Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Get ready to Scream!


October's a great time for fun stuff, but when a fun event also benefits a worthy cause, I'm there. So I was happy to contribute to Cate Peace and Landra Graf's Scream! For a Cure event.

How it works Beginning October 5th readers will have an opportunity to bid for baskets. The categories are Erotic Romance, Urban Fantasy, YA & Adult paranormal romance, and Horror/Suspense. We’ll be showcasing the baskets the week they go up for auction, with the auctions taking place on that Friday. In-between, we’ll also have guest posts from different authors and bloggers talking about their personal struggles with cancer, some who’ve battled the disease themselves, and some who have witnessed the ongoing struggle through someone else. It’ll also be a forum for people to talk about their experiences, maybe share some uplifting stories as well.

Visit their website and visit throughout October to bid on some wonderful auction goodies!




Friday, September 19, 2014

Fun with book videos 101

Some people say book videos are a waste of time. I have a lot of fun creating them, so for me, that's another creative outlet and not a waste at all. Plus it's one more way to condense my story line into a few short, snappy sentences - a great practice for writers.

Finding the right music always enhances the project, and I'm very grateful to Kevin MacLeod at Incompetech for offering a great selection of free music.

But does anyone actually watch them? Well, it depends. Sometimes. I've had wonderful videos ignored until they find the right venue.

So I'm very grateful to Robin Covington for featuring Goddess, Awakened on her 'Must See Book Trailers' column at USA Today! The views shot up from less than 20 to more than 90 in a few hours. And I get to share the spotlight with cool authors like Robyn Peterman and Elle Rush, another plus!

In other news...

My Halloween event's taking shape nicely, mwahahaha *rubs hands* Nearly every single day of October has been filled with authors sharing spooky stories, delicious treat recipes, and giveaways! It's going to be lots of spooky fun, so be sure to visit.

And if you're an author and would like a spot, I still have two left. Email me!

Monday, September 15, 2014

So, I did this

Sometimes characters can be unruly. Tricksters, even. I think I have them nailed down, and then *poof* they slip from my grasp.

I'm actually wrestling with two stories like that. Other than revisions and polishing up Goddess, Spellbound this summer, I didn't get a lot of actual writing done. And it's frustrating as hell, let me tell you. The characters are locked up in my head and are not one bit happy about it. Yet they keep eluding me - usually a sign that I'm missing something important.

So, to keep them at bay, I've been releasing my creativity in other ways. Whenever I post photos on FB, I usually get some kind souls encouraging me to do something with them. (Bless you for your generosity, peeps)

So, I did this:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/NaturalImprints


I wanted to try something different with photos -- something tangible -- rather than just posting them online. I love experimenting with the filters in Photoshop Elements. They bring out really interesting details.

Here's an example, a photo I snapped on the Delaware River one evening. The photo's mounted on a wooden plaque stained black:


In between wrestling with characters, I'll be adding to the shop's wares. If you check it out, let me know what you think?


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

New release! The Devil and Lillian Holmes by Ciar Cullen

Congrats to Ciar Cullen on her latest release! Love this amazing cover, don't you? And the blurb's hooked me - this is going on my TBR list.

The Devil & Lillian Holmes

At the cusp of the twentieth century, an heiress-turned-vampire and her maker seek her stolen daughter and find themselves caught up in a world of darkness, danger, and mystery.

“I AM NOT A GOOD VAMPIRE.” 

She had not been a good mortal, either. Half-broken by a terrible secret, Lillian Holmes retreated into a fantasy world where the great detective Sherlock was her uncle and she could solve any mystery. Except, she had not yet found her parents. She had not yet rescued her stolen daughter. She was addicted to morphine, was still broken. And now she was bound to blood and to the caresses of the beautiful monster who sought to change for her, who had literally changed her to save her life.

But for how long had George saved her? Lillian could feel safety and sanity slipping away. Devils prowled Baltimore. Some were allies, others lustful gluttons waiting to consume every last drop of goodness. Some came from far-off lands, mercurial, unknowable, unstoppable. Others lurked closer still—in the hearts of herself and her beloved.


Connect with Ciar:

Monday, September 8, 2014

Takin' over da house tonight!

Well, technically, it's The Twin Sisters' Rocking Reviews Facebook page, but the concept's the same. :)

Awhile back, I'd requested Twin Sisters' Rocking Reviews read my contemporary, Rock Bottom. They agreed, and gave the story a lovely 4-star review. Then they invited me to do a takeover! Yay!

So I hope you'll join us. It should be lots of fun. And as always, there'll be goodies and giveaways, with a $25 Amazon gift card as the grand prize.

The fun starts at 7:00 p.m. EST. Hope to see you there!

Friday, September 5, 2014

How do they know??

The first one returned on September 1. Not a day sooner or later. Somehow, it knew the time had come. Soon, they'll be everywhere - on every wall, ceiling and window.

Yes, the stink bugs are back! Creatures of habit, but apparently very precise habits at that. How did they know the calendar page had turned to September? It seemed to come much too soon.

August was a blur for me, but probably because I was consumed by getting the older two grandboys ready for preschool and kindergarten - an unbelievable milestone.

September will be less manic than this summer, and I'm glad. I don't have a release until January (quells the panic setting in) so not even a cover reveal until later this fall. A good thing, since I need to concentrate on writing the third Goddess Connection.

The second Goddess Connection has been subbed and I'm anxiously awaiting word. My editor read it and loved it, and passed it higher up on the submission chain. Two more gates to unlock, and it's there.

I'm very excited about this one, based on the Egyptian goddess Bastet - the cat goddess. Goddess, Spellbound has a lot of very cool elements - Pyramid Text spells, false tomb doors, a cobra shifter, a mummified warrior whose title is The Excellent One, and one of the few female pharaohs - Hatshepsut, and her evil vizier. Altogether, a really fun story to write.

Egypt's always fascinated me, and I've wanted to visit the pyramids since I was young. Luckily, being a writer lets me visit exotic places virtually. I hope to be able to bring you along on the journey. :)

Did you have a good holiday? Are you back in the swing of things, or still a bit jet-lagged after the long weekend?

And if you have any good suggestions on how to get rid of stink bugs, please share!


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Sara Daniel spills the beans

Hi Sara! So glad to have you at Spilling the Beans, where we can learn a little bit about you, and your book. Grab a cappuccino and let’s chat. Unless you have another favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?
Ooh, I will always take a cappuccino. If you put a little caramel or cinnamon on it, that would be even more perfect. J

Fur or feathers, pet-wise?
Fur, since I have a cat and I’m not too fond of incessant chirping.

Any pet peeves? One thing that really burns your biscuits?
Incessant chirping, obviously! … I expect people to follow through on what they say. Don’t talk up things to me if you’re never going to follow through and actually do them.

Tell us something about yourself that’s not in your bio.
I adore long hikes in nature and sitting next to a body of water. All my stress melts away, and I feel so peaceful.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Oops! I guess I just covered that! Going for walks and sometimes bike rides is my way to rejuvenate my writing muse.

If you had to choose another profession besides writer, what would it be and why?
Well, I have a degree in accounting, so I would go back to that but probably not by choice.

Are you a night owl or early bird?
I’m really not either. Is there a bird for “oh my gosh, how can I carve out another couple hours of sleep and still get everything done?” Since my kids start school really early, I guess you could say I’ve been forced into being an early bird.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I’ll take a cloning superpower. I need one me for housework, another to spend time with family, another for promotion, and about three more of me to write and edit all the books ideas I have floating in my head.

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
I got married the day after my twenty-first birthday. I think back now on how ridiculously young we were, but I don’t have a single regret and we’re still happily married MANY years later!

Beethoven, Beatles, Foo Fighters or Keith Urban (what type(s) of music makes you rock out)?
Ooh, definitely Keith Urban. “I’m In” is one of my top 5 favorite romantic songs, and I love country music in general.

Does music influence your writing?
I don’t think music directly influences my writing, but I love country music because every song is a story. A great song can tell rich story with a full setting and powerful emotions in only a few words. It definitely makes the writer in me think about how I can incorporate that technique into fiction writing.

While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?
I think what surprised me the most starting out was typing THE END is just the beginning. Nobody sees the first draft of my books because they need a lot of work, and I need to self-edit extensively before my editor puts her hands on it. I hear about people who have a deadline at midnight and they pound out those last twenty pages, type THE END at 11:59, and send it off. Kudos to anyone who can writing like that. Alas, I cannot.

Where can readers find out more about you?
The number one way to find out about my new releases, sales and giveaways is to subscribe to my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/rx_AL

Here are some other basics:

Please tell us a bit about your latest book.


Gretchen Meyers is a full-figured woman living in a model thin world. Desperate to end her mother's constant, nagging stream of dieting and fashion “advice,” Gretchen tackles the challenge of reviving her mother’s faltering modeling agency. All she needs is to woo back Kyle Ramsey, once the hottest model in the country.

Making the preemptive choice to turn his back on his career seemed Kyle’s only option until Gretchen comes calling. He doesn’t care what she wants to offer him, the answer is no. Still, he’s intrigued by her refreshing personality and all her lovely, lush curves.

When tragedy strikes, Kyle finds comfort and healing in Gretchen’s arms. But he can’t trust her with his career-ending secret and she doesn’t believe their relationship will survive the long term. He’s perfect and she’s not even close. Can the fragile ties holding them together survive Kyle’s opportunity to become a true model hero?

Buy Links:

What inspired you to write it?
I was asked by Decadent Publishing to be part of Calendar Men, a multi-author set of twelve books, one for each month based on this premise developed by author Joanne Kenrick:

Leonidas Russo is a former US Marine-turned-fashion model. He uses his connections in the fashion world to put a call out for models to be featured in a charity calendar he's put together to honor the memory of his brother, an Army soldier who died in the Afghan war. Proceeds for the calendar in the stories will benefit The Fallen Warriors Family Fund, a charity that gives scholarships and assistance to the families left behind.

I jumped at the chance to write Mr. September’s story. I studied the guidelines, spend a few days brainstorming, and the rest is history!

Thanks for spilling the beans today, Sara!
Let me get you a broom to clean up all those spilled beans. LOL! Thanks for allowing me to visit.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a779791c10/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sara Daniel writes what she loves—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She lives her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband.