/baharris
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Welcome Nancy Famolari!
1. Tell us about your upcoming/recent release.
My present release is “Summer's Story” from Red Rose Publishing. The setting involves horse .JPG)
breeding, training and harness racing. Summer's father, a famous trainer, dies leaving her a potentially great trotter, Meadow. Summer's life is complicated by two men. Ned owns the breeding/training farm where Summer and her father lived. Ned loves her, but she believes that he was responsible for her father's death and won't allow him t help her. Davis, a racehorse driver, also loves her and wants to help her get Meadow to the races. Max, another owner, wants Meadow for himself and will stop at nothing to get her. The book traces the problems faced by Summer and answers the question of whether she gets her horse to the big races and whether she finds love.
.JPG)
breeding, training and harness racing. Summer's father, a famous trainer, dies leaving her a potentially great trotter, Meadow. Summer's life is complicated by two men. Ned owns the breeding/training farm where Summer and her father lived. Ned loves her, but she believes that he was responsible for her father's death and won't allow him t help her. Davis, a racehorse driver, also loves her and wants to help her get Meadow to the races. Max, another owner, wants Meadow for himself and will stop at nothing to get her. The book traces the problems faced by Summer and answers the question of whether she gets her horse to the big races and whether she finds love.2. What gave you the idea for your upcoming/recent release?
My husband and I raised and trained Standardbred racehorses for fourteen years. Although Summer's story is fiction, I used many of the incidents I saw or experienced to create the characters and the plot.
3. How much time does it take you to finish a book?
I usually write my books for the first time in a month (about fifty thousand words). Then the fun begins. It takes me a year or more to rewrite. I have to add to the plot (usually a sub plot) and the characters need to be filled out.
4. What is your favorite part of being a writer?
I love creating characters and seeing how they interact in situations. I particularly love writing the book the first time The characters start to live. It's almost like watching a movie.
5. What is your least favorite part of being a writer?
Rewriting is a two edged sword. I like to see how the characters develop and I love getting insights into them. However, rewriting is work.. I'm not terribly good at it, but you have to try to make sure the grammar is good, typos must be eliminated, and the plot has to hang together. You have to make sure you are consistent from one scene to another with names and place descriptions. All in all, it's detail work and not my favorite activity.
6. What are you working on now?
I'm in the revision process for the second novel in my Montbleu Murder series. The first book will be published by Red Rose Publishing in 2009. It's about the murder of the wife of a prominent citizen in the small town of Montbleu, Pennsylvania. For the first time we meet the woman who will become police chief, Chess Devon, and her former lover, now the Chief of Detectives, in Scranton, PA. Their romance (or lake of same) is one of the elements that pulls the series together. The present book focuses on the terror of a young writer living in a house that was the scene of an unsolved murder. I won't say more about it, but it's a new thing for me. Many of the characters are the same, but I added a paranormal element that was great fun.
7. All writers started out as readers – who’re your favorite authors?
I love mysteries. My favorite authors are Dorothy Sayers (Gaudy Night) and Elizabeth George (everything except, “What Happened Before He Shot Her). I also like to read romance and biography. In fact, I'll read almost anything.
8. What are your goals as a writer?
I hope to continue my work on the Montbleu series. I have a YA novel based in the Standardbred business that I want to get published ,and I have more stories to tell that will involved Summer. I love developing my characters and I don't see any end in sight.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Video Up for Voting
Hi all!
The Book Trailer for Sarah's Story is up for voting at You Gotta Read Videos.
http://yougottareadvideos.blogspot.com
The Book Trailer for Sarah's Story is up for voting at You Gotta Read Videos.
http://yougottareadvideos.blogspot.com
RWA and ePublishers
There's been a lot of debate online about the Romance Writers Association and ePublishers. I usually try to keep this blog upbeat, I don't think I'm going to manage it today.
at the Espan Blog RWA President Diane Pershing said:
Here’s another pair of glasses: The newer members, not yet PRO, but working on their craft and trying to learn all they can about the industry. And how about the unpublished-but-working-on-it PRO members who have chosen not to go the digital route and keep submitting to print publishers, as they feel that is their best chance of earning good money? Lastly, there are PAN members who have been print-published recently or for years, who like their “advance-paying/lower royalty rate” choice, who look at the business model of “no advance/high royalty rate,” and have trouble understanding why anyone would gamble that way with a book that took so much time and effort.
By her statement Ms. Pershing has implied that those of us who choose the digital publishing route or the no advance/high royalty rate are not serious about their writing career. Thank you Ms. Pershing for saying I don't take writing seriously. Apparently thirty years of working on my craft, reading everything I can get my hands on to improve my craft, and the time and money I've invested on writing classes - I'm not serious. Funny, I thought I was.
You, Ms. Pershing, have belittled not just me but hundreds of others that have chosen the ebook route. You have belittled Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Christine Warren, Anya Bast and other authors who started in the ePublishing world. Ladies that I respect, admire and use as a standard for myself.
It is not the RWA's place to set monetary standards that every author must follow. There should be a single standard for all publishers. Most professional organization require a set number of years in the business and recommendations of other members that have already joined.
Ms. Pershing, I am extremely serious about my writing career. I have chosen the ePublishing no advance/high royalty route because that fits my financial needs at this time. I have a goal of eventually being contracted with one of the NY Big Boys - but as in all things, I need time to grow. Grow a fanbase that will buy the books. Please do not imply that I or my publisher aren't serious because we do not fit in your box. Maybe we prefer to think and create outside of yours.
at the Espan Blog RWA President Diane Pershing said:
Here’s another pair of glasses: The newer members, not yet PRO, but working on their craft and trying to learn all they can about the industry. And how about the unpublished-but-working-on-it PRO members who have chosen not to go the digital route and keep submitting to print publishers, as they feel that is their best chance of earning good money? Lastly, there are PAN members who have been print-published recently or for years, who like their “advance-paying/lower royalty rate” choice, who look at the business model of “no advance/high royalty rate,” and have trouble understanding why anyone would gamble that way with a book that took so much time and effort.
By her statement Ms. Pershing has implied that those of us who choose the digital publishing route or the no advance/high royalty rate are not serious about their writing career. Thank you Ms. Pershing for saying I don't take writing seriously. Apparently thirty years of working on my craft, reading everything I can get my hands on to improve my craft, and the time and money I've invested on writing classes - I'm not serious. Funny, I thought I was.
You, Ms. Pershing, have belittled not just me but hundreds of others that have chosen the ebook route. You have belittled Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Christine Warren, Anya Bast and other authors who started in the ePublishing world. Ladies that I respect, admire and use as a standard for myself.
It is not the RWA's place to set monetary standards that every author must follow. There should be a single standard for all publishers. Most professional organization require a set number of years in the business and recommendations of other members that have already joined.
Ms. Pershing, I am extremely serious about my writing career. I have chosen the ePublishing no advance/high royalty route because that fits my financial needs at this time. I have a goal of eventually being contracted with one of the NY Big Boys - but as in all things, I need time to grow. Grow a fanbase that will buy the books. Please do not imply that I or my publisher aren't serious because we do not fit in your box. Maybe we prefer to think and create outside of yours.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Welcome Amber Leigh Williams!
The thing I love about doing these interviews is finding out interesting little tidbits about the authors. I didn't know Amber Leigh was from Fairhope - heck that's about a 30 minute drive from me - right across Mobile Bay! Well here's Amber Leigh make her feel welcome!
1. Tell us about your recent release.
A Summer’s Hope is the story of Briar, the innkeeper, who is losing her mother’s B&B thanks to a run of bad luck. She holds out hope that summer will bring answers. It comes in the least likely
package when haunted, divorced Cole rides in on his motorcycle to book the bay suite. He falls in love with the view and the innkeeper. Though she’s never dared offer more than breakfast in bed to any guest, she can’t resist breaking all the rules with Cole. In his arms, she finds solace in her crumbling world and they embark on a passion as hot as the southern sun and as unstoppable as the bay tide. But can it be enough to rescue Cole from his past or give Briar the strength to forge on alone?
2. What gave you the idea for your recent release?
I grew up in Fairhope, Alabama where A Summer’s Hope takes place. It’s a beautiful small town on the picturesque Eastern Shore of the Mobile Bay. Although I moved twenty minutes away, I desperately needed to share this inspirational place with the world. So many of the places described in the text really do exist. Basically, it’s everything I love about Fairhope combined with the dreams of love I once conjured there. A Summer’s Hope was released, coincidentally, on my third wedding anniversary. This is the closest story I’ve written to my own love story so it made the launch all the more special!
3. How much time does it take you to finish a book?
A maximum of three months. I draw the line after that because there are just too many stories floating around in my head to spend anymore time than necessary on one manuscript. If a story really drives me to completion, it should only take two months to write it plus a few more weeks on the editing process.
4. What is your favorite part of being a writer?
Getting the fan letter. One reader admitted she never liked the western romance genre but my western novella Blackest Heart went a long way toward converting her. Knowing I could do something like that for someone fuels me to write even more.
5. What is your least favorite part of being a writer?
The promotion, of course. It takes valuable time away from writing but it has to be done. Just because you’ve published a story doesn’t mean you’re finished. My debut novel Fox & Hound was published in February 2008. I’m still pushing it out there, posting excerpts and plugging the story wherever I can. So long as the story is available, a smart writer never stops pushing his/her story further out into the world!
6. What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on my second paranormal in a five-part series. It’s about a shape-shifter and a psychic. It’s a lot of fun!
7. All writers started out as readers – who’re your favorite authors?
Nora Roberts turned me onto the romance genre and I read her for years and years. Then I branched out and fell in love with J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I’ve read all of Larissa Ione’s Demonica titles. I also love Sandra Brown’s old romances. Breakfast in Bed is one of my favorites – a short, sweet, rainy day read. I read the J.D. Robb In Death series religiously. Betina Krahn is absolutely amazing just as Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is always a classic choice. As you can see, I’m not picky at all! I’ll read anybody as long as the story appeals to me and there’s some good lovin’ to be found in the pages ;)
8. What are your goals as a writer?
Just to never fall out of love with what I do. It’s a job, but I still put my heart into it everyday. I’d really love to write romance for the rest of my life and I hope by the end of it my heart’s as deeply entrenched in the genre as it is now!
EXCERPT:
“These are for you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, taking them. Her heart tugged and her lips curved as she stared down into their wide, bright faces. “They’re my favorite.”
He smiled. “I was hoping. They made me think of you.”
Awed, she lowered her nose to sniff the blooms. “You got them from Adrian?”
He shrugged. “Only the best.”
She nodded in agreement. “I’ll just set them here.” She put them on a bench in the shade of the magnolia tree, and then faced him awkwardly.
“Are you ready?”
“When you are.”
He held up the helmet. “I have to take precautions. I don’t want anything to happen to your pretty face although it’s a shame to cover it up.”
Her insides turned to dough and her heart pattered giddily as he slipped the helmet over her head. She lifted her chin when he motioned for her to do so.
It took him several seconds to secure the strap. “Feel okay?” he asked when he was done, lifting the visor so she could hear him.
She nodded, feeling nerves jump into her stomach again. “Um, Cole? There’s something you need to know.”
He chuckled as he went back to his bike. “I know.”
She stiffened. “You do?”
He nodded, grinning at her as he strapped on his own helmet. He lifted the visor to speak. “You’ve never ridden a bike before.”
“Is it that obvious?” she asked, rubbing her damp palms on her thighs.
He shrugged, tying the strap under his chin. “Just a little. It’s okay.” He took her hand and pulled her close. She could smell fresh aftershave and the underlying spice of motor oil. It was downright seductive. “Just lean with me into the turns and hold onto me real tight.”
Her knees quaked. “I’m a little nervous.”
He put a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll do fine.” He threw a leg over the seat to straddle it. He gunned the engine and the machine roared to life, stunning her with its raw, wild power. As exhaust smoke tickled her nostrils, she didn’t know if she was really going to be able to go through with this.
He motioned for her to get on.
Now or never. She took a steadying breath, putdown her visor and stepped forward. Gripping his offered hand for balance, she crawled on behind him and put her feet on the passenger pegs. She hesitantly put her hands on his waist and clutched his shirt as he backed out from under the magnolia.
He looked both ways down Scenic 98 then turned to look at her. “You ready?” he shouted.
She nodded and gave him the thumbs-up.
She saw his quick grin before he hit the accelerator. The force of it sent her back. Her heart pounded with terror as she grabbed him around the waist tight to keep from flying off the open seat.
A Summer’s Hope – Available Now: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/a-summers-hope-p-1255.html
Website: http://www.amberleighwilliams.com/
Contact: amber@amberleighwilliams.com
1. Tell us about your recent release.
A Summer’s Hope is the story of Briar, the innkeeper, who is losing her mother’s B&B thanks to a run of bad luck. She holds out hope that summer will bring answers. It comes in the least likely
package when haunted, divorced Cole rides in on his motorcycle to book the bay suite. He falls in love with the view and the innkeeper. Though she’s never dared offer more than breakfast in bed to any guest, she can’t resist breaking all the rules with Cole. In his arms, she finds solace in her crumbling world and they embark on a passion as hot as the southern sun and as unstoppable as the bay tide. But can it be enough to rescue Cole from his past or give Briar the strength to forge on alone?2. What gave you the idea for your recent release?
I grew up in Fairhope, Alabama where A Summer’s Hope takes place. It’s a beautiful small town on the picturesque Eastern Shore of the Mobile Bay. Although I moved twenty minutes away, I desperately needed to share this inspirational place with the world. So many of the places described in the text really do exist. Basically, it’s everything I love about Fairhope combined with the dreams of love I once conjured there. A Summer’s Hope was released, coincidentally, on my third wedding anniversary. This is the closest story I’ve written to my own love story so it made the launch all the more special!
3. How much time does it take you to finish a book?
A maximum of three months. I draw the line after that because there are just too many stories floating around in my head to spend anymore time than necessary on one manuscript. If a story really drives me to completion, it should only take two months to write it plus a few more weeks on the editing process.
4. What is your favorite part of being a writer?
Getting the fan letter. One reader admitted she never liked the western romance genre but my western novella Blackest Heart went a long way toward converting her. Knowing I could do something like that for someone fuels me to write even more.
5. What is your least favorite part of being a writer?
The promotion, of course. It takes valuable time away from writing but it has to be done. Just because you’ve published a story doesn’t mean you’re finished. My debut novel Fox & Hound was published in February 2008. I’m still pushing it out there, posting excerpts and plugging the story wherever I can. So long as the story is available, a smart writer never stops pushing his/her story further out into the world!
6. What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on my second paranormal in a five-part series. It’s about a shape-shifter and a psychic. It’s a lot of fun!
7. All writers started out as readers – who’re your favorite authors?
Nora Roberts turned me onto the romance genre and I read her for years and years. Then I branched out and fell in love with J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I’ve read all of Larissa Ione’s Demonica titles. I also love Sandra Brown’s old romances. Breakfast in Bed is one of my favorites – a short, sweet, rainy day read. I read the J.D. Robb In Death series religiously. Betina Krahn is absolutely amazing just as Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is always a classic choice. As you can see, I’m not picky at all! I’ll read anybody as long as the story appeals to me and there’s some good lovin’ to be found in the pages ;)
8. What are your goals as a writer?
Just to never fall out of love with what I do. It’s a job, but I still put my heart into it everyday. I’d really love to write romance for the rest of my life and I hope by the end of it my heart’s as deeply entrenched in the genre as it is now!
EXCERPT:
“These are for you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, taking them. Her heart tugged and her lips curved as she stared down into their wide, bright faces. “They’re my favorite.”
He smiled. “I was hoping. They made me think of you.”
Awed, she lowered her nose to sniff the blooms. “You got them from Adrian?”
He shrugged. “Only the best.”
She nodded in agreement. “I’ll just set them here.” She put them on a bench in the shade of the magnolia tree, and then faced him awkwardly.
“Are you ready?”
“When you are.”
He held up the helmet. “I have to take precautions. I don’t want anything to happen to your pretty face although it’s a shame to cover it up.”
Her insides turned to dough and her heart pattered giddily as he slipped the helmet over her head. She lifted her chin when he motioned for her to do so.
It took him several seconds to secure the strap. “Feel okay?” he asked when he was done, lifting the visor so she could hear him.
She nodded, feeling nerves jump into her stomach again. “Um, Cole? There’s something you need to know.”
He chuckled as he went back to his bike. “I know.”
She stiffened. “You do?”
He nodded, grinning at her as he strapped on his own helmet. He lifted the visor to speak. “You’ve never ridden a bike before.”
“Is it that obvious?” she asked, rubbing her damp palms on her thighs.
He shrugged, tying the strap under his chin. “Just a little. It’s okay.” He took her hand and pulled her close. She could smell fresh aftershave and the underlying spice of motor oil. It was downright seductive. “Just lean with me into the turns and hold onto me real tight.”
Her knees quaked. “I’m a little nervous.”
He put a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll do fine.” He threw a leg over the seat to straddle it. He gunned the engine and the machine roared to life, stunning her with its raw, wild power. As exhaust smoke tickled her nostrils, she didn’t know if she was really going to be able to go through with this.
He motioned for her to get on.
Now or never. She took a steadying breath, putdown her visor and stepped forward. Gripping his offered hand for balance, she crawled on behind him and put her feet on the passenger pegs. She hesitantly put her hands on his waist and clutched his shirt as he backed out from under the magnolia.
He looked both ways down Scenic 98 then turned to look at her. “You ready?” he shouted.
She nodded and gave him the thumbs-up.
She saw his quick grin before he hit the accelerator. The force of it sent her back. Her heart pounded with terror as she grabbed him around the waist tight to keep from flying off the open seat.
A Summer’s Hope – Available Now: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/a-summers-hope-p-1255.html
Website: http://www.amberleighwilliams.com/
Contact: amber@amberleighwilliams.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)