Guest Author: Lisa J Hobman

Today I'd like to welcome Lisa J Hobman...she's stopping by to celebrate her recent debut release and talk about her journey to getting published.  I'm very excited to have her here and I have her novel, Bridge Over the Atlantic, on my TBR list.

First of all I would like to thank Britni for inviting me to be a guest on her blog.  It means such a lot to get support from other wonderful authors.  It’s been very overwhelming and I am so grateful.

My journey into writing started when I was pretty young.  I used to be a singer and was always trying my hand at song lyrics.  My dad writes beautiful poetry and is quite artistic and so I think I must get my creative side from him.  I used to love writing stories at school and when I was a teenager there was a vague attempt at writing a book but goodness knows what happened to that!  It was in the days before laptops so it was all done in lined notebooks!  Gosh I have just made myself sound ancient!

My family and I are from Yorkshire in England.  It’s a beautiful county with some amazing countryside but we had a very hectic life there.  We started holidaying in Scotland quite a number of years ago now and totally fell in love with the place.  The scenery is so varied!  You can literally be driving along a winding, country road through flat, rocky outcrops and suddenly greeted with a majestic, snow-capped mountain!  It truly captured our hearts.  We spent so many holidays there from that point and decided that, one day…in the far distant future…we would relocate; perhaps when we were retired.

The more we thought about things the more we realised that waiting was just not an option.  And anyway, what was the point in waiting?  We figured things out and decided that we should just take the plunge!  It took a few years but in May 2012 we finally relocated!

The idea was that I would start a little craft business and a blog to keep family and friends abreast of what was going on in our new life.  But I got the writing bug!  An idea for a story had been bubbling somewhere in the back of my mind for a while and somehow making the move north opened some kind of floodgate in my brain!  I started to write and couldn’t stop! (In fact I still can’t!)

I wrote for around six months solid.  I turned writing into my full time job!  Once the story was finished and my husband and I had made a final research trip to make sure all the descriptions of places and scenery really held up, it was time to bite the bullet and try to get it published!  This was the scariest part.  It was all new to me and I had no clue what to expect.  Receiving rejections through for something I had put my heart and soul into was a bitter pill to swallow.  But it’s all par for the course.  And as a writer you have to hang on to the fact that rejections are going to happen.  Like it or not!  You have to keep in mind that it’s not personal.

In November I had news that knocked me off my feet!  A company in the USA called 5 Prince Publishing offered me a contract after requesting my full manuscript!  I was totally bowled over.  It was the most exciting feeling ever.  My hard work had paid off and here was a company that wanted to give me a chance.  I have learned so much through working with my wonderful editor, Bernadette.  I am still learning and will continue to do so in order to make my books the best that they can be.  It’s been an amazing process.

Bridge Over the Atlantic is a passion-filled, contemporary romance that tells the story of Mallory, a twenty something, curvy, voluptuous girl with self-esteem issues.  These issues have stopped her from meeting Mr Right and she has just about given up.  That is until one day she take a coffee break out in the bustling streets of Leeds city.  Stiletto’s and pavement cracks do not go well together and Mallory soon discovers this when she lurches right into the arms of a passing stranger…but not just any passing stranger…a gorgeous, masculine passing stranger!

I am often asked if the characters in the book are based on real people.  The answer is no.  I can honestly say that Mallory has elements of me in her.  But to be totally honest, she has elements of almost every woman out there.  I hope this makes her endearing and realistic. 

My second novel has been contracted and I am due to begin edits with my wonderful editor at 5 Prince Publishing very soon!

Bridge Over the Atlantic is available at:

www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

iTunes

You can contact Lisa J Hobman at:

www.facebook.com/LisaJHobmanAuthor

Fangirl For a Day...

I was recently able to go to a signing in Cincinnati for an amazing author and I had a blast.  If you've read The Black Dagger Brotherhood you know who I'm talking about.  JR Ward.  I started reading the series around the time the third book came out (which is my favorite) and I was hooked instantly.  She has another series and also writes under a pen name but I've only read the BDB series. So, of course when I heard she was headed my way I was excited.  Plus, I love a road trip, even if it's only a few hours away.

I was in awe of the amount of people waiting outside.  Capacity for the building was 1200 and I'd have to say it was pretty close to full.  As an author I can't even imagine that.  Any of it.  What an amazing feeling that must be.  Everything was pre-signed due to the amount of people she expected which I was a little sad about but I quickly got over it.  Plus, trying to sign 1200 books day of would be impossible so kudos to her for still signing our books.  After we were in the door and set up with our signed books and bookmarks we waited for the Q & A session to start.

If you've read the books you know the characters are constantly listening to hardcore rap and what do you know that's what was playing overhead as we waiting.  I had to smile at that and immediately want a copy of that playlist.

I don't know what I was expecting but I have to say that what happened when the Q & A started was not it.  It was a good surprise though.  JR Ward was friendly and hilarious.  She didn't stand on a stage or sit behind a table.  She was wandering around the audience and hugging people.  Telling jokes.  And let me just say if I worry about my writer's brain causing ADD I now know that I have nothing to worry about.  That definitely makes me feel better.  It was also reassuring to know that I'm not the only person that thinks the characters in my book are living breathing people.  They live in my head.  And apparently the Brotherhood lives in hers.

It was an amazing day and I can only aspire to ever have half the following that she does.  I was in awe of her.  I can admit that. So I was fangirl...don't judge me. :)

Once again thanks to everyone that has read my books, will read my books, and to everyone that has supported me along the way!!

Guest Author Lila Munro

Today I'd like to welcome a fellow Rebel, Lila Munro.  Lila is also a part of the Rebel Elite team and she's celebrating a new release with us.  I'll let Lila tell us a little about herself, her works, and her newest release...

I’m From Slower Lower…Where?

First, I’d like to thank Britni for turning her blog space over to me today. Your kindness in hosting me today is most appreciated. And thank you to her fans and readers for dropping by to spend a few minutes with me.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Lila Munro, multi-faceted romance author. I’m probably most known for my steamy BDSM and ménage pieces, but what most people probably haven’t picked up on yet is that my career didn’t begin there. It actually began with more sensual, contemporary roots.

My first two works, The Executive Officer’s Wife and Bound by Trust, were both contemporary military reads and had been out some weeks when I made the decision to pull A Slower, Lower Love—which was under contract at the time but not officially published—and revise it based on what I had learned from my editor at the time. I knew based on what I’d learned it needed some hard core work in order to be truly ready for the viewing public. I also knew that eventually the other two works would be released and come back to me and they would undergo the revisions they so desperately needed as well. The Executive Officer’s Wife received its treatment last summer and Bound by Trust will later this year.

Once I was done picking apart A Slower, Lower Love I turned it over to the capable hands of the editing staff at Rebel Ink press and prepared to find out what else I was sure I knew but really didn’t. When I received word from E they were finished with it and we needed to talk, well, let me tell you my heart stopped. But, I was pleasantly surprised to learn the thing we needed to discuss was turning A Slower, Lower Love into a series. I agreed to take on this task and thus I was forever the incidental series writer. Who knew?

A Slower, Lower Love started the rounds on the review circuit and I began writing book two, A Slower, Lower Life. About mid-way through that project, the reviews began pouring in…and they weren’t half bad, but a recurring criticism was that the romance was neither slower nor lower.

Well, of course it wasn’t…that’s not at all what slower, lower means. And although the meaning of that phrase is referenced more than once in both works, somehow it escaped notice.

My husband is from Sussex County Delaware, which is the southern most of the three counties in Delaware and is part of the peninsula comprised of the tips of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. It’s beautiful country. Lazy, rolling, green. Farmland and colonial homes grace the landscape…and when you ask someone from that part of the country where they’re from the answer is almost always, “I’m from slower lower.”

You see, slower lower is a description, it just doesn’t apply to the couples’ love affairs in the Slower, Lower series. It describes a way of life, a place, and the people who live there. Life in slower lower is marked by Sussex County Standard Time. No one rushes, everyone stops to appreciate, people breathe and notice what’s on the air…freshly turned soil, the Nanticoke River, the ocean. Pizza cooking at Grottos. People use their front porches and they say y’all.

So, don’t be shocked when you read any or all of the books in this series, the latest of which released February 17, A Slower, Lower Leap, and the romance is smoking because the reviewers were right in one thing…love on the eastern shore is definitely not slow.

When you’re the last man standing…

 Not only was Logan Delaney the last of his siblings to remain unmarried and unsettled, his entire family believed he’d never find a wife. The baby of eight, he’s been dubbed an irresponsible player and told he’ll never amount to a hill of beans. And at one time, Logan may have been okay with those descriptions, but no more. On a quest to prove his worth, he’s spent the entire summer learning the family business, staying in at night, and saving his money. And if his family would stop meddling in his affairs and trying to dictate who he should and shouldn’t be seeing, he might just show them he’s found the one, Lizzy Jenkins.

And have a bad reputation to blame…

Elizabeth Jenkins had always known Logan Delaney existed, but he’d never so much as turned one glance her way until she handed him his butt on a silver platter in three sentences or less over the phone. After that it seemed at every turn there he was and the more she resisted the heat building between them, the bigger the fire got. Until his family interfered. And why wouldn’t they? Between Logan’s legacy and her baggage, they were a disaster in the making.

Can you be trusted with a fragile heart?

But Logan doesn’t run when he finds out about Colby. In fact, he embraces Lizzy’s special needs son and defies the advice of everyone urging him to leave Lizzy alone. But after one moment of weakness, Logan finds himself knee deep in a marriage complete with the little boy whose father bailed before his birth and Lizzy’s grandfather, who needs constant care as well.  Then there's the man who just might be the demise of it all.

Excerpt:

With a mixture of emotions swirling through her, Lizzy watched the same storm overtake Logan’s features which was brewing inside her. A veritable lightning bolt passed between them as soon as he’d touched her. She knew she’d always been attracted to Logan, but the instant heat still scalding her skin from his fingers left her unsettled. It was but a mere couple of hours prior she was trying to convince herself she could do with some sort of quickie sexual gratification, although she’d admitted it could never be with Logan, and now she wanted nothing more and the door to her emotions was wide open leaving her vulnerable and believing maybe they could have both. And just as she was trying to tell herself to stop trusting the lies her deprived body was concocting, Logan decided to try to convince her he might be interested in more as well.

Where was Logan the player and who was the imposter sitting across the table from her who could probably talk her right into his bed with one sentence or less and keep her coming back heartbreak on the horizon or not?

As her pulse slowed a bit, she turned to look at Colby and reminded herself why she couldn’t be playing horizontal Twister with anyone let alone Logan. And she sure couldn’t go letting Colby think there was a reason to get too comfortable around him. He seemed to like Logan and the Delaney herd of kids and she didn’t want him getting his feelings hurt because she couldn’t control her hormonal urges. What if she made the mistake of screwing Logan’s brains out, things didn’t work out, and that made it awkward to be coming around anymore? This was the first time anyone had really taken them in and welcomed them unconditionally and she didn’t want to rob Colby of it.

Purchase Links: Amazon               ARe                        Barnes and Noble

Bio:

Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual softer read to BDSM and ménage. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, the Identity series, and the Private Collection. Currently she is working on two new series set to release summer of 2013, the At Your Service line and the Steele Image line. She’s a member in good standing of RWA. Ms. Munro loves to hear from her readers and can be found at Realmantic Moments   Facebook    Goodreads   Twitter You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com and you can find all her works at: Amazon   ARe  Nook    Bookstrand

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New Release Celebration: Donna Steele

Donna Steele has stopped by today to tell us a little about her newest release...

The War

Vietnam was my war. We didn't talk about it around the Sunday lunch table with the relatives like we always had for WWII. I grew up with those stories from my aunts and uncles, but mine was different. John Wayne didn't glorify mine and people were angry and confused about the whole thing.

We had Kent State and protests and love-ins.  Hair, Peter, Paul and Mary, and "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield. I knew people that went to Canada and more that thought about it.

We had the draft lottery and boys with lower numbers were scooped up and sent to training camp. I had no brothers, so I was slightly removed from the process, but I wasn't sure I'd be allowed to go away to school after Kent State.

I thought I'd forgotten about it, but then Rebel Ink asked for short stories involving men in uniform. And there was Welcome Home – already written in my head.  The people aren't specific. I didn't know them in real life. But I knew them and I remember how it was.

A war doesn't have to be "popular" for the men and women that answer the call to be appreciated and thanked. I think we learned our lesson on that. I hope so.

Bobby's back from Vietnam and finds the world has changed.
"I didn't care if I was fighting communists or socialists or Martians. I just wanted to live and come home." Why can't his old friends let go and understand how he feels?
Can Katie help bring him all the way home?

You can purchase Welcome Home at Amazon.

Thanks for stopping by today Donna!

Author Interview: Eden Glenn

I'm excited to welcome Eden Glenn today.  She also writes for Rebel Ink Press and is a part of the Rebel Elite team.  I've asked her a few questions and she's telling us about her new release.

1: Do you have anything in your wardrobe you can’t live without?  (shirt, shoes, hat, scarf, jewelry, anything you wear all the time)

The standing joke is the volume of my wardrobe. In my defense I need formal clothes for balls and parties. I need business dress, business semi casual, business casual. I need club clothes for nights out. I need casual clothes for just hanging around. I need barn clothes for horsing around.

My clothes broke the closet close bar out of the wall.  LOL.

I have some special rings that I wear all the time.

The only thing that is second to the volume of my clothes is the volume of my shoes. LOL. Boots: Fashion, Horse Riding, and Motorcycle. Shoes with dresses, shoes for pants, tennis shoes for hanging around and for the gym, play shoes, sandles. On and on LOL

2: Do you like doing research?  Or do you write what you know? I do extensive research. I research careers, life styles, subject matter and the eroticism. LOL. Lots and Lots of research. I love it.

3: Describe your writing style… hum. Exciting, Erotic, with a splash of snark

4: What are you working on now? I am currently working on finishing final edits for vol 3 of The Amethyst Desire Collection, Its called “Phoenix Reborn”. I’m outlining and plotting vol 4 “Shifter’s SOMETHING idk WHAT”. Titles come hard for me. I haven’t quite nailed the title yet. I’m working on edits for a story to follow Dar’kind Promises. At the moment it is called “Dragons Unbound”

5: Do you have or have you ever had a mentor? Yes, my critique group in FL named Ink Plots. Shelby Reed, Abigail Sharp, my critique partner Charlee Allden and others were in that group. Shelby, Abigail and Charlee and I spent many days writing together and discussing the business. I would say these women mentored me.

6: Do you find it hard to balance your daily routine with writing? I do find myself so immersed in writing that it is hard to accomplish other ‘important’ things.

7: What’s your biggest vice?  Something you’re obsessed with but probably shouldn’t be… Diet Coke

8: If you could step out of your element and try something new what would it be? Lol. I constantly step out of my element. I live outside my element. In Feb, 2012 I decided I wanted to learn to drive a motorcycle. I’ve been riding my Vulcan 750 since April. My first ride on it was bringing it home 3 hours from North Carolina. I have my motorcycle license. I’ve put about 5,000 miles on Ta’Lula this summer.

9: How do you view the editing process?

Editing is where the magic happens

10: If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

I would love to go to Scotland, New Zeland, Germany, Australia, The Grand Canyon, Mackinaw Island, Chincoteague Island. I could keep going.

Last but not least tell us where we can find more about you and your works…

Come visit my web. www.edenglenn.com You’ll find all the links to my various FB; Twitter; Amazon page etc.

Blurb:

(BLURB) Novellette length (16,920 words)

Darkind Fairy Maura comes to the human dimension on a search and rescue mission for one of her race. The success of the mission rests on her wits and the skilled aid of her feline tracker, Zelia. Unfortunately, Zelia is experiencing unpredictable shifts between feline and human forms.

Distracted by the sultry woman in her bed, Maura struggles to stay focused on their quest. If they’re unable to figure out how to gain control of Zelia’s shifting, all hope for success of their mission as well as any possibility of their future together will be lost.

Worse yet, an ancient evil targets Zelia and Maura in a bid for power and control of their magic.

Zelia is willing to risk becoming trapped in feline form and losing the love she’s found if it means she can save Maura from the evil hunting them. Meanwhile, Maura searches for the strength to abandon the quest for her lost ‘sister’ if doing so will save Zelia’s life and stabilize her shifting abilities.

Author Bio:

Eden Glenn lives in the mountains of Chattanooga, Tennessee with a cat and a loveable nuisance dog that should be in Japan. Eden has blue eyes, but her hair color is subject to change without notice. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) and FCRW (First Coast Romance Writers).

Prepare to leave your safe world behind.

http://www.edenglenn.com my social networking links are here on my website for FB, Twitter, Amazon and more. Check out my book trailers, blog and news.

Unruly Characters

So...I've picked on WIP to focus on and I'm hard at work.  I'm actually making progress and I have to say Cross My Heart (this may be a working title) is turning into a pretty exciting little story.

When this idea first bloomed it was a little bit supernatural but that's a whole different story.  A story for another time.

I revamped it a bit and it was really just a story about a woman learning how strong she is and showing everyone around her who she really is.  She has a little adventure along the way, of course.  I really wanted her to be a strong woman and I didn't want her to have to rely on a man, so I was trying really hard not to have a love story involved.  The next thing I know my characters are looking at each other and thinking about each other.  I guess it's just like real life, sometimes you end up having feelings for someone out of the blue, when you weren't even looking.

As you can tell my characters have control.  I try to nudge them but they just don't seem to listen.  I guess we will just have to see where they lead me.  :)

Research, research, research...

I've been working hard on my current WIP.  I had to narrow it down to just one for the time being.  Trying to work on 5 things isn't so productive for me.  I really wanted to focus on the story I used for NaNoWriMo.  I've grown it from and idea to an actual story and it's changed a lot since I started working on it.  I've been putting all of my writing time into editing what I'd written in November.  Which leads me to research...

If anyone were to check my Google search history they would probably think I was buying and selling ancient artifacts on the black market and possibly faking my own death or someone else's.  With that being said maybe I should give you a little about my current WIP.

Chloe Tanner is a spoiled rich girl that parties and lays around the pool when she'd rather be doing something useful with her life.  Her father finds and sells art and artifacts providing her with a very lush and easy life.  Leaving for a business trip and fearing looming danger for his daughter, Grant Tanner hires someone to make sure she stays safe. When her father doesn't return home Chloe embarks on a journey to Guatemala and Belize to discover what her father really did for a living and who she really is all while making a new friend.

I've learned a lot of things about Belize and Guatemala in the past few weeks.  I wish it were possible for me to take a trip there right now.  Unfortunately it's not.  But the history and the culture fascinate me.  I've also learned plenty about the Maya and the Aztecs.  I'm no history buff and want this story to be accurate and realistic so I'm suffering through the homework-like process of finding out everything I can.


  

Plans for the New Year...

I have to start this off by saying I'm not big on New Year's resolutions.  I kind of feel like it's setting myself up for failure.  I very rarely go through with them.  Most of the time I don't even make it out of January with them still intact.  I always have goals though.  Things in the back of my mind I know I want to do.

So, what are my plans for the new year?

I want to finish my current WIP (work in progress).  It was my NaNoWrMo project.  I didn't make the required 50,000 words to submit it and win, but I did come up with about 40,000 words.  Not too bad.  And it got me actually moving on a idea that was around before Tears in the Rubble.  I've been going back through and editing what I wrote during November and filling in the gaps where I jumped ahead.  I should be done with that soon and then I can really get to work on writing the end.  I'd really like have it out in the earlier part of the year.

I'd like to be better with my time management.  Now, considering all the things I do, a full time job, a part time job, writing, and working for my publisher, plus everyday things, I don't do too horribly.  But when it's all said and done I feel like I never stop.  I'm constantly on the go and pushing things to the side so I can get other things done.  Don't get me wrong I love my life, but sometimes I just want to sit down.

I want to enjoy my life and my time.  I'm surrounded by great friends and family and I want spend as much time as possible with them.  What's the point in working hard if you can't have fun too?  This goes back to time management I suppose.

I want to worry less.  I'm a worrier by nature and it seems there is always something new to worry about.  Hey, this might free up some time too.

What are you plans or resolutions for the new year?

It's the end of a chapter...

As 2012 comes to an end and we start 2013 I'm sure we're all reflecting and thinking about the things we've done and probably the things we didn't do too.  I'm sure we're thinking about the great things that happened and maybe wishing we could change a few things.

I have to say I'm pretty happy with 2012.  I'm sure there are things I could have done better, but the things I did do were things I never thought I would.  I published my first book!  And I didn't stop there.  I published a second one too!

I can't thank my editor and my publisher, Rebel Ink Press enough for the opportunity I was given.  It truly was a dream come true.  I'm going into 2013 with a positive outlook for my writing career.  I've been asked to be part of Rebel Ink Press's Rebel Elite team and I'm in the company of some great authors.  I know I will continue to grow as a writer and I intend to soak up as much knowledge as I can.  I want to share my stories with everyone and I only hope that will be my next dream come true.

For all my readers and friends, thank you for all your love and support.  Without you all I would't be where I am.  I have a great support system and could't ask for better.

So, thanks again!  And have a great New Year!!

Snow Day!

Well, for those of you that don't know, I live in Indiana.  We are currently under a blizzard warning.  Never had that happen in my thirty years.  I've endured quite a few snow days though.

I woke up this morning after all this talk of five to twelve inches of snow and forty mile per hour winds to find an inch or so on the ground.  I drag myself awake (I'm not a morning person) and head in to work.  I host at a breakfast place part time.  I make it there no problem.  I grew up where they never plow so a little snow is no big deal.

After working for half and hour I look outside and can barley see.  It's just white.  I get a text from my mom shortly after that telling me not to leave the house...she worries about me.  Too late for that though.  The snow keeps coming down and the wind is pretty crazy.  Then the boyfriend calls and says I should head home and stay there...he worries too...shhh. :)  The owner calls and checks in so some of us go home.  It's not the kind of day for people to be out and about eating breakfast.  I made it home safe and sound.  Now, I'm having a snow day and I have to say even though I say I miss these.  I'm not so sure anymore.  I'm getting a bit restless.

The good news is I've made some progress on my failed NaNoWrMo story.  I did some much needed research on Maya culture and on Belize and Guatemala.  I've been editing a bit so I can get back on track with actually writing the story.  I feel pretty good about it.

Now you say...Maya, Belize, and Guatemala?  What could this story possibly be about?  Well, I don't have a blurb because they are the bane of my writing existence and I haven't written it yet.  I can tell you it's a little Lara Croft (if she were a spoiled rich girl trying to find her missing father) and a little Indiana Jones (if he were a bad boy with tattoos and a soft spot for a certain spoiled rich girl).  I'm having a lot of fun writing this story and I feel it's a little more suspense/mystery than it is romance, but you never know what could happen. ;)

Stay tuned for more info on Cross My Heart...

Top Ten Tuesday: Groups/Artists That Inspire Me When I Write

Music is a big factor in my writing.  I have to do something to drown out the sounds of the boyfriend's video games.  I like a lot of different music and it definitely shows in my writing playlists.  Here are some of the groups or artists I listen to the most.

10. Mumford & Sons                                

9. Mos Def

8. Radiohead

7. Muse

6. The Lumineers

5. Lady Antebellum

4. Jay-Z

3. Taylor Swift

2. The Black Keys

1. Aerosmith

NaNoWrMo: The Aftermath

So, NaNoWrMo is over.  How did I do?  Well, let's just say I learned a lot.  I didn't win NaNo, meaning I didn't write 50,000 words in the month of November.  I fell short with about 41,000 words.

The month started off great and I was really excited.  I spent the first week or two ahead.  It was supposed to be so easy.  Keep writing at the pace I started off at, take a few days for the holiday, and finish early.  Well, it wasn't so simple.

While NaNo was great because it was forcing me to be productive and write every day.  An average of 1,667 words a day are needed to complete NaNo on time.  Like I said I started off with a bang and stayed ahead of that for a while.  Then things started to slow down.  There were days I just stared at the screen and days I barely choked out a couple hundred words.  I fell behind and I realized forcing myself to write when I wasn't in the mood or I lacked inspiration was not productive.  It was counter productive.  I ended up being stuck for longer than normal.

I also don't write linearly.  My stories are hardly ever developed when I start writing.  My characters generally have control over what they do.  I jump around writing scenes I see and then go back and link it all together.  That's how it usually happens anyway.  Every now and then a story flows from beginning to end.  Well, this one didn't.  And I stressed over skipping and coming back to finish up because of the deadline.

Let's talk about grammar and spelling mistakes.  The idea behind NaNo is to write and just write.  You don't edit, you don't worry about plot lines and character development, you just write.  Well, that doesn't work for me.  I can't stand knowing my fingers were flying too fast over the keyboard and I mispelled a word.  I HAVE to go back an fix it.  It's really a problem.  It definitely hindered my NaNo progress.

So, I have to say NaNo wasn't a success but it also wasn't a complete bust.  I got to work with some characters that have been running around in my head for a few years.  And despite no winning I made some great progress.  So keep and eye out for Chloe and Drake and their adventure.

Top Ten Tuesday: Everyday Things That Bother Me

We all have things that bother us.  Whether it's things that people say or do.  Mannerisms, habits, or just little things we happen to see.  Here are a few of mine...

10. When people talk with food in their mouths.  My mom was big on table manners when I was growing up apparently they stuck.

 9. Crums on my kitchen floor.  It drives me crazy when stuff gets stuck to my feet.

 8. When you say hi or good morning to someone and they don't respond

 7. When people don't use their turn signals

 6. Blue Ink...as in ink pens.  I hate it!

 5. When people don't say please or thank you

 4. Morning...I am not a morning person.  Not at all.

 3. Movie previews that give away the whole movie

 2. Writer's Block

 1. When people confuse "sell" and "sale".  They are two very different things.

There you have it. A glimpse into my crazy mind.

Top Ten Tuesday: Things I'm Thankful For

In honor of Thanksgiving today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about the things I'm thankful for.

10. I'm thankful there is an abundance of cheesy teenage dramas for me to watch.

 9. I'm thankful for the opportunity everyday to pursue my dreams.

 8. I'm thankful that I get to do something I love everyday and call it work.

 7. I'm thankful for music.  Music is a huge inspiration for me.  I don't know what I'd do without it.

 6. I'm thankful I have a place to live.  In this world there are so many that can't say the same.

 5. I'm thankful for all of my readers.  Your support means so much to me.

 4. I'm thankful to my editor and Rebel Ink Press for publishing my work and being patient with my creative process.

 3. I'm thankful for the girls in my salon.  They make every day with them interesting.

 2. I'm thankful for the great support system I have around me.  I'd be nothing without you all.

 1. I'm thankful for my amazing friends, family, and boyfriend.

I'm thankful for everything and every person I have in my life.  I am very blessed.  These are just a few highlights of what I'm thankful for.  Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

NaNoWrMo Progress...

Well, I've been busy working on NaNoWrMo as I said I would be.  I started off great and I was ahead on word count for quite a while.  I've been having writing dates with an author friend of mine, and it's actually forced me to be more productive.

This weekend proved to be rough though.  I was busy and worn out from work throughout the week.  I have to admit I hit a snag and didn't write at all for two days.  No big deal since I was ahead.  It will be easy to catch up I told myself.

Monday rolled around and I needed to write about 4,000 words to be caught up and 6,000 to be ahead like I had been before.  I sat down and tried my hardest.  I really did.  But...it didn't happen.  I'm still behind.  I have managed to write a bit today, and I'm going to keep going.

Writing this way has been difficult for me.  I don't usually plot a lot.  I follow an outline.  My characters tend to take over so it's easier to outline and go with the flow.  I also don't usually write linearly.  I skip around quite a bit and then go back and play connect the dots.  Well, the point of NaNo being to start and keep writing as much as you can for a whole month has put me out of whack.  I can't go back and edit.  When things get slow and I want to skip ahead I tell myself not to.  I'm having fun though.

So off I go.  Back to work on my NaNo story.  Wish me luck!!

Now Available in Paperback...From the Rubble

For everyone who's been waiting, it's here!  The paperback edition of From the Rubble is now available on Amazon.

A big thanks to my publisher Rebel Ink Press!

For more information on From the Rubble click here.

Thanks again to everyone that made this possible.  I greatly appreciate all your love and support!

NaNoWrMo

I'm sure some of you are thinking "what the hell is NaNoWrMo?"

Well, for those of you who don't know, NaNoWrMo is a writing challenge that takes place in the month of November.  NaNoWrMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.  The challenge is to write 50,000 words in the month of November.  You register and track your progress and when you're done if you met the goal you submit your novel and get some goodies.

I've had a bit of writer's block lately and I've had so many stories floating around in my head that I wasn't sure what to work on.  I debated doing NaNo just to focus my attention on one story and to challenge myself to write A LOT in one month.  I made the decision to sign up but I was having trouble deciding what to work on.  I have three stories that I think about a lot, some are plotted, some I've worked on a little bit, but I just couldn't commit to work on one.  Then I realized it's the 29th.  That means I only have a few days to decide and plot.  Scary!

I finally decided and I feel much better.  Stay tuned for more on my progress with NaNoWrMo!

To find out more or sign up for yourself visit NaNoWrMo.

Top Ten Tuesday: Vampire Movies

Continuing with my celebration of October and all things spooky today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about vampire movies.  Vampires are probably my second favorite in the horror genre.  I love them in books and movies.

Now, there are all different kinds of vampires these days.  The legends and myths have morphed and changed.  I do still enjoy some things about the new vampires, but I love the old stories the most.

I would like to point out that these are in no particular order.  Narrowing them down was hard enough.

10. Shadow of the Vampire
9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
8. Interview with the Vampire
7. Blade
6. Queen of the Damned
5. 30 Days of Night
4. Dracula (1992)
3. From Dusk Till Dawn
2. The Lost Boys
1. Stake Land

Oh the Horror...

Today my friend and fellow author, Kate Roth, is stopping by to share her feelings on horror, Halloween, and October.

I’m one of the weirdos. That certain kind of person who loves to be frightened. I like horror movies, scary shows and creepy books. Around Halloween I always get the urge to watch as many horror films as I can, DVR the ghost hunting adventure shows and break out my Stephen King’s.

Not everyone can get on board with horror and I suppose I can understand why. There are a lot of things in life to actually be afraid of so why bring it upon you by getting wrapped up in stories of murder and hauntings?

Well, because it’s fun. Tension building, heart pounding, looking around to make sure you aren’t being watched—it’s all part of the fun of horror. As with all entertainment, it’s escapism. Sometimes you want to escape to Hogwarts or Middle Earth. Other times it’s the countryside where the man of your dreams waits for you. But every now and then you want to find escape in the darkened hallways of that old hotel, that mansion on a hill, the abandoned asylum. Where things go bump in the night and you challenge yourself to survive whoever—or whatever is chasing you.

I’ve often wanted to write horror but I don’t think I have it in me. I’ve tried and it never comes out right. I’ll leave it to those authors who have the horror bone and can truly tell a chilling tale. I’ll stick to the sappy stuff.

Here’s a list of a few of my spooky faves from all media.

     ·         A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – I adore Freddy! He’s wisecracking and terrifying all at once. And—spoiler—I always love a story with a kick-ass chick who can defeat the bad guy.

•          Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill – Stephen King’s son gives daddy a run for his money with this novel about a troubled rock star that inadvertently purchases a ghost. It scared me in broad daylight and left me wanting to take a cross county road trip with some AC/DC playing on full blast.
•          An American Horror Story – Season one of this creepy FX show completely changed the way I think of horror. Who knew you could be so scared by what can be shown on cable? So excited for season two in which a new cast, setting and storyline will be played out.
•          Celebrity Ghost Stories – Okay so call this one lame if you will but I love this show. “Celebrities” (aka D-listers and people you barely recognize from 80’s and 90’s sitcoms) share their personal accounts of hauntings while no-name actors reenact the scenario. Let’s just say it fills the void left in me by the loss of one of my childhood favorites, Unsolved Mysteries.

Thanks again to Kate Roth for stopping by today.  To find out more about Kate and her writing visit her website.

From the Rubble: The First Chapter of the Last Chapter

Just in case your curious...

Chapter One
April

Layla clutched the grayed wood in her hands so tightly her knuckles went white.  All she could do was stare at the worn wood and the initials carved in it as moments ticked slowly by.  She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before she willed her body to stand.  Seconds?  Minutes?  Still stunned and unsure, she walked mechanically to the counter and grabbed her phone.  Pursing her lips, she thought hard about her next step. Whatever she did could change things forever. For better or worse she wasn’t sure.  Excitement and curiosity ran through her and Layla tossed the phone back on the counter and rushed to her front door.  Praying she wasn’t too late she took the steps of her loft two at a time, landing on the sidewalk breathless and barefoot.  Craning her neck, she looked left then right but there was no Taylor in sight.  What was she going to say anyway?  It was probably for the best.  Tucking her blonde hair behind her ear, she headed back inside reminding herself his gift could mean nothing.  It could simply be a peace offering.  A show of his acceptance of their situation.  Layla knew it could merely be Taylor’s way of saying that he was trying to make the best of what had happened between them.

Layla wasn’t getting her hopes up.  She knew the romantic part of their relationship was over, but she couldn’t help the quickening pace of her heart when she thought about what she wanted that piece of old wood to mean.  What it could mean.  If she hadn’t screwed up and made decisions that weren’t hers to make.  The future that could’ve been played out in Layla’s mind and it was a whole relationship, a whole history that never existed because she’d hidden something from Taylor.  Something big.  Something she could never take back.  What could have been was a future she’d never know.
Layla walked down the hall, her footsteps light, and peeked into Lexi’s room before she headed to her own.  Her daughter slept peacefully, her brown curls splayed out on her pillow.  With a sad smile, Layla slipped the wooden relic between some sheets piled on the top shelf of her closet.  Out of sight, out of mind.

****

Taylor sat in his car tapping the steering wheel nervously.  The second he'd left the white box in Layla’s hands and headed down the steps of her loft apartment, he’d wanted to sprint back and take it from her.  It was a stupid gesture and he wasn’t even sure what he meant by it.  After screaming at Layla in her shop, he’d gone home and paced his small apartment.  It had felt good to get his anger out.  It seemed to clear his head a bit and with his thoughts less jumbled, he needed a way to show Layla he was sorry and that he wanted to move forward.  Forward to where he wasn’t sure, but forward none the less.  So he’d dug through his still unpacked boxes and found the only thing he knew could say what he needed to.  Sighing, he rested his head on the steering wheel.  In retrospect, maybe giving her the wooden piece had said too much.
The past few weeks had been a roller coaster for him.  His father’s death, finding out he had a daughter, and seeing the girl he’d been sure was “the one” for the first time in years.  Taylor had the feeling he wasn’t any closer to getting off the ride.  He only knew now that his anger had started to clear, it left him with a mess of other emotions to work through.  He had to learn how to be a father and fast.  Then there was the ever present sizzle he still felt whenever Layla was near.  Taylor wasn’t sure he'd ever get past what she'd done but he had the inkling his love for her was bigger than her lie. 

From the Rubble is available in ebook format at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ARe.

It's Release Day: From the Rubble

Well, it's finally here.  The release of the follow up to Tears in the Rubble, From the Rubble.  I'm up way too early searching for purchase links for you and stressing about going to work today.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  It's just what I do.

Join Taylor and Layla for the final chapter of their journey in the long awaited follow up to Tears in the Rubble.

In the wake of a terrible betrayal, Taylor and Layla bury their feelings for the other, good and bad, just to get by day to day.  Forced together because of their daughter, Taylor struggles to forgive Layla so he falls into the role of fatherhood, naturally striving to be the best father he can be.

Layla’s guilt overwhelms her as she fights herself over her feelings for Taylor.  After all, she doesn’t believe she deserves another chance.  She’s already had too many. 

Making a family out of a broken relationship won’t be easy, but with both Taylor and Layla pushing forward, will they ever find a new normal?  Will they ever confront their feelings for one another?

From the Rubble is now available in ebook format at Amazon, ARe and Barnes and Noble.

From the Rubble Playlist...

If you read Tears in the Rubble (and you should have if you're reading From the Rubble) you may have seen my playlist.  I love music.  It influences many parts of my life, so here are the songs that influenced or remind me of Taylor and Layla's journey in From the Rubble.

                                                     
1. Youth Group-Forever Young

2. The Flys-Got You (Where I Want You)

3. Jem-Amazed

4. Aerosmith-Cryin'

5. Lady Antebellum-Just A Kiss

6. Taylor Swift-Today Was a Fairytale

7. The Lumineers-Ho Hey

8. Breaking Benjamin-Breath
9. Anna Ternheim-My Heart Still Beats For You

Hope you all enjoy my little playlist!  Don't forget release day is tomorrow!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Paranormal/Supernatural Movies

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about the paranormal and supernatural.  Ghost, exorcisms, demons, maybe even the Devil himself.

These are in no particular order...

10. The Exorcist
9. The Sixth Sense
8. A Haunting in Connecticut
7. The Evil Dead
6. Drag Me to Hell
5. The Ring
4. The Omen (1976)
3. Silent Hill
2. Grave Encounters
1. Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Top Ten Tuesday: Slasher Flicks

If you know me you know how much I love Halloween and how much I love horror movies.  So I thought what better way to spend my October blogging time than talking about those things.  Now, you're probably thinking a whole month?  Oh yes!  I can go on and on and I plan too.

You may also think it's weird for someone who's written Romance to love horror but..... I do.

Now, horror is such a broad genre I thought I'd break it down a bit.  We're starting our first Top Ten Tuesday with Slasher Flicks which are my all time favorite.

10. My Bloody Valentine (2009)

9. Harper's Island
(This was not a movie but a slasher flick disguised as a mini series.)











8. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon











7. Wes Craven's New Nightmare











6.  Psycho (1960)











 5. Scream












4. Friday the 13th (1980)











3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)












2. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

1. Halloween (1978)











Bonus:  Rob Zombie's Halloween  I love this movie almost as much as the original.  Also The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994) and the remake from 2003 are pretty high on my list.

I can go on and on.  It was hard for me to narrow this down and I was surprised by how many I'd forgotten about..

Reviews, reviews, reviews...why are they important?

Tuesdays are usually reserved for a Top Ten list of some sort, but I haven't done one in a while, and I actually tried to make this topic into a top ten list.  I just couldn't do it.

With my next book coming out soon I've been thinking a lot about marketing.  I know a lot of authors don't pay attention to reviews, good or bad.  They don't want to see what people have to say.  They trust their editors and they'd rather keep doing what they do and loving it.  This is a hard business to be in and you definitely have to have thick skin.  I know that not everyone will like what I write, and I'm okay with that because for every person that doesn't there is a person that does.  That brings me to why you should leave a review if you enjoy indie authors or authors from smaller publishers...

1. Because I want you to...pretty simple, right?

2. Leaving a review on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles (or any other site for that matter) helps other readers find our books.

3. For every negative review there could be a positive review.  People are less likely to say the good things but people almost always share their negative thoughts.  Help change that...

4. I like to know what people think.  Other authors do too.

5. Good reviews can bump rankings higher on vendor's sites.

6. We can use reviews to improve.

7. It gives you a chance to express the journey you went through while reading.  You get to be the writer for once.

I almost made it to ten, but not quite.  Hey, I tried!  Leaving a review really does help us and we appreciate it.

So What if I Think the Capital of SC is Charleston...

I recently took a trip to Myrtle Beach and had a blast.  It was my first time there.  It was actually my first time in South Carolina.  Some friends got married on the beach giving us all an excuse to have some fun and take a trip.

We headed out late on Wednesday night in our rented Town & Country and I have to say that I momentarily wanted to own a minivan.  It had all kinds of awesome features including two DVD players and built in navigation.  So off we go on our twelve hour drive.  We made it safely and the drive went smoothly.  I was so excited to sink my toes in the sand and feel the ocean breeze on my face.

There's just something about the beach and the ocean that I can't describe.  Something about it that makes me feel at ease.  I don't worry when I'm there.  It may be the fact that I'm usually on vacation when I'm at the beach but I think its more than that.  There's something serene and soothing about the salty air, the waves crashing, and the sand between your toes.  Plus there's always the sunshine.  Needless to say I soaked up as many rays as I could, enjoyed some delicious drink, and spent time with some great friends.  And last but not least celebrated the marriage of two great people.

For the record the capital of South Carolina is Columbia.  What can I say I was never good at that stuff.  Plus its been a while...

Congrats again to Mr. and Mrs. Limeberry!  Wishing you all the best!

The One and Only...Nina Jordan

Hey everyone!  My friend and fellow Rebel, Kate Roth, is dropping by with one of the characters from her debut novel, The Low Notes.  Nina Jordan is going to answer a few questions for us.  Thanks Kate and Nina! 

1.      So Nina, I understand you’re in high school.  What’s that like?  What grade are you in?

I’m a senior, finally free. High school has been okay but I’m definitely ready to spread my wings a little bit.

2.      Is there anything you are looking forward to this year?  Dances?  Football games?

The senior choir concert is the only major thing I’m looking forward to. It’ll be the first time I perform at school. I guess prom is on the list but I’m still not sure about it.

3.      Do you have any cute teachers?  When I was younger all my teachers were older ladies.

Um, yeah I guess. There’s one guy…I mean teacher. He’s sort of good looking.

4.      I understand you have a passion for music.  Tell me about that.  Who are some of your favorites?

Music is my life! I love to sing and play piano. I can play a little guitar too but I’m rusty. I love everything from old standard singers like Frank Sinatra and Nina Simone to Adele and Maroon 5. I can even get down with some 1980’s rock if I’m feeling fun.

5.      Is your family supportive of your love of music?

Sure, I think. My dad travels for work so he can’t always make it to performances but he’s always been willing to pay for lessons. He bought me the most beautiful piano for my twelfth birthday.

6.      Are you dating anyone?

No. Um, well…it’s complicated. I mean, no. No I’m not.

7.      What are your college plans?  Are you sticking around Wexley Falls?

The Big Apple is calling my name. I’m outta here…leaving it all behind.

8.      What’s the one thing in your wardrobe you can’t live without?

I have a pretty awesome dress collection that I’d be sad to lose. Most are fancy and impractical but I can’t resist a great dress.

9.      What do you think of all of these reality shows?  I know most girls your age are obsessed.

Not really my thing. I haven’t had a lot of time to watch TV lately. I guess I’m a little distracted…with school and all.

10.  Okay, last one.  We’ll make it a fun one.  What’s your go to snack?  The one thing that makes you feel better or just always sounds good.

It’s not so much a snack but I love breakfast foods. Pancakes are my favorite. So yummy!

Thanks again for stopping by!

To find out more about Kate Roth or to find out where to buy The Low Notes go to Kate's website.

A Cover is Revealed...

Today was a very happy day for me.  I'm excited to finally be able to share the cover for From the Rubble with you!  A big thanks goes out to Rebel Ink Press and their graphic artist Carl Franklin.  My two gorgeous covers wouldn't have come to life without them.

From the Rubble is a follow up to Tears in the Rubble and will be released from Rebel Ink Press on Oct 17th 2012.  For more information visit the coming soon tab above.

Hitting Send...

I finally decided it was time...

I let you all know the other day that I had finished writing From the Rubble.  Well, finishing it definitely doesn't make it a finished product or even a submittable product.  My writing process is all over the place.  When I'm done it's kind of like playing connect the dots, so I always have to go back through and make sure it all adds up.  Not to mention grammar, spelling, typos, any number of things...

After going through From the Rubble twice on my own I decided to hit send this morning.  It has officially been submitted to my publisher.  Now comes the fun part.  The waiting.  Waiting to see what they think, waiting to see how well I really edited myself, and waiting to see how soon it will be released.

I take pride in learning from my editor, and trying to improve.  There are so many things that I don't know, things I could improve on, or just plain get lazy about, so I owe a lot to the person who is willing to take the time to teach me those things.  A huge thanks goes out to my amazing editor.  You're the best!

So, today I'm off to a kiddie Tae Kwon Do cookout where I will be obsessively checking my email on my phone.  Yes, I know I won't get it back that fast, but I will still do it.

Big News...

Today is an exciting day!  I just finished writing the last scene for From the Rubble, the follow up to Tears in the Rubble.  I can't believe it's done.  In a few minutes, I'm going to start going through and editing a bit before I send it off to my publisher.  I couldn't be more excited!

So now I will edit and submit, and wait impatiently (shhh) for my cover and release date.  I'm so excited to share this second novel with you.

Thanks again for all the support and encouragement!  It really means the world to me.  I hope everyone enjoys the second one as much as the first.

And don't forget to tell people to hurry up and read Tears in the Rubble :)

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July!  Stay cool, hydrated, and please don't set anything on fire.

Also, I have some exciting news.  I was featured in Rebel Ink's Newsletter this month.  If you have a minute check it out.

Rebel Ink Press July Newsletter

Have a great safe day celebrating!