Thursday 28 January 2016

Q & A with Mary J. Williams

Dreaming With A Broken Heart
Hollywood Legends #1
by Mary J. Williams 

Hollywood is a cutthroat town. 
Nobody knows that better than the Landis brothers.
It's time for them to step out of their parents' shadow. 
IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO BECOME LEGENDS.
Garrett Landis is Hollywood's golden boy.
If he wants to make a movie, it gets made.
If he wants a woman, he only has to snap his fingers.
The moment he meets Jade Marlow he knows she's different.
She's the first woman to get under his skin. The first woman he can't have.
Jade Marlow is desperate to leave behind her tragic past.
Her ex-husband wants her dead. Her father is her worst enemy.
Jade wants Garrett, but she refuses to drag him into her mess of a life.
The attraction is undeniable.
What happens when your head tells you to stay away, but your heart won't listen?
Sex is easy.
Falling in love?
It's the hardest thing they will ever do.
But it could turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to them.
Book one in the Hollywood Legends series is a standalone story.
Read It & Reap:  August 2, 2016


About the Author:  

I love books, I always have and always will. Writing is an extension of that and though it has taken me a while to get here, I now can officially call myself a published author.

I grew up on a ranch in Eastern Washington, so I wanted to set my books on the Columbia River in Washington state. Harper Falls is completely fictitious, but I think anyone from the area will know right where it would be if it did exist.

My hobbies are gardening, reading, baking(fattening desserts are my favorite), exercise(I don't love it, but it is necessary due to the desserts), and animals. I had a dog but when he died I couldn't bring myself to replace him. That is why I wrote Edgar, the dog into "If I Loved You", I consider him my surrogate puppy until I can get a real one.


I love to get feedback on my books so I hope everyone will feel free to leave a question or visit my website(it is a work in progress, but I'm getting there).


Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5648619.Mary_J_Williams
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/maryjwilliams05
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Mary-J-Williams-1561851657385417/
Website:  http://www.maryjwilliams.net/


Q & A with Mary J. Williams

1. Tell us a little bit about your main characters. 
Dreaming With a Broken Heart is the first book about the four Landis brothers. This one deals with Garrett. The Landis family is very prominent in Hollywood. Garrett is the hottest director in the business. He's on top of the world. There isn't anything he can't have. Except Jade Marlow. Jade is a woman coming off an abusive marriage. Her husband tried to kill her and he is still on the loose. The last thing she wants is to drag Garrett into her mess of a life. She has so many issues. All Garrett wants is to help her--to love her. Jade's journey from victim to a strong independent woman isn't easy, but Garrett is by her side the entire way. Jade grows so much as a character. Garrett has a firm and stable base. He becomes her bedrock.

2. Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
I use a woman in Greece who is very receptive to my ideas. We work very well together. I always think of my covers in terms of the tone of the books. My first series was very romantic and funny. The covers reflect that. Dreaming With a Broken Heart is the first book in my Hollywood Legends series. The covers are still romantic, but they are darker, more intense--like the stories they are representing.

3. Describe your ideal writing spot.
Before I started writing I pictured myself outside with warm sunlight and a nice breeze. I thought that would be the perfect way to be creative. The reality is very different. Right now I write in my basement. There is very little natural light. I'm better with a closed off environment with not distractions. I think better in a bubble.

4. What is the best advice you have been given?
Write every day and don't sweat the small stuff. If you can get yourself in the habit of putting something, even one line, on your computer--or whatever you use to write--every day, it becomes easier to establish a routine. And don't worry about how your book is selling or if you didn't get to the second round in an online award, those things will come. Your goal is to write the best book you can. If you remember that, they rest becomes much easier.

5. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer. I took a long way around that dream before finally circling back, but it is what I have always imagined myself doing. Now that it is a reality, I'm loving every minute.

6. Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
I love a book in my hands. There is something about holding in, feeling the paper, seeing the physical copy sitting by my bed, calling for me to read it. But the ease of ebooks can't be denied. I appreciate both.

7. If you could have any supernatural power, what would you choose and why?
I would love to be able to fly. Anything to avoid airports and long flights.

8. What book are you reading now?
J.D. Robb's latest In Death novella Wonderment In Death. I love this series. Dallas and Roarke are my favorite book couple ever.




Friday 22 January 2016

The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter

The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1)The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed Gena Showalter's series White Rabbit Chronicles, so when I saw The Closer You Come on Netgalley I knew I wanted to read it. I'm so glad I did!

Jase Hollister is the ultimate bad boy who is trying to get a fresh start after his recent release from prison. Jase and his two friends, West and Beck, have made Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma their new home. They are hoping that the small town will help them escape their troubled pasts. Is it possible to make a new life when you are tortured by the mistakes from your past? Guilt and hate can consume a soul. Can they find the strength and desire to put it all behind them? Jase is looking for a quiet, uncomplicated life, which is totally out the window as soon as Brooke Lynn walked through his door. Brook Lynn Dillon has her own share of troubles. She is too busy working two jobs and trying to keep her older sister out of trouble to have any fun. Brook Lynn is too young to be so serious. Can Jase add a little fun to her life? Can Brook Lynn ease Jase's troubled soul?

Jase is one dark, brooding, sexy man. He is very loyal and protective, but he can take that to the extreme. Brook Lynn is a hard worker...sometimes too hard. She loves her sister who is the only family she has left. Can Brook Lynn tear down the walls Jase has built up around his heart? The chemistry is off the charts for Jase and Brook Lynn. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. It was a sweet, complicated, steamy romance. What an enjoyable read! Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

View all my reviews

Thursday 21 January 2016

Q & A with Danielle Fisher

A Bit Witchy
by Danielle Fisher 

Eighteen year old Lena Ashlen is in the middle of an identity crisis, and the people in her life aren’t helping. Half of her school thinks she’s crazy while the other half has no idea she even exists. Her father and stepmother barely see her through the bottom of their wine glasses, and her only friends are guardian angels who are terrible cheats when it comes to poker. The only constants in her life are her obsessive crushes on both chocolate and Glenn Storm. In between losing her bra, her pride, and her best friend, Lena has no idea how she’ll survive her senior year.

When guardian angels begin disappearing and everyone thinks she’s to blame, Lena becomes trapped in a case of mistaken identity. But when Glenn and his chaotic family offer to help her find out the truth, she’s forced to ask herself whether she’s the one who’s mistaken. In between the lies and secrets of a past life gone bad, Lena soon learns that if she’s ever going to prove they have the wrong girl, she’s going to need to find the bit of witchiness inside us all. 

Paperback, 268 pages
Published September 14th 2015 by Createspace

Find it on Goodreads
Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Read It & Reap:  June 21, 2016  

Danielle is a writer, a reader, and a lover of everything covered in cheese. When she’s not adding books to her “Want to Read” list on Goodreads, she’s trying to corral her three daughters into a semi-normal life in Bel Air, Maryland. She shares this insanity with her incredibly patient husband, her favorite black, golden retriever, an occasional snake, mouse, and a family of squirrels. The latter 3 live in the attic, but she counts them anyway.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14171030.Danielle_Fisher
Website: http://danielle-fisher.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorDFisher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielleFisherAuthor/


                           Q & A with Danielle Fisher

1. Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
Catlena Ashlen is like many characters her age except for one small difference. She can see guardian angels. Not only can she see them, but they’re the only friends she has since her best friend betrayed her last year. She spends her days hiding behind snark, using it as both a shield and a sword to protect her from the rumors and lies threatening to ruin her senior year of high school.

2. Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
Before I even finished the first draft of A Bit Witchy, I knew I wanted to work with Sarah Hensen from Okay Creations. Every time I fell in love with someone else’s cover, Okay Creations was always listed as the designer. As for the process, it was fantastic. Not only is Sarah a genius, but she turns the simplest stock photograph into something incredible. We worked together to find a picture that we felt represented the story, and Sarah waved her magic wand and made it into something beautiful.

3. Describe your ideal writing spot.
Ideally, I’d be sitting on a deserted island with a tray of cheese and crackers and a chocolate martini for companionship. My desk would face the ocean and any time I got stuck on the plot, I’d swing in my hammock watching dolphins playing in the waves. Reality? I sit at a computer surrounded by permission slips, receipts, a Diet Dr. Pepper, and an empty box of Triscuits.

4. What is the best advice you have been given?
Read. And when you’re done reading, read more. It seems obvious enough, but I’m always surprised by authors who don’t enjoy reading. I look at the unpublished work I’ve done before my reading habit became an obsession and it’s amazing the difference. Not only do I love disappearing into the minds and imaginations of countless authors, but I love meeting new book boyfriends, traipsing through story lines, or swooning over sexy scenes. I then take my personal experiences with these stories and build my own characters and worlds, hoping to introduce someone to a new book boyfriend or story line that helps them escape reality for a bit.

5. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to a writer. Whether I was writing horrible poetry, strange screen plays, or painful short stories, my mother would read through everything I wrote as if it was the best piece of literature on earth. I loved the feeling of creating something from nothing and I loved the smile that graced my beautiful mother’s face every time she finished reading that creation.

6. Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
Gulp…I always swore to pledge allegiance to hard/paperbacks. Then carpal tunnel and the geniuses of the world drew me into the world of e-readers and I became a convert. Since I tend to read a book or two a day, I love the option of being able to start a series and immediately purchase the next book in the series. I have an impulse control problem and that darn “One Click” sucks me in every time.

7. If you could have any supernatural power, what would you choose and why?
I would love to heal. It sounds cheesy, but I’m a very emotional person. Sometimes I think there’s something wrong with me (alright, I often think there’s something wrong with me), but I sometimes feel like I take on the emotions of everyone around me. I just wish I could help heal whatever ails them, whether it’s physical or mental, so that they walk away lighter than they were seconds before.

8. What book are you reading now?
At 1:17 this morning, I finished Carter and Leah by R. J. Lewis. Powerful and beautiful!


Friday 15 January 2016

Forever and Always by Leigh Greenwood

Forever and Always (Cactus Creek Cowboys, #3)Forever and Always by Leigh Greenwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Forever and Always is another amazing historical fiction set in the wild west by Leigh Greenwood . It is also the thrilling conclusion to the Cactus Creek Cowboys series.

Logan Holstock is a rich Chicago business man who has just received a diagnosis no one wants to hear. Logan, with the little time he has left, is on a journey to find his two brothers. They were separated when their parents died on the Santa Fe Trail. This journey will lead him to Cactus Creek, Arizona. What Logan doesn't expect to find is an alluring widow, Sibyl Spencer, who stirs up feelings that a dying man shouldn't have. Will Logan find his brothers? Is it possible for Logan to have a future with Sibyl?

Logan is a man resigned to his fate. It has allowed him to see what and who is really important to him. Nothing like a near death experience to set a person's priorities straight. Sibyl had been trapped in a marriage to a very controlling man until fate took him away. It may not be proper to be happy that someone is dead, but that is exactly how Sibyl feels. She is free at last. What will she do with this newfound freedom? Is it possible for her to finally find love? This story has plenty of action, adventure, sweet romance and characters you will fall in love with. What more could you ask for? I would definitely recommend this book and the rest of the series.


View all my reviews

Monday 11 January 2016

Q & A with Marsha Cornelius

A Tale of Moral Corruption
by Marsha Cornelius

HOW DOES A MAN PLUMMET INTO A WORLD OF MALE ESCORTS, KINKY SEX, AND DEATH MATCHES?

Mason can’t wait to be a loving father and supportive husband. He’s especially looking forward to wearing the new artificial womb that so many men have strapped on their bellies. But first, he must be chosen from the Approved Partner Registry, a website that profiles men and their qualifications. It’s used by businesswomen who don’t have the time or inclination to date. When he is dropped from the registry, his life begins to unravel and it doesn’t look like anything can stop his fall from grace.

Find it on Goodreads
Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Read It & Reap: January 12, 2016

M. R. Cornelius lives in the suburbs north of Atlanta with her husband and two spoiled cats who refuse to wear socks and dust the furniture. Her two college-aged sons visit regularly for clean clothes, food and money.

Q & A with Marsha Cornelius

1. Tell us a little bit about your main characters. 
My main character is Mason, a 28 year-old man living in a world where women control business and politics. He has no objections to being an underling, a ‘second-class’ citizen. All he wants to do is get married, take care of a home, and raise children.

Sound familiar, ladies?

He meets several different women who lead him into some deep doo-doo and a point of no return.

2. Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
Judith Nicolas designed my last cover. Before her, I used Jun Ares. I like to have a lot of input on cover design. I usually have a general idea of what I want and my designers are very good at find images to match my thoughts. We go back and forth a few times but I’m very happy with the results.

3. Describe your ideal writing spot.
A comfortable chair: high back, good seat cushioning, a swivel, and a seatbelt that once buckled, cannot be released for at least one hour.

A room with no access to food, the Internet, the telephone, or pets. And a lock on the door so no one can come in.

I’ll have to have a teapot though, because I can’t function without my jasmine green tea.

4. What is the best advice you have been given?

Never give up.

Best advice I have given? Pay to have your manuscript professionally edited.

5. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Probably an actress. I had a vivid imagination as a child and loved pretending I was someone adventurous.

6. Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
E-books, by a thin margin.

PROS of actual books.
You see the cover every time you pick it up so you can actually remember what you are reading and who wrote it.

Paperbacks can be read at the beach, at the pool, or other places that could be instant death to an e-reader.  (No, I don’t really care what a book smells like.)

PROS of e-books
I can carry a whole library of books with me

If I forget a character, I can type in the name and the e-reader will show me where they appear in the book

My e-reader has a dictionary and the Internet so I’ll never wonder what a porte cochere looks like again.

If I try to buy the same book twice, Amazon reminds me that I already have it. (Can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought the same paperback at a book sale.)

7. If you could have any supernatural power, what would you choose and why?

I’d definitely like to fly. The traffic in Atlanta has gotten so congested that it takes me nearly 30 minutes to get to the mall. That is totally unacceptable.

8. What book are you reading now?
(Wait a minute, let me go check my Kindle.)
A Shot of Tequila by J. A. Konrath.

Giveaway

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Sunday 10 January 2016

Strange Girl by Christopher Pike: Review + Giveaway




Strange Girl 
by Christopher Pike

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Paperback: 432 pages


From #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike comes a brand-new fascinating and seductive new novel about a girl with a mysterious ability—but one that carries an unimaginable cost.

From the moment Fred meets Aja, he knows she’s different. She’s pretty, soft-spoken, shy—yet seems to radiate an unusual peace. Fred quickly finds himself falling in love with her.

Then strange things begin to happen around Aja. A riot breaks out that Aja is able to stop by merely speaking a few words. A friend of Fred’s suffers a serious head injury and has a miraculous recovery.

Yet Aja swears she has done nothing.

Unfortunately, Fred is not the only one who notices Aja’s unique gifts. As more and more people begin to question who Aja is and what she can do, she’s soon in grave danger. Because none of them truly understands the source of Aja’s precious abilities—or their devastating cost.

Love Aja or hate her—you will never forget her.

In Strange Girl, #1 bestselling author Christopher Pike has created the rarest of novels—a love story that swings between a heart-pounding mystery and a stirring mystical journey. 

Find it on Goodreads

Amazon      BN     BAM     IndieBound     iBookstore     Google Play


 
About the Author
 Christopher Pike is a bestselling author of young adult novels. The Thirst series, The Secret of Ka, and the Remember Me and Alosha trilogies are some of his favorite titles. He is also the author of several adult novels, including Sati and The Season of Passage.

Thirst and Alosha are slated to be released as feature films. Pike currently lives in Santa Barbara, where it is rumored he never leaves his house.

But he can be found online at www.Facebook.com/ChristopherPikeBooks

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/RealChristopherPike

Series of writing advice on Wattpad:  
https://www.wattpad.com/story/52999302


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved having this book written from a male point of view. Fred was a very likable lead. He was your typical teenage boy. There wasn't anything special about him, which is what made him so great. Fred met Aja, and she changed his life forever. Not in any dramatic, over the top way...but slowly and subtly. She gave him something to believe it, and he loved her for that, or maybe in spite of that. Aja was quite interesting in her own way. Innocent to the point of fault, she touched everyone she met in some way.

This book told the story of Fred and Aja, but in it you also see the beauty and cruelty of human nature. Humans are selfish race, but once in a while you will find something worth living for.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

 
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Books N Pearls
http://booksnpearls.com/blog

December 22 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and Sissy, Too!
http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com/

December 23 Guest blog
Marsha A Moore
www.MarshaAMoore.blogspot.com

December 28 Guest blog
Addicted 2 Heroines
http://www.addicted2heroines.com

December 28 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
http://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com

December 29 Spotlight
Marianne Willis Author
https://mariannewillisauthor.wordpress.com/

December 29 Spotlight
Lisa's World of Books
www.lisasworldofbooks.net

December 30 Spotlight
Coffee Addicted Writer
www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com

December 30 Spotlight
Mommabears Book Blog
http://www.mommabearsbookblog.blogspot.com

December 31 Guest blog
Bittersweet Enchantment 
http://www.bittersweet-enchantment.com/

December 31 Interview and review
What's Beyond Forks?
http://www.whatsbeyondforks.com/

January 1 Interview
Rose's Brain
http://roseshababy.com/category/roses-brain/

January 1 Review
The Cubicle Escapee 
http://TheCubicleEscapee.com

January 2 Review
Coffee Addicted Writer
www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com

January 4 Spotlight
Storyteller-skgregory
Http://www.storyteller-skgregory.weebly.com

January 4 Spotlight
Hart's Romance Pulse - Fiction Feature
www.HartsRomancePulse.weebly.com

January 5 Guest blog
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com

January 5 Spotlight
CBY Book Club
http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk/

January 6 Spotlight
Literary Musings
http://literarymusing.weebly.com/

January 6 Review
A Dream Within A Dream 
http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com

January 7 Interview and review
Andi's Book Reviews
http://andisbookreviews.blogspot.com

January 7 Spotlight
Roxanne's Realm
www.roxannerhoads.com

January 8 Interview
Brayton's Briefs
www.stephenbrayton.wordpress.com

January 8 Review
I Heart Fictional People
http://iheartfictionalpeople.com

January 11 Interview and review
The Reading Diaries
http://www.thereadingdiaries.com/

January 11 Spotlight
Deal Sharing Aunt
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

January 11 Spotlight and review
Shut Up and Read
http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/

January 12 Review
Badass Book Reviews
http://badassbookreviews.com/

January 12 Review
Apocalipstick
https://apocalipstickthebook.wordpress.com/

January 13 Interview
Diane's Book Blog
http://dianes-book.blogspot.com

January 13 Review
I Smell Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/

January 14 Review
Phenomenal Reviews
http://jennswiger.blogspot.com/

January 14 Spotlight
More Romance Please
www.moreromanceplease.blogspot.com

 January 15 Guest blog
Queen of All She Reads
http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com/

January 15 review
Boundless Book Reviews
www.boundlessbookreviews.com

January 18 Review
Fic Gal
http://www.ficgal.com/book-club

 January 18 review
Paranormal Tendencies Book Reviews
http://www.paranormaltendencies.blogspot.com

 January 18 Guest Blog
Fang-tastic Books
www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com



Friday 8 January 2016

Q & A with Michael Bronte

The Dealership
by Michael Bronte 

Carmen Madrid finally got his opportunity when he moved up to become a hotshot salesman selling Jaguars, Lincolns, and Chevys. Life in Jamaica Queens was good-for a while-but the commission checks weren't as big as he'd anticipated, and it wasn't long before he was looking for other ways to pay the bills. That's when he discovered that the dealership did more than sell cars. Money laundering, drug peddling and pornography were all part of the gig, and it wasn't long before he had to make a choice: be an honest salesman, or take the big money from the "side jobs" the dealership offered. There are others interested in his decision. Meet Rita O'Shea, the lady cop who infiltrates the dealership by working undercover as a salesperson, Patty Fairchild, the goody-goody owner who wants to prove she can make the dealership profitable, and Chita Espino, who believes in Carmen when others do not. Travel with Carmen through the gritty world of fast cars and faster women, organized crime and racketeering, all of it shrouded by the crack epidemic and tough times that blanketed New York City in the mid-'80s. Does Carmen do the right thing, or does he become just another punk trying to get over on others before they get over on him? Find out how he walks the line between decency and depravity, and see if he comes out on top. It's quite a trip. 

Find it on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Read It & Reap:  June 16, 2016


Michael Bronte is a graduate of Union College in Schenectady, New York, and George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and lives with his wife of 36 years in Gaithersburg, Maryland. "All of the heroes in my novels are everyday people," says Bronte. "Any of them could by your next door neighbor. None of us really know what we're capable of until the time comes for us to reach beyond the boundaries of our everyday lives. Remarkable feats of courage are performed everyday, by everyday people. It's amazing."

​ As a young teenager I remember reading paperback mysteries under a huge oak tree outside my parents’ neighborhood grocery store in Dalton, Massachusetts, a small town located in the heart of the Berkshires. I can recall pulling a book from the rack and getting locked in to those novels as the fragrant summer breeze of Berkshire County tried to turn the page before I was done reading it. I don’t know why, but I was greatly affected by a book titled The Fan Club, by Irving Wallace. When I was done reading it, I can still recall thinking that someday I’d be able to write a book like that on my own; I knew I could do it.

Well, the idea stayed dormant for over thirty years while I did what I thought I should have been doing for a living (looking back, it all seems so trivial sometimes) until I rekindled my infatuation with writing novels. Now, many years after that, and many mistakes and many failures later, there are five Michael Bronte novels available. They are: The Dealership, Presidential Risk, Porchball, The Tenth Caller, and Lost Friday.


 Q & A with Michael Bronte

1. Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
 All of the main characters in all five of my current novels are just everyday people: a car salesman, a small town newspaper reporter, a down-and-out high school kid, etc., but all of them encounter circumstances where they have a choice.  They can either rise to the occasion and do the right thing morally, or they can retreat and live with their lack of bravery (or fortitude, or honesty, or ability) for the rest of their lives.  All of my main characters struggle with this inner battle, and overcoming their own doubts or proving themselves to others is definitely a point of conflict for them.  All the characters are flawed in this way, and I try to make the reader pull for them as they go through the book.

2. Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
 I used a professional graphic design firm to do my covers.  I usually have an idea of what the graphic and lettering should look like, or represent, and I give them that information.  Then, I also give them a couple of representative sample chapters so they can get the flavor of the language, the settings, etc.  From that point, I will get a first attempt at a cover.  Sometimes it’s on the money, sometimes it’s not.  I’ve found that when I leave it entirely to someone else to do the cover without input from me, I am seldom pleased.  I need to be involved in the design and in the tweaking as well.  I guess I’ve got some control issues there, but hey, they’re my books.

3. Describe your ideal writing spot.
 For me, it’s not so much the writing spot, and I’ve written in many places such as office, train, vacation, cruise ship, etc., and familiarity definitely has its advantages in terms of getting in the groove and getting my mind to engage and come up with that next scene or sequel, but, for me, it’s the writing time.  First thing in the morning, when my mind is fresh is usually my best time.  That being said, I’m jotting down ideas at all hours of the day and night as they come to me: on napkins in restaurants, backs of envelopes and business cards, writing notes into my phone, etc.  I’m always thinking about where the story is going.

4. What is the best advice you have been given?
 Don’t trust anyone who asks you for money and promises to help you sell your books.  How true.  They’re all scumbags.  Second piece of good advice: Don’t believe every so called “experts” or “reviewer” that blows down the highway.  When you get criticism, you got to be big enough to admit to yourself when you wrote something lousy, but if you think you wrote something good, and you’ve got enough background and done enough other reading to know it’s good, then stick with what you wrote.  Study the art of writing scene and sequel and how to create conflict, and if you’re convinced that you’ve done a good job, then stand up for yourself and tell the critics to pound sand.

5. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
 I’m still struggling with that.  I never really had a notion of “I want to be this,” or “I want to be that.”  It hurt me, because I never really had a specific path to go after.  I was smart in school, so I always got good grades and was successful at whatever I got involved with, but I didn’t really go after a profession with a passion.  Although I’ve been successful in my life, all those successes weren’t necessarily predefined objectives.  I think writing these books is probably the most target-oriented endeavor I’ve ever done, except for wife, kids, etc.

6. Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
 I’m definitely still a paperback guy, especially the pulpy mass market stuff.

7. If you could have any supernatural power, what would you choose and why?
 I kind of like the x-ray vision thing, and most of the reasons why have nothing to do with seeing naked women.

8. What book are you reading now?
 I picked up David Baldacci’s The Target—another of those mass market paperbacks—to read on a long plane ride recently.  I’m about halfway through it.



Thursday 7 January 2016

Q & A with Kristy Brown

Awakenings (Kiera's Quest #1)
by Kristy Brown 

Meet Kiera, a pretty, intelligent, and talented girl, brought up by her uncle, and abandoned by her parents. Life is as normal as she believes it to be, apart from the deep ache inside her,
telling her she’s different. For years, Kiera had dreams where she ventures into a different reality. She’s not alone; a presence is always there, keeping her safe, yet she feels vulnerable,
and hunted.

Zakk, Prince of Zantar, is under the Witch Queen’s spell as she tries to take over his world. He crosses paths with Kiera, and their fates are entwined.

As their journey unravels, she learns that she is not the only one affected by this prince. Who is on her side? Will she find out why she has been chosen? How can someone so young, defeat such evil? Will she find the strength to save the ones closest to her? Will this be Kiera’s only Quest?

Great for MG-TEEN readers.( 9+)

Find it on Goodreads
Find it on Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Read It & Reap:  January 7, 2016


Hi I'm Kristy and I live in the U.K. I have always written short stories and poetry. I went to university to study acting which I loved, but my real passion has always been writing. So now I write the kind of stories I would have wanted to read when I was a teen. "Kiera's Quest-Awakenings" is my first ebook. There will be four in the series. I have written the chapters like scenes in a film, with the action cutting to different characters. It's fast paced! Book two-"Sacrifices" came out August 2012(Muse It Up Publishing) Book three, "Perceptions," was released in May. Book four, the last, was out Feb 2014. I am now writing A YA book. My dream is to have them in print someday! I love reading YA angels,vamps etc. I love my kids and hopefully one day they will enjoy my crazy tales!

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5290332.Kristy_Brown
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Kieras-Quest-331392551035/app/?sk=app_2309869772
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KBrownauthor

Q & A with Kristy Brown

1. Tell us a little bit about your main characters. 
The main characters are young teens mostly apart from Zakk who is around sixteen. Kiera has always known that there is something different about her, but she could never have imagined just how special she is! Her best friend Maddy is loyal, feisty and fun, Joe has a major crush on Kiera and Daz, the cool broody one is Maddy's boyfriend. Kiera is pretty much perfect, almost annoyingly so!

2. Who designs the covers for your books and what is that process like for you as an author?
My book covers are designed by the cover artists at my lovely publishers- Muse It Up. They like their authors to be involved in the process. I'll always be asked first what sort of covers I like or dislike. I've had a vague idea of what I have wanted for all four books in the series, the artists always make it a little better!

3. Describe your ideal writing spot.
My perfect writing spot is in my favourite chair when my kids are at school! I need total silence.

4. What is the best advice you have been given?
A friend gave me a sweet piece of advice. "If you write what you love, other people will love it too."

5. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child there were many jobs I wanted to do. I loved to draw so I really wanted to be an artist. At one point I wanted to be a baker, but I'm terrible in the kitchen. Then I trained to be an actress. It wasn't until I reached thirty that I started to write.

6. Which do you prefer: hard/paperbacks or ebooks?
I like both options. I do like to go into a bookstore though! As Kiera's Quest is an e series, I like e -books too! If I'm completely honest, my dream is to have them in print someday.

7. If you could have any supernatural power, what would you choose and why?
If I could have any supernatural power...maybe to see the future so I could help people on their right paths or take them off a destructive one! Maybe it's best not to know sometimes...

8. What book are you reading now?
I have just finished Paper Towns by John Green and have started Gone by Michael Grant.




Monday 4 January 2016

RED: A Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romance by Jessica Aspen: Interview + Giveaway


RED: A Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romance
by Jessica Aspen

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Abracadabra Publishing
Number of pages: 73
Cover Artist: Viola Estrella

When Red runs into the hot new forest ranger she thinks it will be just a quick fling but passions ignite and soon Red is scrambling to hide all her secrets.
Fraternizing with humans is taboo but when feisty werewolf, Red, runs into the hunky new forest ranger, Evan Brewster, she jumps on the opportunity to let loose her desires. Evan is stoked when he meets the petite red haired hottie, and combined with his new discovery of wolves in Colorado, thinks his career and life are made. Then Red pushes him away, her hostile brother threatens his life, and things begin to spiral out of control.

Caught between her sexy lover and her pack can Red trust Evan with her secrets? Or must she sacrifice her human lover—and her heart? 

Find it on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon


Jessica Aspen always wanted to be spirited away to a world inhabited by elves, were-wolves and sexy men who walk on the dark side of the knife. Luckily, she’s able to explore her fantasy side and delve into new worlds by writing spicy paranormal romance. She loves indulging in dark chocolate, reading eclectic novels, and dreaming of ocean vacations, but instead spends most of her time, writing, walking the dog, and hiking in the Colorado Rockies.

To sign up for Jessica Aspen’s new release email and to get your FREE bonus book, please go to: http://eepurl.com/zs4Sj


Q & A with Jessica Aspen

1.  Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
Red, is a sassy red-haired wolf shifter whose mom doesn’t think she can handle heading off to college in the big city—or handle the sexy new forest ranger in town. This is Evan’s first big job since he got out of the army and when he discovers evidence of wolves in Colorado, he’s ready to make his mark. But of course the wolves he’s uncovered are all shifters, and they don’t want to be discovered. Especially Red’s super angry, alpha brother, Seth.

2.  Describe your ideal writing spot.
I usually do my best writing at home where I have everything set up in our family room facing out a picture window. Actually, it’s more of a reading/writing room now, since we moved the TV into the living room and I took over. I tried being upstairs in an office, but since no one else is home when I write, I like to be in the main rooms with all the light and easy access to coffee.

3.  Who designed the covers for your book and what was that process like for you as the author?
I love my brand new look for my Sexy Shifter Fairytale Romances. My cover artist, Viola Estrella of estrellacoverart.com worked with me to blend a New Adult feel with paranormal romance and some of the branding from my other series, Tales of the Black Court. We kept the font for my author name, that I have on all of my books, and added in sexy couples and a supernatural feel to the settings. She also added the shadow wolves and bears that chase their way across the bottom. I love them because they say “shifter” but in a way that is entirely Jessica Aspen.

4.  What is the best advice you have been given?
Just write. It is so easy to get distracted with new shiny ideas and social media sites, but the best thing to do is put your head down and write. It took me a while to implement this advice, not just because it wasn’t as easy as it sounds to develop the habit, but also because it seems like life conspires to get in between me and the computer.

5. How do you keep busy when you're not writing?
I love reading and cooking. I’m a big walker and I love walking every day, but I also love living so close to the mountains that I can hike whenever I want to. Getting outside is important, not just to me, but to my Labrador, Molly. She makes sure that I get outside everyday!

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