Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Happy birthday, Ginger Simpson
Today is my dear friend,, Ginger Simpson's birthday. I first met Ginger when I joined the MuseItUp Publishing House. She was quick to welcome me to the Muse family. Her quick wit and humor often has us in stitches. We had a lot in common and quickly became friends. I've read several of her books and enjoyed all of them. I think my favorite was First Degree of Innocence. 
I had the pleasure of meeting Ginger in person last year, and she was everything I expected and more. She's as warm and friendly in person as she is on the internet, not to mention her sense of humor. I wish I had more time to spend with her, but we were just passing through on our way home from Florida.Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Ginger. Happy birthday to you.
So, my dear friend, I wish you the happiest birthday ever!
Love ya, girl.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Welcome, Nicole Langan
Today, I'd like to welcome Nicole Langan publisher of Tribute Books.
We started in 2004.1. Hi, Nicole. Welcome to my blog. How long has Tribute Books been in business?
We're looking to work with authors who are savvy with social media - those who blog, tweet and update their Facebook status on a daily basis. Our preference is for authors who already have a book(s) published through a royalty-paying press. We want to work with those who are familiar with the ins and outs of the publishing process. We seek those who have experience having their work edited and know the effort required for successful book promotion.2. I see you publish young adult books, tell us what you're looking for in submissions.
From acceptance to publishing, we try to shoot for a 90 day time frame. We edit the manuscript and prepare files that are ready for the Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.3. Tell us about your publishing process. From start to finish or from acceptance to publishing. How long once an author is accepted to the publishing date?
At this time, we have published about 35 authors, illustrators, photographers and editors.4. How many authors does Tribute Books have?
We are looking to concentrate on the young adult genre. There would be NO charge for authors, and those selected would receive 50% of the net retail price in royalties.5. Is there a specific genre you're looking for?
To begin, we're looking to work with 12 authors in 2012, publishing one per month. Contact Nicole at info@tribute-books.com for submission guidelines.
.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Welcome, Diane Barr
Thank
you so much for being here, Diane.
1: For
starters, what genre do you write?
Urban Fantasy with a caress of erotica.
2: And
how long have you been writing?
Off and on in high school and college and almost
four years from conception to publication of Out of the Shade.
3: So
tell us, what do you like the most and least about writing?
The Most -
That I can explore the many facets of "what if" and create
anything so that my readers can "escape" into a new world or let
their imagination run wild.
The Least - That I can't put on paper what exactly
I'm trying to describe or express.
4: Ah
yes, I love the what if. So what do you for fun and relaxation when not
writing?
Many things, lol. Watch football; pro, college or
high school, read my favorite authors, knit, sun tan. Watch Bones, NCIS.
5: You like many of the same things I like. Which authors do you like to read?
Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Elizabeth Peters,
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritson, Patricia
Cornwell, James Rollins, Any McDermott, Sian Williams my critique partner.
6: Interesting list. Tell us, what’s the one thing you’d most like people
to know about you?
That I like tattoos and piercings.
7: No that is interesting. Okay, tell us about your current novel, where we
can find it?
It is called Out of the Shade and here's the blurb: Faeries that carry katanas and guns instead
of sprinkling magic dust and granting wishes. Dragons that reanimate the dead.
Drug-crazed goblins terrorizing neighborhoods. Illegal demons attempting to
conjure the alter ego of an Egyptian goddess.
Sounds like something out of a
nightmare, right? Wrong. It’s my everyday life.Welcome to the Shade, where all the creatures of myth hang out and where I, Detective Gabrielle Tate of the Supernatural Task Force, police them. My partner is AWOL and my sexy dragon boss is leaving nothing to chance as we deal with goblins high on Escape and a serial killer—or worse, a nest of rogue vampires—leaving the drained corpses of faeries and cops all over town.
And then there’s the psychotic demons trying to conjure the goddess Hathor’s alter ego, Sekhmet, to destroy humanity. As a faery and direct descendent of Hathor, I’m eager to manifest her power and use it to combat evil. At the same time, I need to learn how to control the accompanying bloodlust. How? By taking lessons from the charismatic leader of the local vampire clan, of course.
You can find it at:
Here's the full list.
8: Wow, intriguing storyline. Here’s a question I’m
often asked. Do you
have any tips for aspiring authors?
The cliche write what you know isn't applicable if
you are writing Urban Fantasy lol. You
can apply what you know to virtually any other genre - (erotica writers are
always exhausted - giggle snort - sorry I couldn't pass that up), but you know
what I mean. A better tip would be write about something that you like or love
actually because the research and time you spend plotting can either make you
love your subject or develop a love/hate relationship with it.
Also, write every day, be it a journal or diary
entry, a chapter, plots anything. It keeps your mind and your imagination going
so you don't develop writers block.
9: Great advice. Another question people want to
know.Do you base your characters on real-life people?
Yes, I do - human nature and our various quirks or
physical appearances make us the perfect creatures.
10: A question I’m always curious about. How did you
come up with the idea for this book?
I've always be intrigued
by faeries, dragons, Egyptology and Urban Fantasy. In 1993 when I read Laurell
K. Hamilton's Guilty Pleasures - she is my idol by the way - I was hooked and
my Muse began churning the wheels and not letting me sleep or concentrate.
11: I’ve experienced that. But when Muse speaks, we
have to listen. So tell us, what
are you currently working on?
Book 2 of The Shade Series - researching the
Egyptian Underworld and writing down ideas that I have for children's books.
I'm also taking an online Magic for writer's class through one of my online
groups by Rayne Hall
12. Is
there anything else you’d like us to know about you?
I speak Spanish, I like to laugh and do so loudly;
usually punctuated with a snort.
13.
Where can we find you? Website? Blog?
Luckily my day job (an IT
technician) allows for breaks where I can check my email - diane_barr@ymail.com, twitter(DianeBarr1), facebook and update my blog; I'm working on my website - I have a kick ass
template made in Adobe flash - so I'm teaching myself adobe flash as I go. ;)
Excerpt:
What looked like lightning bugs blinked all around the yard. A small breeze caressed me with the smell of lavender and I could hear the tinkle of the stream as I kicked off my boots, pulled off my socks, and threw down my weapons. I willed my wings from my back being careful not to trip over them, which I have been known to do on occasion.
The cool grass felt so good on my feet. I went and lay in my usual spot. Lavender bushes around me, one foot in the stream the other foot wiggling my toes through the grass. From the shadows, gnomes, pixies, ivy elves, and grape vine sprites approached me. The blinking lightning bugs were the garden fairies welcoming me home.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Welcome, Suzie Quint
1: Thank you so much for
being here, Suzie.
First up is the obligatory question. When did you
first begin writing?
That would have been high school, but after I left
school, life interrupted, as life often will. But that’s okay. I didn’t know
enough about life to write anything interesting then. I know more now.
2: What inspired you to
write?
Reading inspired me. I get completely lost in a good
book. A good story makes me want to add to what’s out there.
3: What do you like the most
and least about writing? As far as I’m concerned, writing is the most fun I can
have with my clothes on. When it’s going well, you’ll find me cackling over my
keyboard, making life run less than smoothly for my characters. My least
favorite is the interruptions, like going to work. If I just didn’t have to
eat, I’d be okay.
4: What do you do for fun and
relaxation when not writing?
I read. Yeah, that’s a big surprise. I have brunch
with friends, and every once in a while, I go out dancing.
5: Which authors do you like
to read?
Jennifer Crusie is my favorite. Especially her old
stuff. It doesn’t matter how often I read it, I still laugh out loud. Toni
Blake is a favorite, too. The best new writer I’ve found is Mira Lyn Kelly. I
liked her Harlequin debut so much that I found her on facebook and forced
myself upon her. She hasn’t complained too much.
6: What’s the one thing you’d
most like people to know about you?
Oh, criminey. I don’t know if it’s what I’d MOST
like them to know, but they should probably be prepared for the fact that what
you see is what you get with me. I’m sometimes honest to the point of
tactlessness. It’s something hardwired in me because I can’t be any other way.
Trust me. I’ve tried. I can only bite my tongue for so long. Fortunately, I
have friends who like knowing where they stand.
7: Tell me about your current
novel, where I can find it and your website/blog.
My current release is A Knight in Cowboy Boots from
Pink Petal books. It’s the story of Maddie, a woman who’s sister was murdered
by her abusive boyfriend. When he beats the rap, she takes her sister’s child
(also his) and runs. She lands in Galveston where she meets a cowboy (Zach) in
a hotel bar where she’s applying for work. It doesn’t take him long to figure
out that she has “issues” and that she’s not who she claims to be. She’d like
to hold him at arm’s length, but he doesn’t let her. It was fun writing their
opposing priorities and I hope readers enjoy reading about them.
Besides the publisher’s site, it’s available at
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and maybe a few other place.
My website is at http://suziequint.com/ and I have a
writer’s blog at http://suziequint.blogspot.com/ The blog will be part of my
website as soon as I can figure out how to get the feed to go there.
8: Do you have any tips for
aspiring authors?
The ability to easily self-publish is an awesome
innovation, but make sure you and your manuscript are ready. Most people think
they’re ready before they are (I know I did), but just because you’ve written
something the best you can today, doesn’t mean it’s ready. You don’t get a
do-over on that first impression. Be sure you won’t cringe in five years when
you look back at what you published.
9: Do
you base your characters on real-life people?
God forbid. Of course, I might steal a
characteristic, attitude, or mannerism from real-life people, but I don’t think
I know anyone as well as I know my characters, so it would be difficult to model
them on someone real. I think if I tried, the character wouldn’t come to life
for me the way they do.
10: Where
do you get your ideas and what inspired you to write this book?
For me, the stories start
with characters, followed closely by a situation. Something that forces the
characters together but also keeps them apart.
The McKnight clan was born
because I was trying to figure out how to make my characters’ voice unique.
That led me to study dialect, so I wrote a story just for practice that had
several characters from different regions. I fell in love with one of those
characters (Jake, who is a secondary character in A Knight in Cowboy Boots) so
I started writing about his family.
11: What are you currently
working on?
I’m working on another McKnight Romance. This one
will feature Sol, the oldest of the McKnight boys. He had a very short-lived
marriage right out of high school, but he’s never been able to emotionally let
go of his ex-wife Georgia. I’ve also written a short story about Sol and
Georgia that’s I’m planning to offer as a freebie, so folks can sample how I
write. I don’t just want readers; I want satisfied
readers.
I should perhaps mention here that a second McKnight
romance will be released in November. Knight
of Hearts is Zach’s sister’s story. Rachel is the oldest girl in their
large family, so she has a tendency to be bossy, and she has an inborn need to
fix things. That makes her good at her job as a hotel concierge but not so good
at relationships. She and Mac were a joy to write, and I hope the readers will
love them as much as I do.
12. Is there anything else you’d like us to know
about you?
The one thing that took me by surprise about being
published is how much I enjoy hearing from readers who like my characters. I
knew I’d like it, but I had no idea how much
I’d like it. It’s like heroin. Very addicting.
This is my favorite excerpt from A Knight in Cowboy Boots.
“Let me get that there drink for the lady, Pete.”
Mr. East Texas Drawl stepped up to the bar. “That is, if the lady don’t mind?”
She turned her head cautiously, afraid moving too
fast would blur her vision.
Mr. East Texas was watching her, waiting for a cue
his offer was welcome.
Maddie cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
Oh, crap. She sounded all Marilyn Monroe breathy.
He handed the bartender a ten. Maddie expected him
to pull up the next barstool. Instead, he shoved it over with his foot and
leaned one elbow against the bar. “So what’s a nice girl like you doing in a
place like this?”
Maddie laughed. It should have sounded old, trite,
and corny, but nothing said in that drawl could sound anything but enchanting
to her. Her laughter lit something deep in Mr. East Texas’s dark eyes. Maddie
suddenly felt warm. Sitting-in-front-of-a-raging-fire-on-a-cold-winter-night
warm. The flutter in her heart moved into the pit of her stomach.
“Don’t tell the bartender, but I’m casing the place
to see if I want his job.” Maddie said, keeping her voice conversational. The
bartender's eyebrows rose, but he didn’t comment. He’d no doubt seen this dance
often enough.
“Ah, well. Looking for employment. That’s respectable
then.” Mr. East Texas nodded sagely. “Though I gotta admit, I was hoping you
was here for less reputable reasons.”
“You mean like looking for a man to take me away
from all this?” Maddie's open-handed gesture included the entire bar.
“Even the best watering holes have a long tradition
of that sorta thing. Why, my daddy met my mama in a place a lot like this.”
Maddie fought to keep a grin from breaking out
across her face. How long had it been since she’d engaged in light-hearted
banter, never mind flirting? It seemed like eons. “Really?”
“Well, maybe there wasn’t as much brass and mirrors.
Or the selection of beverages this fine establishment has. And there ain’t no
straw on the floor nor fiddle player in the corner . . . ” He looked away as
though seeking a fiddle player. “And they had dancin’.” His nostrils narrowed
with an indrawn breath. His eyes came back to hers. “Damn. A man oughta take a
woman dancin’.”
The flutter in Maddie’s stomach moved lower.
“What kind of dancing do you do to fiddle music?”
“The spirited kind.” He let a beat pass before he
continued. “But I think you’re the kinda woman a man takes slow dancin’.
Someplace where there ain’t much light, so’s nobody’d see when I kissed you.”
He held her eyes, waiting for her response.
Someone down the bar hollered for Pete’s attention
and he moved away. Their audience gone, Maddie swiveled on her barstool to face
him straight on.
“What if I didn’t want to be kissed?” she asked,
knowing her body language sent a completely different message.
“Why, ma’am . . . ” He leaned slowly closer as he
spoke. “I don’t think I’d ask first.” His lips brushed hers lightly. Just a
gentle touch, as though she’d been kissed almost in passing. He pulled back,
but only a couple of inches. Neither of them had closed their eyes. Maddie
swallowed, trying to work up some moisture in her suddenly dry mouth.
“My daddy says sometimes it’s better to ask for
forgiveness than for permission.”
“Does he?” Maddie forced out.
“Oh, yeah.” His tone was heartfelt. “And I think I
may need a passel of forgivin’,” he said just before he kissed her again.
.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Welcome, Brian Knight
Thank you so much
for being here, SB Knight,
1: What genre do you write? At the current time my stories are
firmly in the Dark Fantasy genre. In the future I may try my hand at a
different genre but for now I greatly enjoy writing Dark Fantasy novels.
2: How long have you been writing? I have been writing short stories,
poetry and novels for…. 5 years I believe.
3: What do you like the most and least about
writing? I love that I am
able to share my stories through writing. As I write I become a part of the
story and that is always exciting. What I like least is when two of my stories
battle for attention. In the end it is a good thing but until I finally step up
and start writing one it can be a distraction. Ironically, one will win out
over the other and that is the one I go with.
4: What do you do for fun and relaxation when
not writing? Fun and
relaxation…hang on I need to get my dictionary. OH, I know what they are. Just
kidding, I try to do a lot outdoors. I like to garden, play basketball and go hiking.
When I can’t do those things I read or you will find me with my wife relaxing
outside on our deck. I also really enjoy cooking and find that to be both
enjoyable and relaxing.
5: Which authors do you like to read? There are many but my absolute favorites
are: Tolkien, Fiest, Brooks, and the late Robert Jordan to name a few. Yes,
these are all epic fantasy authors and yes, that is my favorite genre to read.
One day I hope to write an epic fantasy like these authors.
6: What’s the one thing you’d most like people
to know about you? I had
to think about this one. I would much rather have people see those traits in me
rather than me tell them. I will say this; I am driven by faith and put forward
my best effort in everything I attempt to accomplish.
7: Tell me about your current novel, where can I
find it? Unfortunately we
have to wait a little longer before my debut novel is released. My current
novel is the sequel to Born of Blood which is my debut novel. The trilogy
revolves around a bloodline with sinister ties which spawned an age old evil.
It is the ultimate hunter and hunted situation. Things you thought you knew are
only half the story.
8: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors? Never give up. If you don’t reach your
expectations keep going. Time has no regard for your goals but in time you will
reach them. It may not be exactly what you hoped for but it will be an
accomplishment and that should be celebrated. Keep working.
9: Do you base your
characters on real-life people? I would say they reflect some real life people. To
be honest, I would say my characters have a touch of my personality in their
DNA. Yes, I can see characteristics of real people in them.
10: How did you come up
with the idea for this book? Actually, Born of Blood was developed more from a
self challenge than anything else. I worked off the premise of ‘what if.’ Many
novels are born that way but when it comes to vampires there are not a lot of
‘what if’ questions remaining that haven’t been addressed already. I found one
‘what it’ question that was partially addressed; however, a new twist was born
from it and so we have Born of Blood, book one of The Blood Chronicles.
11: What are you currently working on? I am currently working with my editor
on Born of Blood. I also have the sequel to Born of Blood in the works as well
as a third novel. It sounds like a lot and it is but, so far, everything is
working out well.
12. Is there
anything else you’d like us to know about you? It is my hope that you will see my name often as I have a
number of books I wish to write. With each I plan to improve my skill in the
craft of writing. Of course, I would greatly appreciate it if you picked up a
copy of my novel(s) when released. Below you will find links to my sites where
you can get updates, find additional interviews and fun stuff like that. You
can contact me through my site too.
13. Where can we
find you? Website? Blog?
You can find me
here:
Twitter -
@thenewauthor
Facebook
- http://www.facebook.com/FansofSBK
Send your completed interview to Roseanne at rodow62@yahoo.com and I’ll schedule a date for
you. Don’t forget to add an excerpt (if it’s unedited, say so) and a jpeg of
your cover art (if you have it) and yourself if you’d like.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Welcome, Dianne Hartstock
Quinn talks with
Rosanne Dowell
Give-Away! Comment
below or send an e-mail to diannewrites2@hotmail.com
telling me who your favorite paranormal character is, for a chance to win a PDF
copy of ‘Trials of a Lonely Specter’. Contest ends tomorrow night, Nov. 5th,
and winner will be announced Nov.6th.
Thank you
for coming out here today, Rosanne. Are you comfortable? Here, let me help you
with that blanket. Go ahead and lean back against Clarabelle’s headstone. She
doesn’t mind. Comfy?
Isn’t it
pretty here? Aren’t those oak trees magnificent? Especially now that they’re
getting their fall color. I really should apologize for making you hike all the
way out here. I know graveyards aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoy the
silence. I find the presence of the living strangely unnerving, especially
during a haunting.
Have you
ever been on a ghost hunt? Oh, you have. How exciting! I’ve been on some great
ones with Liam. And cemeteries are my favorite, as you could probably guess.
Who’d you see? Oh, you got some nice orbs on film. Next time let me know where
you’ll be, and I’ll take Liam there. He’s very good. Most of his orbs can be
seen with the naked eye. One time he even had a whole room screaming just by
ringing a tiny bell someone had placed on a table.
But a few haunts
have scared the daylights out of me. Those are the one’s were we ran into a
true medium, someone with the energy to make contact without our aide. You
don’t understand? Take us chatting here, for example. You can see me because I
wish it. A medium can see me because they
wish it. It’s very painful, and I’m terrified of being trapped in-between
the two worlds. It’s very dark there.
So, to get
back to an earlier question. Do I enjoy being a specter? The real question is
whether I’d prefer to be alive. Most definitely. There’s so much I miss… But I
have Liam’s company on occasion, making it bearable. And you can’t tell him
this, but I do get a kick out of a good haunting. Liam says he knows a ghost
who’s met the ‘Grey Lady’ in the York Theatre Royal, UK
Pardon? Oh,
you want to know about my book ‘The Trials of a Lonely Specter’. It’s about a
haunting me and Liam went on and the frightening mediums I met. It was the most
painful experience of my life. I have to confess that I haven’t read the ending
to the book yet. I’m a little afraid to know what lies in store for me. You’ll
have to let me know how it goes, the next time we meet!
Oh, do you
have to go so soon? That’s okay. I understand. It just gets a little lonesome,
sometimes. Let me help you up. I really enjoyed our visit, Roseanne. Come by
any time!
‘Trials of a Lonely Specter’
MuseItUp Publishing, Oct 14, 2011 http://bit.ly/rhfkBG
Amazon: http://amzn.to/oSJqEX
There’s been an
accident. Quinn believes he’s dead, though Liam insists otherwise. But if that
is the case, why does Quinn see the two of them as ghosts? And why does Liam
play along? Exposed to mediums and apparitions, Quinn has to make a decision:
either accept his fate or risk everything to trust Liam one more time.
Excerpt:
He came-to with a
cry and sat up, embarrassed to find he’d been lying on Liam’s thighs. His
friend patted his cheek then nudged him aside, rising fluidly to his feet.
Quinn stood as
well, then froze in sudden confusion. He’d forgotten something important. “What
happened?”
He was surprised
when Liam gripped his arm, his face alert, more alive than he’d ever seen it.
“You fainted. Look.” Liam urged him to the mirror. “What do you see?”
“I
see you,” he said, exasperated, then blinked in surprise when the room went
absolutely black. Liam shifted his weight and the orb he could so easily call
up illuminated his handsome face in the mirror. Quinn jumped when the faces of
the women appeared behind the ghost. He wanted to turn away but Liam’s hold on
his arm tightened.
“What
do you see?’ Liam breathed in his ear. The subtle voice meandered through his
head, bewildering his senses. Liam’s reflection watched him eagerly, though the
women remained passive, focused. He realized what they were doing, and
whimpered as prickles of heat started up his body.
“Don’t
let them,” he begged as flames licked along the edges of his nerves. Liam
crushed his hand. Quinn stared at him in disbelief as the pain mounted in his
body. He cried out as the very atoms of his being were seared and began
disintegrating.
“No!”
The
pain was excruciating, Liam’s betrayal hurting worst of all. With all his will
he gathered the fragmented pieces of himself. Screaming in pain, he tore his
hand from Liam’s, stumbling backward as he did so. The women gasped as he
passed through them. Ignoring Liam’s despairing call, he raced from the room,
plunging headlong down the stairs, regardless of possible injury.
Outside, the moon
had risen, lighting the dusty road. It wouldn’t have mattered had there been
pitch darkness. He could see in the dark, provided he concentrated. He hastened
from the house until the blinding tears made him stumble off the road into a
grove of oaks. He sat with his back to one of the ancient trees and let the
dark engulf him. Exhausted by emotion and hurt, he drifted into a fitful sleep.
Dianne Hartsock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock
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