GUEST BLOG: PJ SHARON

October 12, 2012 By 14 Comments

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. PJ will be awarding an eBook copy of “Thin Ice” to one commenter at each stop and a $25 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. To see the other stops on the tour, click on the tour banner above.

5-10 musts every story/romance should have
I LOVE this topic. Thanks for having me here today.

Every story/romance should have the following:

1) Romance! I know; I’m cheating. But one of the most compelling parts of any story is the relationships the main character has with others. How our heroine deals with family, friends, co-workers, and even pets shows us so much about their personality and can make us love or hate them, root for them, or toss the book aside. For me, the most revealing traits come out when you drop a character into the middle of a potential love relationship. All of their hopes, dreams, fears, and flaws rise to the surface, forcing them to face who they are down deep. When I read a good romance, I fall in love right along with the characters, and I get to relive all those firsts that made my heart go pitter-patter.

2) Conflict! Without conflict—that thing both internally and externally that keeps your character from getting what they want—there is no story. We turn the page to see how our hero/heroine will fight through whatever road blocks they encounter on their way to reaching their goal of a happily ever after end. Conflict is king!

3) Drama! I don’t know about you, but I love watching a good drama unfold—as long as it’s in someone else’s life, LOL. Stories that evoke emotion are fraught with ups and downs that draw a reader into the story as if they are on the same roller coaster ride of angst our hero/heroine is dealing with. In order to care about her/his plight, we need to be sucked into the story and invested in seeing them come through it.

4) Action! There’s nothing that keeps me reading like a good fight scene, explosion, or life and death situation. I love it when words on a page make my heart race and have me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see how our hero/heroine will make it out of whatever danger they are in. I’ll note here that action scenes are as fun to write as they are to read.

5) Tension! You might think this is the same as conflict or action, but I’m talking about the tension that develops between characters who are conflicted emotionally about opening their heart to someone. Falling in love is a dangerous business. It’s great to watch the slow build of a relationship, with steamy scenes that escalate in intensity, heartbreaking disappointments when the relationship is thrown a curve, and the resolution that inevitably happens that allows the hero and heroine to find each other in the end. I might add that sexual tension doesn’t always have to lead to sex to be satisfying. I write YA, so there is lots of sexual tension between my characters, but I don’t have them consummate the relationship unless it’s integral to the story.

6) Villain! There has to be something or someone standing in the way of our hero/heroine’s happiness, and it can’t just be about their fear of commitment. Villains are like the spice you add to the recipe to make the flavor pop. A good villain gives our hero/heroine common ground. They have to team up to overcome some great evil, which just makes our characters that much more noble and appealing. It also adds an element of danger and a chance for our main characters to come to each other’s rescue, showing them and us how much they really mean to each other. Villains need to be formidable adversaries, though, or they are just a foil on the page.

7) Redemption! As part of our character arc, we want to see growth from the beginning to the end of a story. Our characters start with some fatal flaw that holds them back and will inevitably lead them to a dark moment when they have to face their failure and own up to mistakes. I think this is one of the most integral parts to creating believable characters. If they are perfect, it’s impossible to identify with them or care about their struggles. But once they’ve overcome that flaw, we can stand beside them with a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing that there is also hope and a chance for our own redemption.

8) Humor! I love it when an author interjects some humor into a story just at the perfect moment. It gives the reader a break from those intense moments that evoke fear, longing, sadness, or even tears. To have a fully satisfying platter of emotion, you can’t forget about dessert, which for me includes a good laugh.

9) Lesson! This is especially true in YA literature, but even in adult fiction, I expect to come out learning something valuable from the story. If my character has not gained some wisdom or knowledge, I feel a bit cheated. Growth is about learning from life and putting that experience to good use in becoming a better human being. Characters who don’t grow are uninteresting for me, and I find it harder to care about their story.

10) HEA! Every story, in my opinion, needs a happily (or at least a hopefully) ever after ending. I mean seriously—without that, what’s the point?

About the Author:

I knew I would be a writer someday when I was a little girl sitting on my grandpa’s knee and telling him stories that he would help me put on paper. By the time I entered kindergarten I could already read and write, and I couldn’t wait to look up new words every morning in the ginormous Webster’s Dictionary that sat in the book case at the bottom of our stairs. I would get on the bus and ask my friends, “Do you know what pulchritudinous means?” Between that and challenging the boys to push-up contests at the bus stop, I mostly sat alone on those bus rides to school. But that just meant I had more time to make up stories.

I went on to many other endeavors in life, including the world of figure skating, and later, earning a black belt in martial arts. Though I was a mom at seventeen, I did manage to finish school and somehow made it through college, earning a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant. After nineteen years, two sons, a divorce, and some fairly lean years, I found that it’s true what they say about life beginning at forty. It was about that time when I reunited with the love of my life and worked my way to owning my own business as a Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, and Yoga Instructor—all of my favorite things. To make my bliss complete, I moved out to the Berkshires and found my muse waiting for me there amongst the lilacs and humming birds.

I now write Extraordinary Stories of an Average Teenage Life in order to share hope with others, especially teens, that no matter how tough life gets, there is always a bright spot waiting just around the corner. My published books include the award winning YA Novels, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, ON THIN ICE, and SAVAGE CINDERELLA, available through Amazon and B&N Booksellers.

Find PJ online at

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pjsharonbooks
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/pjsharon
Amazon Author Central https://www.amazon.com/author/pjsharon
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/pjsharon64
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/pjsharon/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5238865.P_J_Sharon
Secretsof7scribes http://www.secretsof7scribes.com/
YABeyond http://www.yabeyond.com

In the year 2057, in a post-apocalyptic world where a global shift threatens the remainder of the population with extinction, sixteen-year-old genetically enhanced Lily Charmichael has more immediate problems. Her uncle is dying of cancer and her healing abilities are ineffective against the blood ties that bind them. In order to find a cure, Lily must leave the protection of her quiet town and journey into the trading city of Albany, all while avoiding the Industry, an agency that would like nothing better than to study and exploit her abilities.

Seventeen-year-old Will Callahan has been searching for his father since severe storms blasted through the Midwest, killing his mother and sister. When he learns that his father may be in the city, he catches a ride with Lily, a girl who has come to his rescue more than once. As the two embark on a dangerous journey, the attraction between them grows. But the secrets Will’s keeping could put her in far more danger than traveling to the city with him, and if he was any kind of man, he would have told her to run the minute she found him.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , ,

GUEST BLOG: DON McNAIR

August 15, 2012 By 9 Comments

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This post is part of a virtual book tour scheduled by Goddess Fish Promotions. Don will giving away reader’s choice of a copy of one of his books on http://www.donmcnair.com/ to one randomly chosen commenter. Click on the banner above to see the other stops on the tour.

Why You Shouldn’t Beat Up Your Critiquer

Will that next agent or editor buy your manuscript?

Will they even read it?

Well, probably not.

The fact is, they’ll usually reject your work after glancing at the first page. While some may hint at problems they see there, most will return your work with a well-worded form rejection letter. They don’t critique your work because of time constraints, but they also know that, in general, you’ll not like or believe what they have to say.

It’s an open secret in the writing industry. Most unpublished writers will never be published, because of their first paragraphs. Many send problem-riddled manuscripts to editor after editor, believing they are perfect. In the mean time they blithely build the same flaws into their next manuscript, not knowing they’re making those mistakes. Unless someone tells them what the problems are, their manuscripts will be rejected the rest of their lives. Telling them, of course, is what professional editors do.

Note, however, that while you may not recognize problems in your manuscript, someone does! Those editors! They quickly spot them in a manuscript’s first chapter—often on the first page—and reject the submission without further reading. They know the rest of the manuscript contains the same mistakes, just as we know an iceberg’s submerged part is made up of more of the same ice seen on top. But they simply don’t have the time or inclination to teach authors their writing skills, and certainly don’t want to get into conversations where they must defend their findings. So they send out “sorry, it’s not for us” letters and move on to the next manuscript in their bulging slush piles.

One reason editors won’t offer advice is, unfortunately, that many writers refuse to believe them when they do. It’s a problem I constantly run into as a professional fiction editor and online writing instructor. As an example, in a recent class I explained what an “opening hook” was, and asked students to develop one and send me their first few paragraphs for review. Then I made a mistake that sent a flash fire through the classroom.

I thought I’d do those students a favor and edit those paragraphs, not just comment on their hooks. I put my editing into a document and, realizing we all can learn from each other’s mistakes, suggested that students look at all the entries, not just their own.

I got a seething response from one student, and realized I’d made a tactical mistake. She told me her story really got going on the next page, and that I was wrong to tear it up the way I did. She defended her work with gusto. Hey, other people had seen the chapter, and said it was just fine! When I explained readers wouldn’t get past the first two paragraphs to see that great work, she said, “Well—some will!”

I’ve since resolved never to touch that hot stove again, and will only edit for writers who realize their work can be improved, and who give me explicit permission to do it.

I really should have learned this lesson from a prior experience. A few years ago I saw a dozen “first chapters” while serving as a romance writer contest judge, and edited the first two or three pages of each to show areas where the writers could improve their work. Remember, these writers had polished their work to within an inch if its death, so the work was as good as they could do. I got a scorching letter from one writer who flailed me heavily about the head and shoulders, pointing out that my editing would crush other writers’ egos (but not hers, she hastened to add). She accused me of editing the submissions as a way to get new clients.

I never did that again.

Another time I attended a local group’s critique session where six writers read their pages. When it came my time to offer my view on one submission I pointed out the writer’s dialog was much too long—some passages went for pages without a break—and suggested ways to cut it down and make it user-friendly. The attendees were silent for a moment, then the gentleman across from me said, “But that’s her voice!” He turned to her and said, “I wouldn’t change a thing,” to which she replied, “Oh, I won’t. I won’t!”

I saw her across the room as I left the meeting, and realized I was looking at a writer who probably would never be published.

The point of all this? When someone critiques or edits your work, thank them for their insight and move on. Just as you shouldn’t argue with a reviewer, you shouldn’t beat up your critiquer. And recognize that some of those critiquers may actually know what they’re doing.

The lesson I took home from those incidents is to keep my criticisms to myself, at least until I’m specifically asked to give them. I’ll join those editors and agents by smiling, commenting on the author’s sincerity and good ideas, and move on.

About the Author:

Don McNair, now a prolific fiction writer, spent most of his working life editing magazines (11 years), producing public relations materials for the Burson-Marsteller international PR firm (6 years), and heading his own marketing communications firm, McNair Marketing Communications (21 years). His creativity has won him three Golden Trumpets for best industrial relations programs from the Publicity Club of Chicago, a certificate of merit award for a quarterly magazine he wrote and produced, and the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil. The latter is comparable to the Emmy and Oscar in other industries.

McNair has written and placed hundreds of trade magazine articles and three published non-fiction “how-to” books (Tab Books). He’s also written six novels; two young-adult novels (Attack of the Killer Prom Dresses and The Long Hunter), three romantic suspense novels Mystery on Firefly Knob, Mystery at Magnolia Mansion, and co-authored Wait for Backup!), and a romantic comedy (BJ, Milo, and the Hairdo from Heck).

McNair now concentrates on editing novels for others, teaching two online editing classes (see McNairEdits.com), and writing his next romance novel. He is author of Editor-Proof Your Writing: 21 Steps to the Clear Prose Agents and Publishers Crave, a self-editing book to be published by Quill Drivers Books on April 1, 2013.

Brenda Maxwell’s new interior design client tells her to “paint, wallpaper, whatever” his hundred-year-old landmark mansion, “but for God’s sake, don’t go overboard.” When she figures her grandiose plans will fit handily into his edict’s “whatever” section, they’re launched into a constant head-bumping mode.

Brenda’s poor money management skills (that’s his view, but what does he know?) and lawyer David Hasbrough’s ridiculous need to control her life (that’s her well-reasoned evaluation of the situation) combine to keep the battle going. Is this couple’s romantic goose cooked? Well, she can’t be near him without sparks flying and goose bumps popping out everywhere. But that mansion has to be done right!

NOTE: Don McNair actually lived in this house, and did the very things to it that he has heroine Brenda Maxwell do.

When Erica Phillips visits choice inherited property on a Cumberland Plateau knob overlooking a beautiful valley, she finds scientist Mike Callahan camped there to study unique fireflies. She needs to sell it fast to buy a new building for her antiques business, but he freaks out when a condo builder offers her a contract. Miffed, she tells him, “If I have my way, this place will be sold within the week. And, Mr. Callahan, I will have my way!”

Their budding romance plays out before a background of a murder mystery, distrust, and heart-racing hormones. Will it blossom into a lifetime relationship?

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GUEST BLOG: CHARLOTTE STOUT

August 9, 2012 By 12 Comments

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlotte is giving away a $75 Amazon Gift Card to one randomly drawn commenter on the tour. Click the tour banner above to see the other stops on her tour–remember, the more you comment, the better your chances to win.


What is the scariest moment of your life?

When I was twenty-five years old I went home to Minnesota from Alaska, where I was working, for the Christmas holiday. While home, I purchased a new chocolate brown Toyota Corolla hatchback car with a stick shift and all-weather radial tires. I had a month off work which was perfect timing for me to drive my new car back to Alaska.

The trip went great as I traveled across North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington. When I attempted to pass through customs into Canada I was asked to park my car and meet an agent inside the border station. The Border Agent I met with wanted assurance I understood that traveling the Alcan highway, which was unpaved at the time, was treacherous, the weather could be unpredictable and traveling alone was not safe. I assured the agent I would be fine, showed him a cashier’s check to demonstrate I had funds should they become necessary, and went on my way.

At twenty-five you think of yourself as extremely capable. You believe with every fiber of your being that everything will work out as you want because really, there is no other acceptable option. That was my mind-set as I drove away from the Canadian Border.

I stayed in Prince George, BC my first night in Canada. I had no problem finding a room and felt quite safe after unloading everything from my car. On the second day I started driving reasonably early as I wanted to make Fort Nelson by evening, which was 820 kms up the road.

The further north I traveled the more snow packed the roads became. Eventually the snow-pack became ice-pack with snow drifts alongside the road that rose higher than the big eighteen wheelers.

Late the second morning it started to snow leaving just enough of a dusting to make the ice-packed roads slick as glass. As I started to make a slight left turn to stay on the Alcan Hwy I felt my little car with the strong all-weather radial tires start to slide. The car took on a life of its own, slipping and sliding sideways down the road, gaining momentum until the car was spinning like a top whirling around and around until it caught a piece of a snow bank, made one last turn and dove ass backward into the ditch.

I sat in the driver’s seat of my Toyota hatchback with all-weather radial tires and wondered what the… The car was buried up to the side windows. There was no way I would be able to open the doors. I could roll down the driver’s side window, which I did and immediately regretted my enthusiasm to feel fresh air as snow rolled in through the open space and onto my lap.

I rested my head against the steering wheel taking stock of what items I could use for survival. Then, I heard the clearly recognizable down-shifting of a big-rig. I lifted my head to look out my windshield and there stopped directly in front of my little car was a semi-truck with two occupants. I know I was smiling as I watched the two male occupants jump down from the cab and climb through thigh-high snow to get to my car. The one on my side leaned in the open window, winked and with a crooked smile said, “We have a plan.” I almost cried! Thank God they had a plan!

The truckers pulled my car out of the ditch, cleared it for continued drivability and followed me into Fort Nelson. Once in Fort Nelson the men made me follow them to the auto parts store. They helped me purchase the right size chains for my tires. They also put out a call to other truckers to keep an eye out for a chocolate colored Toyota hatchback car just in case I might need a hand further up the road. How great is mankind!

I was twenty-five, invincible and unafraid of anything or anyone. That is, until my little Toyota with the all-weather radial tires went ass backwards into a ditch along the Alcan Highway in the middle of winter. That was and still is the scariest moment of my life. To be alone in winter, unprepared, ass-backwards in a ditch 0n the Alcan Hwy is a precarious situation to be in today much less oh those many years ago.

Did the experience influence my travels from that day forward? Of course not! I was twenty-five. The incident was forgotten until you asked me to think and write about my scariest moment.

Again, thank you for hosting this stop on the tour.
Bonne Journée
Charlotte

About the Author:

Charlotte lives in Arizona with her hunky husband Warren, and her spoiled Silky Terrier, Tess. Her life has been filled with serious endeavors, including earning a Master’s degree, owning her own business, consulting and working in the corporate world as a human resources executive. Before penning her first novel, Charlotte had written several practical guides for business applications, not exactly steamy stuff. Luckily, she never lost sight of her dream to write a novel that would encompass her passion for gorgeous men, adventure and a love of life. Enjoy.

Find Charlotte online at:

Web site: www.CharlotteStout.com

Blog: http://www.charlotteastout.com/blog

Charly’s life was simple and uncomplicated, just like she wanted it. Or so she thought! One chance encounter with a devilishly handsome stranger in her local coffee shop would turn her world, and her heart, upside down. She would be thrown into a realm of privilege and romance, and more than just a little danger.

How will she handle the dark gorgeous man who has inserted himself into her domain? When danger threatens those she loves, will she have the strength of heart and spirit to do whatever it takes to save them? Share Charly’s adventures as she navigates through the quickly changing landscape that has become her life.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: ,

GUEST BLOG: p.m. terrell

July 23, 2012 By 7 Comments

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This post is part of a virtual book tour scheduled by Goddess Fish Promotions. p.m. will be giving away gift baskets from the real town of Lumberton, where Vicki’s adventure takes place–one for a randomly drawn commenter and one for the host with the most comments, excluding the host’s own or p.m.’s. (We’re sorry, but because of shipping costs this giveaway is limited to US/Canada only). Click on the banner above to see the other stops on the tour.

I am drawn to writing suspense/thrillers, which can often be dark and contain non-stop adventure. But in real life, I am very different from most heroines I write about. Here are ten things most people don’t know about me:

#10. I relax by watching light romantic movies, preferably without any type of crime involved. I particularly love Leap Year, Bandits (with Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Willis & Cate Blanchett), Love, Actually and Mama Mia.

#9. Politically, I am an independent and I research every candidate’s positions before I vote.

#8. I know every move to Proud Mary and I adore Tina Turner.

#7. I started the New Leash on Life program at a Robeson County, NC prison, paring inmates with rescue dogs who are obedience trained with only positive reinforcement.

#6. When I grow up, I want to be Fionnula Flanagan. When I am writing scenes set in Ireland or with Irish women, I study her voice. I think she is one very classy lady.

#5. I have five fish tanks and the crown jewels are freshwater angelfish that are each ten inches tall. I find it very relaxing to maintain aquariums.

#4. I rescued a Jack Russell who had been shot in the leg and had his leg reconstructed; a collie who was so malnourished she was close to death; two walker hounds who had been seized from a hunting lodge by the SPCA; a mastiff and an Australian shepherd… but not all at once. One of my fantasies is earning enough money to help fund more animal rescue efforts.

#3. My favorite author is Erin Quinn. I love the time travel elements in her Haunting series.

#2. My favorite television series are Mad Men, Justified, Grimm and True Blood. I think Joe Manganiello (Alcide on True Blood) did the best PSA on bullying I’ve ever seen.

#1. I believe in eternal soul mates.

About the Author:

p.m.terrell is the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of more than 14 books, including her latest series, Black Swamp Mysteries. Vicki’s Key, the first in the series, was a finalist in the 2012 International Book Awards. She co-founded The Book ‘Em Foundation to bring awareness to the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates and co-chairs the annual Book ‘Em North Carolina event. For more information, visit her website at www.pmterrell.com.

Following a flawed CIA mission, Vicki Boyd leaves the Agency to begin a new life in a new town assisting an elderly woman. But when she arrives, she finds Laurel Maguire has suffered a stroke and her nephew has arrived from Ireland to care for her. Vicki quickly falls in love with the charming Dylan Maguire, but all is not what it seems to be at Aunt Laurel’s house. And when the VIA arrive to recruit Vicki for one more mission, she finds her CIA past and her new future are about to collide… in murder.

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VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: HEIRS OF PROPHECY

July 5, 2012 By 7 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

I think Azazel was one of the characters in my novel Heirs of Prophecy who was a great learning experience for me. His role as the “bad guy” in Trimoria, or at least the biggest of the bad buys gave me a lot of opportunities to express some depth into his character.

As a villain, most villains are not motivated to be bad “just because”. Rarely do characters do things without thinking they are doing the right thing in their own eyes. Ultimately when Azazel was completed, and the threads of the story unwind, you would learn that Azazel’s motivations were not quite what you thought they were in the beginning. In the end, Azazel ends up being a flawed characters that allowed me as an author to let the story unfold around him and will ultimately illustrate how those mixed motivations lead to a continuing story.

Things are never what they initially seem – and as I wrote the villain, I learned just how much he served as the skeleton framework for the first book and how strongly the motivations the villain followed were absolutely necessary for a believable story to progress from beginning to end and reach into the next book in the series.

About the Author:I am an Army brat and the first person in my family to be born in the United States. This heavily influenced my youth by instilling a love of reading and a burning curiosity about the world and all of the things within it. As an adult, my love of travel allowed me to explore many unimaginable locations. As is known to all, sperm cute-n-tiny.com levitra samples quality decides male fertility. With Vigorelle, women may purchase levitra cute-n-tiny.com be able to enjoy the sexual activity. He revealed that Iverson’s alcohol and gambling problems have become severe; in fact, the player has been banned from casinos in Atlantic City cialis prices cute-n-tiny.com and New Jersey. Overdose regarding buy levitra australia needs to be averted as it could have counter-productive effects. I participated in many adventures and documented them in what will be a series of books, the first of which you have just read.

Some might put these books in the Fantasy genre, and I never had issues with this label. After all, the adventures were, without any doubt in my mind, fantastic. I simply quibble with the label of “Fiction” that some might put on these tales. These tales should be viewed as historical records, more along the lines of a documentary. I’ve learned one thing over the years. Magic is real. Keep exploring, and you too will find your magic.

Find the author online at:

Michael’s Website: http://michaelarothman.com/
Michael on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5778499.Michael_A_Rothman
Follow Michael on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MichaelARothman
Michael on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelARothman

The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land.

The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself – the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world.

The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde.

Only one thing stands in their way.

The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.

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GUEST BLOG and Giveaway: Patricia Yager Delagrange

June 4, 2012 By 15 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour. Click on the tour banner to see the rest of her stops and go comment…remember, the more you comment, the better your chances!

Five Things My Heroine Taught Me
by
Patricia Yager Delagrange

In my book, Moon Over Alcatraz, the main character is Brandy. She loses her baby at birth and falls into a deep depression. Five things I’ve learned from her are:

1. When you’re feeling so low that you cannot imagine things changing or ever getting better, believe in yourself. Know that you’re strong enough to get through anything. It’s all in your attitude.

2. Don’t blame yourself for things that happen that are out of your control. We cannot always explain why something terrible happens to us, like losing your baby. But, as you can see in the movie Forrest Gump when Jenny’s left him and Forrest is so in love with her and wants to marry her, he literally runs across the U.S. and back. During his journey he discovers that “**it happens”. There’s nothing we can do but keep going forward.

3. If someone lets you down (and in Brandy’s case, it’s her husband Weston), know there are others out there who will help you through tough times. Brandy had her closest friend and next-door neighbor, Cecilia, who always gave her good advice and had her back through the thick of it.

4. Stick to your beliefs. They will keep you on track through the worst times of your life. Brandy believes in “kharma” — what goes around, comes around. She always tried to be the best person she could be, and when she messed up, she tried to get back on track and be a better person, learning from her mistakes.

5. First, trust in yourself, then you’ll have the strength to trust in others. Brandy had to find her inner strength in order to extricate herself from a bad marriage. Her high school friend, Edward, helped her see that she could trust him, but that only happened after she started trusting herself.

About the Author:

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I attended St. Mary’s College, studied my junior year at the University of Madrid, received my B.A. in Spanish at UC Santa Barbara then went on to get my Master’s degree in Education at Oregon State University. I live with my husband and two teenage children in Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, along with our two very large chocolate labs, Annabella and her son Jack.

My horse lives in the Oakland hills in a stall with a million dollar view.

Find the author online:

http://www.patriciayagerdelagrange.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia-Yager-Delagrange/204510679568596

http://twitter.com/#!/PattiYager

Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty. But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return..

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GUEST BLOG: KH LeMoyne

March 15, 2012 By 5 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host with the most comments (excluding the author’s and the host’s). Additionally, she’ll choose two randomly drawn winners of the Dragon Rider’s Gift eBook (A Portal Tale), due for release May 1, 2012. Click on the banner above to see the other tour stops. Remember, the more you comment the better your chances of winning.

Five ‘MUST HAVES’ in Paranormal Romance

Thank you for having me on the Long and Short Reviews blog today. Creating paranormal/fantasy romance is not only what I do for my day job, but a job I enjoy. I write several different series. All have fantasy and paranormal elements to them so the following five components are something I strive for in my writing process.

First: Well-developed male and female characters. Personally, I enjoy romance characters who deliver their internal thoughts with their external actions. I want to be inside their head. I also find that the more memorable stories include internal thoughts and dialog that don’t repeat each other but work in unison, ultimately reflecting a more complex individual. I’m talking here about layers, the reasons behind why the characters behave the way they do, why they want what they want, and what unusual circumstance might force them to change their minds or to never do so. For me, this isn’t about alpha characteristics but about what makes the character a unique individual. This is the basis on which to add supernatural powers, talents, and paranormal characteristics.

Second: Just enough details, but not too much. This follows the ‘everything in its own good time’ scenario. Even if the story isn’t a mystery, details should be delivered as needed not as wanted by the reader. Tension and pacing are everything in storytelling. We all have authors who we trust enough to deliver us a great story that we’ll wait until they offer explanations, even if they make us squirm to find out sooner. Sometimes that’s more delicious.

Third: Believable world building. For me, this means we should be able to see, taste, smell, and almost feel what the characters do. Especially if the surroundings or the paranormal aspect is unique (which hopefully it is). That means we see the magic evolve, experience the shape shifting fur or wings, and have a taste for the exotic highs and tedious boredom of an immortal’s life. All contribute to a justifiable suspension of disbelief.

Fourth: Lovemaking for a reason—an expression of loving desire. Lust is entertaining, but sex is different between people who love each other versus people who are just making a fleeting connection. Even if the characters don’t realize it immediately, there should be some discernible change or highlights that a reader will pick up on. Even in paranormal romance, the romance is still the key ingredient. First and foremost the romance needs to be well paced and evolve logically to be believable. All the rest of the story spins because the two main characters have a reason, a well-matched need, to be together.

And finally: A satisfying ending. Duh. But that runs the gamut and, unless we’re writing flash fiction, a little more is sometimes better than a little less. At least in my opinion. This is tying up the loose ends of the romance and the hanging threads for the story. Hanging threads for a series, which are usually obviously classified that way, can be addressed another day—though not forgotten.

You’re probably saying “but those are requirements for any good story.” Yep, they are. So I suppose the only real difference with paranormal/fantasy is a vivid imagination for things outside the realm of reality! 🙂

Hopefully, I succeed with the above list in my stories. If you read Return of the Legacy, feel free to drop me a line at my website and let me know.

~Kate
KH LeMoyne

About the Author:

A former technology specialist, KH LeMoyne now writes romance fulltime with series in urban fantasy, high fantasy, and scifi/futuristic. She lives in Maryland with her wonderful husband and corgi. Much to her dismay, she rarely encounters supernatural beings other than on paper. Visit her website: http://www.khlemoyne.com/ or blog: http://fantasypoweredbylove.com/.

Three magical dimensions…Two mystical bloodlines…One undeniable destiny.

Born a magical empath, Logan MacKenzie has spent his life protecting his family from discovery. Evil has found them anyway. What begins as Logan’s search for answers on Earth becomes a race for survival in the magical dimension of Loci. The battle to save those he cares about will reveal his true lineage—the bloodline of the Makir, one half of a pair of sentinels chosen to guard the mystical portals between dimensions. The price of his acceptance: a love he never imagined possible and a heartbreaking choice.

Her family attacked, her home destroyed, and now stranded on Loci, Briallen of Tir Thar, descendant of a magical race, has only to summon the power within her to return to her own dimension—or so she had hoped. Unfortunately, her powers aren’t cooperating, and the sorcerer bent on her family’s destruction will stop at nothing to possess her.

Raised without knowledge of the portals, the Makir guardians, or her own destiny, Bri takes a leap of faith in an alliance with Logan. Embracing an uncertain power and accepting his goals as hers offers her the only way home. If they fail, the consequences of allowing the portals to fall to evil are unthinkable—the destruction of every magical dimension throughout space. Warning: This is a fantasy romance, containing magic, love, and courage. The omission of vampires and shapeshifters is intentional.

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GUEST BLOG: K.J. DAHLEN

March 12, 2012 By 10 Comments

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This guest blog is part of a Virtual Book Tour for Bones organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for a $10 Amazon gift certificate, plus the chance to help her with her new book–the winner will get to write a short blurb and K.J. will write the book based on it. Click on the banner for the other stops on her tour. Remember, the more you comment, the better your chances.

Bones– What’s NOT in the blurb…

This is Max’s story for the most part. He’s a broken man just trying to get by. He lost the love of his life when a killer murdered her. He found the killer, then lost his partner, Joey’s dad, because he didn’t take the shot. He didn’t take the shot because the killer had his partner hostage. He thinks he made the wrong choice but given the circumstances he never really had a choice.

Max is a good man but he’s only human. As such, he’s made mistakes in his life but he’s doing the best he can to do right by the people in his town. He found out the hard way that big city life wasn’t for him. When he came back to small town living he found his place again. At least here he could breath and not feel the pressure of the concrete and asphalt closing in on him. He is surprised at the number of women that have gone missing in the last few years.

When he tells Joey about the night her father died, she understands what happened better than he realizes. She knows he didn’t have a choice and as soon as her father was taken hostage he put his life on the line for his friend. When Joey forgives him he feels a sense of relief he hasn’t felt in a long time and it gives him a small piece of his life back. That starts a healing process Max needs.

Joey followed Max and her father into Law Enforcement because of Max and the work he does. She likes the fact that she can bring the dead back to life and get justice for them. She learned that from Max and her father.

About the Author:

Kim lives in a small town (population 495) in Wisconsin. From her deck she can see the Mississippi River on one side and the bluffs, where eagles live and nest on the other side. She lives with her husband Dave and dog Sammy. Her two children are grown and two grandchildren and for that fact she feels blessed. She loves to watch people and that has helped her with her writing. She loves to create characters and put them in a troubling situation and just sit back and let them do all the work. They surprise even her at times. They take on a life of their own and the twists and turns become a story. She found she liked mystery/thrillers the best. She likes to keep her readers guessing until the very end of the book.

Her next book coming out is in March 2012, titled Fall from Grace.

When a threat against America comes to the surface, retired Homeland Security agent Lincoln Hawks is brought back to help put down the threat. He finds the group he’s after is the same group that murdered his wife and daughter five years ago. Can Lincoln stop The Ghost Crew before they destroy America?

This book is being published by Bucks County Publishing. She is also published by Rogue Phoeniz Press, Solstice, and Avalon.

Find the author online at:

Web site: www.KJDahlen.com

She is on Facebook and Twitter as kjdahlen.

When human bones are discovered in a cave just outside of town, it’s up to Sheriff Max Reardon to find out who the bones belonged to. But someone in town doesn’t want the bones identified and they go to great lengths to try and stop Max’s investigation.

They break into Max’s house and try and destroy the evidence and when that doesn’t work they frame Max for murder. Can Max clear his name and bring the murderer or murderers to justice?

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GUEST BLOG: DAVID PEREDA

February 28, 2012 By 15 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Leave a comment or ask David a question and be entered into a drawing for a $20 Amazon GC. Click the banner above to find other stops on the tour.

Behind the Scene: What Writing is Really About
by
David Pereda

Readers often have a glamorous view of writers. They believe writers constantly travel the world to exotic places; live a life of adventure; are involved with beautiful and seductive women — or, as the case may be, men; can taste the difference beween a Medoc and a St. Emilion — and distinguish the vintage too; and that the act of writing comes effortlessly.

I know what you expect me to say right now, “No, it’s not true.” I’d be dishonest if I said that.

It’s true.

I’ve traveled to more than twenty-five countries; I’ve been married five times — and if that’s not adventuresome enough for you, consider this: I’ve ridden racing camels in the Arabian desert, competed in show jumping equestrian events, been in a street fight in Mexico, have seen a pack of wolves hunting in Alaska; and, on a given day, I can taste the difference between a Medoc and a St. Emilion and, often but not always, the vintage year.

However, there’s one thing I can’t do, no matter how hard I try: write effortlessly.

To me, writing is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It takes me a long time to settle on an idea to write about; and it takes me even longer to plot the book — yes, I’m a plotter not a pantser. But what takes me the longest is the act of writing the book itself. Everyday I give myself excuses not to write — like I need to answer my emails, do my income tax, plan my next trip. On a good day, with a lot of luck and much self-persuasion, I might produce 2-3 pages of good writing. I don’t feel too bad when I do that since my idol, Hemingway, was delighted when he wrote 400 words in a day. The problem is I don’t do that often.

So a typical writing day for me is so painful I wouldn’t wish it on anyone except on an unabashed, dyed-in-the-wool masochist. I’m not a masochist, mind you. I love life and its pleasures.

If you were sitting across from me right now, this would be your cue to ask, “Why do you do it then?”

I do it because I love to tinker with words. I do it because I delight in crafting thrillers and mainstream novels with subtle layers of understanding. I do it because I get a kick out of creating and developing unique characters. In short, I do it because the joy and feeling of accomplishment I derive from holding in my hands the completed manuscript is akin to that of a mother after giving birth to a baby.

And it’s worth all the pain.

About the Author:

David Pereda is an award-winning author who enjoys crafting political thrillers and mainstream novels. His books have won the Lighthouse Book Awards twice, the Royal Palm Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, and the Readers Favorite Awards. He has traveled extensively around the world and speaks several languages. Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching college-level courses, Pereda had a rich and successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, and Qatar, among others.

A member of MENSA, Pereda is the regional director of the Florida Writers Association and the co-founder of AWE (Asheville Writing Enthusiasts). He loves sports and has won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events.
Pereda lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina.
Please visit him at…

www.DavidPereda.com
www.twitter.com/DavidPeredaAVL
https://www.facebook.com/david.pereda

What if you found out your success was built on lies told by your father that caused great misfortune to people dear to you? What if you had the opportunity to do something about it…twenty-five years later and at the risk of your own life? Would you or wouldn’t you?

This is the dilemma award-winning Miami Architect Cid Milan suddenly faces in this 90,000-word, mainstream novel. A Cuban immigrant forced to abandon his country as a teenager during the tumultuous Mariel boatlift of 1980, Cid is a self-made man who arrived in the United States with nothing. He’s an example of what can be accomplished in America through hard work and determination. He hobnobs with the Mayor, has a sexy model for his girlfriend, and is building the most luxurious condominium on Biscayne Bay. But when his dying father, Colonel Jose Milan, a well-known political dissident, confesses to him a shocking family secret from Cuba, Cid’s life implodes.

Colonel Milan reveals that in order to ensure Cid could leave Cuba unharmed, he collaborated with Castro’s police — willfully betraying both Cid’s best friend, Joaquin, and forsaking his pregnant girlfriend Sandra. Overnight, Cid’s world is turned upside down. Trying to unravel the mystery of his own past, Cid realizes there’s only one thing he can do: return to the land he abandoned. In his quest to learn the truth, Cid rediscovers himself and his roots as he reunites with Joaquin and searches frantically throughout Cuba for Sandra and the secret she has kept from him all these years: his son. In the process, Cid learns an invaluable lesson about love, forgiveness and redemption that changes his life forever.

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GUEST BLOG: LESLIE SOULE

February 10, 2012 By 9 Comments

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This stop is part of the Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions For a full list of stops, check here. Comment at every stop (including this one!) for a chance to win a $25 BN.com gift certificate.

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Leslie D. Soule

Tina Turner sang “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” and in doing so, caused her listeners to ask the same question, applying it to their own lives. This song is one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and the reason for this may be that the song’s message is one that people can easily relate to. For example, when I broke up with a boyfriend of mine and he asked me, “Don’t you love me?” I found myself wanting to sing the song’s signature line to him – “What’s love got to do – got to do with it?” because with relationships, love is necessary, and yet love isn’t enough to keep a relationship going. You’ve also got to have trust, security, maturity, and so many other things all working together.

So for me, the song is about the deeper issues that love intermingles with, and it’s about how all-pervasive the idea of love is. That’s why in the process of writing, it seems that you can’t skirt around the issue of love and you have to deal with it one way or another with what you’re writing. That being said, love is one of those things that’s difficult for me to write about. Writing is such an expressive form of art, that it’s hard to open yourself up enough to write honestly about love.

Love is one of those ideas that becomes a base concept for other branches as well – under the general heading of “love” you’ve got self-love, which is different from a relationship-type love with a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse, which is different from the love of family members, which is different from the love of ideas, the love of a country, a planet (which I delve a bit into with my short story “Worlds Divide”), etc.

In short, love has everything to do with it, if “it” means your story. Love is what connects characters, drives them apart, drives them to act the way they do, etc. However, love isn’t the only driving force you have to delve into, and undoubtedly won’t be the only motivations that your characters must have. So in answer to the question, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” I offer the ambiguous answer: Everything, and nothing, all at once.

Thank you for having me as your guest! If you’d like to be entered in the gift card giveaway, please leave your name and e-mail in your comment post. 🙂

Leslie Soule lives in Sacramento, California. Fallenwood is her first fantasy novel. She has received her B.A. in English from Sacramento State University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in English at National University.
www.LeslieSoule.com

Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 23-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.

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