April 10, 2017 · 11:41 am

Author Interview with Lori Sizemore ~ New Release: Infamous

Please help me welcome Lori Sizemore with an interview and her new release…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I’m from a very small town in southern West Virginia and, after moving around the state some for college, that’s where I returned. I actually live in the home my husband helped his father build. We’ve raised our daughters here, more than anywhere else. I’ve been married for over twenty years and we have three daughters (22, 20, and 12) and one little tiny baby granddaughter. We also have two dogs (Paul and Izzy) and a cat (Farrah Pawcett).

Where did you get the idea for Infamous?

I got the idea a while back when it seemed everyone was coming out with a sex tape for the sole purpose of getting famous. I wondered what it would be like to have that happen to a person (through no consent or decision of their own) and how that person’s day-to-day life might look. For instance, it’s not as though a woman could hold down a job, say, in retail when the paparazzi are stalking her simply because her parents are famous and someone decided to cash in on that tangential fame. Justine, my heroine—who I like to consider pretty good at handling this difficult situation, grew from those questions.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written before)?

I write contemporary romance because I think life today is just as fascinating, challenging, and funny as life in any time period, if not more so. We have the world at our fingertips, but we’re still all just trying to get by the best we can and find some joy in life.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

When I do complain about the writing process, which I do occasionally (read, plenty of the time), the most difficult part is whatever part I’m in at that moment. Writing is the hardest if I’m doing a first draft. Revision is the hardest if I’m editing. Querying is always a nightmare (all that waiting) and then revisions and galleys once a book is contracted. Whatever phase I’m in makes all the others seem like they’re so much more fun.

How did you come up with the title?

I am awful at titles. I usually have to call in other writer friends to help me because I’m just trash at them. But Infamous just popped into my head one day, not long before I began the submission process, and I knew that was the perfect name. It describes the heroine and her life so far exactly.

Do you collect anything?

I collect coffee mugs. I have far too many. I’m blessed to have a fairly large kitchen and I have my most prized mugs hanging under the cabinets and even then, with about nine of those up, I’m struggling to find another way to display even more. It doesn’t hurt that I adore coffee. Actually, that’s probably the reason for my obsession.

What was your first job?

I was a typist and file clerk for a psychologist. It was fascinating work and being a small part of helping people was a big reward. It was no real surprise I found myself drawn to the field when I went to choose my major. I got my B.S. in Social and Behavioral Science and became a social worker.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

Real Housewives. I’m kind of a sucker for a few of those reality shows. Even though they’re “real,” they still follow a narrative that I find really interesting. And all that drama is fodder for writing. Everything can be turned into writing ideas, really.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Infamous?

People are resilient and for those who are willing to work hard for it, happiness and love are out there for anyone. It’s just a matter of making our way through whatever life hands us.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

This is a really hard question! No one wants a bad review, but if that’s the honest opinion someone comes away from the book with then they should share that. So, I suppose I’d rather have a bad review than no review. At least from a bad review, especially if it’s constructive, I can grow as a writer.

What is your favorite quote?

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” It’s from Dr. Seuss and it has shaped my life the last fifteen years and I think my writing as well. I believe that when someone loves us, they help us become a better us, not change who we are.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

I just got a contract for a matchmaking novella called Exactly Like You to be published by After Glows Publishing in their Kismet line. I’ve also written a series of three novellas set in 1958 Las Vegas about a sister and her two brothers. I’m hoping to find a home for those next year. Finally, I have completed the next Infamous novel titled Illegitimate. It’s in revision right now and I hope to have it off to my editor this month.

What do your friends and family think of your writing?

They have been incredibly supportive. My mom thinks my writing is a little risqué and advised my dad that he would probably do better to not read Infamous. When I told them both I wasn’t embarrassed by anything I’d written, my father shared this with me. “You write from your heart. I’m proud of you for writing what’s in your heart.”

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Family are the people who love you and family is everything.

Nice message! Thank you, Lori…I enjoyed getting to know you! Now, Lori has a question for you…

I’m going to ask the dreaded question of book-lovers everywhere—what’s your favorite book?

 

Blurb:

Justine Montgomery, daughter of a divorced beauty queen and TV magnate, is a tabloid disaster after her infamous sex tape. She’s so desperate to help save her family’s home she turns to her deal-making dad. Can she prove to him she’s cut out for a career in television or will she lose it all?

Sawyer has his own past and a successful career is his only goal. Seeing Justine fail would mean the promotion of a lifetime, but things get complicated when he develops feelings for her. Suddenly, the lines between work, life, sex, and love are blurry.

They will have to overcome the bitterness of a rejected ex, the controlling actions of her father, and the half-truths they’re telling one another to forge a lasting partnership both on the job and off the clock.

Excerpt:

She tangled her fingers through the hair that covered her face and pushed it away. Next thing he knew, she’d wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Justine? Um… what are you doing?”

“I’m hugging you. Taking emotional comfort.”

“Like a leech.”

“Haven’t you ever hugged before?”

“I’ve never hugged anyone I wasn’t going to have sex with.”

“We’re not having sex.” She squeezed him tighter and rested her head on his shoulder. “Hug me back.”

Sawyer lifted his arms and wrapped them around her, his hands cupping her shoulders, pulling her closer. He dropped his head to rest on hers, and parts of him, so deep he couldn’t name them, pulled free and demanded his attention. Her hair smelled like fruit, the kind kids eat in the summer, juice dripping down their chins. “I’m fine with the hugging, but, just saying, I’m not responsible for any physical reaction hugging may induce.”

“Okay.” The word drifted out of her on a sigh.

He wasn’t equipped for this. There hadn’t been a lot of touching growing up, at least not the kind that didn’t end in a busted lip or a cracked rib. As an adult, there’d been lots of touching. But, not like this. The tighter he held her, the closer he wanted to be.

Buy link(s):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Infamous-Lori-Sizemore-ebook/dp/B01MDMLPGC/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/infamous-lori-sizemore/1124933782?ean=2940156932610

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/infamous/id1164135877?mt=11

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lori_Sizemore_Infamous?id=nvKoDQAAQBAJ

BooksAMillion: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Infamous/Lori-Sizemore/Q22117554?id=6903021944409

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/infamous-18

BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/infamous-1

Bio:

Lori Sizemore grew up in the mountains of West Virginia and never quite managed to escape them. Lori lives at home with her husband of twenty-plus years and two of her three daughters. She also lives with two dogs, a cat, and five hermit crabs. Yes, five of them. This menagerie and her family keep her busy.

She worked in mental health as a social worker for ten years before making the choice to write full-time.

Contact links

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/lorisizemoreauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorisizemore

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/lorisizemore

Blog: http://lorisizemore.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/loriwrites

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lori_sizemore/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loriwrites/

 

 

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April 9, 2017 · 9:53 am

Working with a Voice Artist by Jessie Clever ~ Historical Romance: To Save a Viscount

I am especially pleased to introduce today’s guest. I have had the pleasure of working with Jessie Clever, proofreading and editing some of her work. Her books are fantastic! Historical is not my preferred genre, but her stories definitely kept me engaged. Her characters and premises are unique and compelling. She has a knack for bringing you into the story, the setting, and makes you want to keep turning pages.

Today, she is sharing an interesting article about working with a voice artist on an audio book. I had the experience myself, and it was quite an adventure. Please help me welcome Jessie with her take on the process….

The Voice in My Head: Working with a Voice Artist to Bring Your Story to Life 

As an author, I jumped on the audio bandwagon with unstoppable glee.  I could not wait to turn my Regency romances into audiobooks in order to reach the voracious audio listeners I knew I was missing.  My main goal in writing has always been to share my stories with those who crave them, and romance readers are an exceptional bunch.  We are always looking for more, and audio has allowed me to reach even more wonderful readers.

So when I first approached this business of audio recording, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  I used an online service called ACX that allowed me to audition voice artists for my manuscript.  Now, I’m sure like many of you, when I read something, a certain voice appears in my head.  Depending on the book.  Depending on the genre.  Or depending on my mood at the time.  The story has already taken on a voice before someone reads it aloud.  So the auditions became something for which I was not prepared.

None of the auditions sounded like what the story sounded like in my head.  They got it all wrong!  That was not how Jane sounded.  She was not a cranky old lady.  She was very much a debonair, refined lady of the ton much like Maggie Smith’s performance on Downton Abbey.  Nora was not whiny and weak.  She was demure and controlled.  Her very voice spoke to her struggles as a character.  My unstoppable glee was quite quickly, well, stopped.  I didn’t like the “sound” of this business at all.

And then I received one more audio file from a voice artist outside of London.  (That is the magic of the Internet, isn’t it?  We creatives get to collaborate with folks from around the world while sipping coffee in our bathrobes.)  I reluctantly clicked the play button on this audition, steeling myself to hold back the disappointment that I knew would be coming in waves.  But then—What was that?  That clear, concise voice.  Those softly rounded consonants.  That contrasting crisp voice of authority and surety that said nothing more than dignified.  That.  That right there was the voice!  That was Nora.  That was Jane.  That was even rascally Alec, the Earl of Stryden.  Yes!  Finally, I heard it.  The thing I didn’t even know I was looking for.

The very voice in my head.

The one that had tripped along silently as the Black family spun their tales of espionage, war, and romance.

How could it be?  How had this amazing, talented person “heard” what I heard?  How could she have interpreted these characters so precisely as I had?  It didn’t seem possible.  But as I finally came to understand, this is the mark of a truly talented voice artist.

I immediately accepted the audition of this brilliant artist, and so began a journey I will treasure as a very special part of my writing endeavor.  Rachael Beresford took on the Black family and their many misadventures, their trials and tribulations, their passions and joys.  She took these characters that until then had only existed in my head and pulled them out, fluffed them up, and made them like real, tangible things.  Now when I heard my stories performed back to me, it is as though I could reach out and give Jane a hug.  (And oh, what a wonderful thing that would be!)

Once Rachael completes the narration, I receive the files for review.  That is one of my favorite times as an author.  I covet that time.  I treasure it.  I curl up in said bathrobe, steaming cup of coffee in hand, and click play.  And Rachael reads me a story.  A story completely unlike the one I wrote.  That, too, is the magic of a talented voice artist.  The story becomes something else.  Something more.  It is no longer the black and white text you’ve carefully created on the page.  It’s suddenly alive and three-dimensional.  The characters shape the sounds that until then had only been black lines on a page.  And that’s just it.  They’re sounds.  The characters are suddenly human.

While I relish reaching the end, I’m saddened to no longer have the anticipation of discovering the story again through Rachael’s performance.  I usually listen to her narration all in one sitting, because I cannot bear to interrupt it.  Once approved by me, the files are whisked off into the ether of the web, and Audible and iTunes suddenly have a packaged audiobook ready for hungry readers.  It looks so mundane, that thumbnail of the final product.  But beneath that quiet exterior, magic awaits.  And more, as a reader, you know it’s there.  Waiting.

That is the power of a talented voice artist.  That is the magic that only a true narrator can weave.   As an author, I would advise other authors not to settle on the first audition if it doesn’t seem quite right.  Somewhere out there is the right narrator for your story.  You need only wait and listen.

To celebrate the release of the final book in the Spy Series on audio, I am giving a copy of the audiobook of the first book in the series, Son of a Duke, to a random commentor on this blog post.  Just answer this question: audiobooks – do you love them or hate them?  And if you love them, what is an audiobook that you fell in love with instantly and forever just from the sound of the artist’s voice?

 

Blurb:

When an assassin threatens England’s spy network, Lady Margaret Folton must find the killer before it’s too late. Hardened from being forced to witness the murder of her British spy parents by French revolutionists, Margaret approaches this mission like any other, with steely determination and a resolute focus on the necessary outcome at the cost of all else.

Commodore John Lynwood, newly returned from the Mediterranean, finds himself granted the title of viscount in honor of his service during the war. Plagued with a string of good luck throughout his life, the title serves as another reminder that Jack has done nothing to earn the glory and prestige that comes with his position, and he’ll be damned if he’ll enjoy such an honor.

But when Jack is accidentally granted a title meant to be used as bait to lure the assassin into the War Office’s trap, Margaret must face the tragedy of her past and decide which is more important: the assignment or love?

The books in the Spy Series:
1/2. Inevitably a Duchess (A prequel novella)
1. Son of a Duke
2. For Love of the Earl
3. A Countess Most Daring
4. To Save a Viscount

Excerpt:

London

August 1815

He had grown so accustomed to the sound of gunfire that he did not hear the shot that was meant to kill him.

This would have worried Richard Black, the Duke of Lofton, if he had had time to think on it.  But as the situation inherently required immediate action, prolonged and abstract thinking on the subject was neither prudent nor wise.  So he refrained.  Instead, he wondered whom it was that smashed into him at incredible speed, sending him tumbling backwards off the walk along the Thames and into the bitter, black water below.

He had been meeting his contact there along the water at an unholy hour, and darkness had lain all about him.  The exchange had gone as planned, and he now held the knowledge that he knew would prove key to his current assignment with the War Office.  But as the inky water of the Thames closed over his head, he wondered if he would ever get that information to the necessary people.

And then as the last of the light disappeared, he thought of Jane, his wife.  His Jane.  He did not think of her in specific instances or certain memories that lay in his mind.  He thought of her in pieces.  Her smell.  Her laugh.  The sound her hair made as she brushed it at night.  The way she always laid her hand on top of his whenever they should find themselves sitting next to one another.  Her amazing talents with chestnut roasters.

He would have laughed if such an action would not speed up the inevitable drowning that suddenly became all too real, flushing thoughts of Jane from his mind.  His arms began to push against the water as his feet began to pulse, driving him toward the surface.  Only he did not move.  Whoever it was that had slammed into him still held him about the waist, dragging him deeper into the water.  He began to struggle, the need for air and life and Jane surging through his veins in a way he had never felt before.

And then a hand brushed against his cheek, and slender fingers came to rest across his mouth.  He wanted to open his eyes, but he knew it would do no good in the black water.  But he let the feeling of his attacker’s hand brush against his skin, the shape of it press into his face, the narrowness of limb and the delicate arch of bone.

It was a woman who held him beneath the water.

And he stopped struggling.

 

Goodreads Link:

http://bit.ly/1mUg1km 

Purchase links:

Now available on audio!

Also available at these etailers –

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1tddN6P

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/YXK6dd

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zHa0gJ

Nook: http://bit.ly/1otXb34

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1pjfhe7

Google Play: http://bit.ly/10FAmFc

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1qCRsu2

About the Author:

Jessie decided to be a writer because the job of Indiana Jones was already filled.

Taking her history degree dangerously, Jessie tells the stories of courageous heroines, the men who dared to love them, and the world that tried to defeat them.

Jessie makes her home in the great state of New Hampshire where she lives with her husband and two very opinionated Basset Hounds.  For more, visit her website at jessieclever.com.

Connect with Jessie…

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1foelMH

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1IM6UPJ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/1HYaQdM

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/KZQ4TQ

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1fge8x9

Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2kKoZcH

Get a free book when you sign up for Jessie’s Newssheet http://eepurl.com/cpHMa1

 

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April 8, 2017 · 8:28 am

The American Civil War – The Way the Brits Saw It by Linda Nightingale ~ New Release: Her General in Gray

Please help me welcome fellow AHA author, Linda Nightingale, with an intersting article & a new release!

 

The American Civil War – The Way the Brits Saw It

Brit’s Eye View:  The Northern States denied the right of secession, claiming that the union was a “federal” one, in which case the attempt at separation is rebellion. The Southern States claimed that the Union was a “confederation” from which any member is entitled to separate itself. The British Government under Henry John Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) declined to judge between them.

Yet, popular sentiment was passionately divided. The violent feelings against slavery won many to the Union cause, but the political advocacy of the right of self-government won sympathy for the Confederacy from many another. Since the South fought against heavy odds, the sporting British people were drawn to the Confederacy.

Palmerston’s government was determined to maintain a strict neutrality. This, to most intents and purposes, it succeeded in doing though their cotton industry suffered direly. The blockades of the Southern ports cut off supplies of raw cotton upon which the Lancashire cotton industry was dependent. The cotton famine deprived many Lancashire operatives of their means of livelihood.

The Trent Affair increased sympathy with the South in England and very nearly involved Great Britain in the war. The Southerners dispatched two commissioners, one to England and one to France. The commissioners reached a neutral port and embarked on a British vessel, the Trent. A Union warship boarded The Trent and the commissioners were carried off. A declaration of war was only averted when President Lincoln gave way to the demands of the British Government and released the commissioners.

Yet, the Union had cause for complaint. Ships were built and fitted out in British docks and sailed from British ports with apparently harmless intent, to be employed as cruisers by the Confederates, having been cleverly concealed. The most notorious instance was the Alabama. The British Government flatly repudiated the charge that it did not display due diligence in preventing such action. When the war ended with the Union the victor, claims were brought for damages done by the cruisers.

If Britain had entered the war on the side of the South, how might history have been different!

Her General in Gray was inspired by the Ghost & Mrs. Muir, not by the Civil War.  Here is the blurb and a short excerpt.  See what you think of this Confederate General.

BLURB:

Autumn Hartley purchases Allen Hall at a steal, but the northern lass gets far more than a beautiful plantation in the South Carolina Low Country. The house comes complete with its own ghost, a handsome and charming Civil War General—for the Confederacy. The stage is set for another civil conflict.

John Sibley Allen died in battle from a wound in the back, the bullet fired by the turncoat, Beauregard Dudley. The traitor’s reincarnation is Autumn the Interloper’s first dinner guest. Sib bedevils her date and annoys her with fleeting, phantom touches, certain he can frighten her away as he did previous purchasers. As time marches on, her resident ghost becomes more appealing while her suitor, Beau, pales in comparison. Autumn finds her ability to love didn’t perish in the divorce that sent her south seeking a fresh start.

After over a century in the hereafter, Sib discovers he is falling for none other than the feisty Yankee girl, but what future could a modern woman and an old-fashioned ghost possibly hope for?

EXCERPT:

“Did you have slaves, General Allen?”

“I did, Miss Hartley. They were an extended part of my family. None left the plantation when the war began. Unfortunately, I was killed in battle, as were my other two brothers, and they were forced to accept freedom. My estranged brother inherited and basically sent them packing with no more than the clothes on their backs. Perhaps Hell is his new habitat.”

“Why are you still here?” She glanced around the room.  “I mean why didn’t you go wherever dead people go?”

He laughed.  “To torment you, I suppose.”

“You’re doing that grandly.” She flung a shooing gesture.  “Leave.  I’ve no need of a ghostly…whatever.”

“I’m not a whatever, Miss Hartley. This is my house, and you’re the intruder—along with the coward who murdered me.” He removed his coat, hanging it on the back of a chair. “With all due respect, I take offense to your tone and the fact that you served Beauregard on my mother’s fine china.  She loved those pieces.”

“I’m the intruder? You’re dead. You have no claim on this place.” She braced her hands on her hips, glaring at the arrogant spirit.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Her-General-Gray-Linda-Nightingale-ebook/dp/B06W9HFMBM/

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/

 

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April 7, 2017 · 11:34 am

Friday Fragment Contest – #Giveaway #FunGame #BookLovers – April 7, 2017

fri-fragments-and-spotalie

Happy Friday and welcome to my weekly contest –

Guess the fragment, and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, given away monthly!!!

Below you will find three different books, by three different authors, and beneath each, you will find three different short excerpts. Only one excerpt is from the listed book. Using the form at the bottom of the post, enter your guesses as to which excerpt is correct for each book. Once a month, I will draw a name from all those who attempt a guess on this game, AND on my Facebook SpotaLie game (check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/) The winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Each week, the first person to guess all 3 correctly receives an additional entry. (TIP: Click on each link and read the blurbs for a better chance at guessing correctly) – Remember, you get an entry just for guessing!

In addition to filling out the contact form, we’d also love it if you would comment, whether it is about your guesses, the books, the authors, etc. 

Have fun!

NOTE – I am discontinuing the weekly Friday Fragment contest and SpotaLie Facebook Contest after April. Beginning in May, rather than these two regular postings, I will have random games and prizes where I do more frequently and give various prizes, rather than one monthly prize. Sometimes it will be a 5 or 10 dollar gift card, sometimes other items. This way, more participants have a chance of winning. Thank you to all the authors and readers who have played along with these fun games. Check my Alicia Dean Friends and Fan Club group for info and the new games.

Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to win. There is no limit on how many times one entrant can win. You do not have to guess correctly to be entered in the monthly drawing.

*** The March Winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card is Nisha Tissoo – Congratulations, Nisha!! Thank you for playing. (Nisha was very active on the SpotaLie Facebook game, and it paid off! :)).

*** The game runs from the day it’s posted through the following Friday morning when the next post goes up, so feel free to send your guesses in and comment any time during that week. In order to stay up to date on each post, follow my blog by signing up in the column to the right. 

 

Book 1:

 

MAN DOWN by Tracy Tappan

Amazon buy: https://goo.gl/j42GZv

Website: http://tracytappan.com/

Snippet A:

Her tone was so matter-of-fact that he wanted very badly to clamp a hand down over her mouth. The wild pounding of his pulse was machine-gun fire in his veins, counting down to an inevitable explosion. Shutting her up might save her. “I was able to steal medical supplies,” she said. “But I couldn’t get any food. However I figure…” Whatever she continued to say was blotted out by a crackle of fire in his ears. A single woman…alone at night…in a city full of terrorists. How many different ways could you be dead right now? He lost it.

Snippet B:

“You just did something with your mouth.” I did? “My mouth?” What had she done? “You grimaced.” “I…” He swung up to a sitting position, his boots hitting the floor with a solid wump. “Did I hurt you?” Mayday, mayday. Hard collision with his male ego imminent. “No. It was, uh, a little uncomfortable at first, but then—hey!” He’d just slammed to his feet, his eyes on fire with a mixture of emotions. Pissed off was a prominent one, but she was reasonably sure she also saw mortified in there.

Snippet C:

“Take her in your arms,” the drug lord instructed. “Kiss her, mouth open, with your tongue.” A tic jumped in his jaw. No, thank you. He’d prefer not to do that, now he was naked ’n’ all. His knees felt constructed of broken glass as he stepped back over to her. She straightened off the table. He aimed his vision at her neck. Whatever was going on in her eyes, he didn’t want to see. He tugged her against his body and exhaled. Her hooker dress provided little barrier against the feel of her ripe figure against his bare flesh.

Book 2:

The Captain and the Cheerleader by Elaine Cantrell

Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1NDgnrg

Find Elaine Here: https://www.amazon.com/Elaine-Cantrell/e/B001K7V90M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1488077922&sr=8-1

Snippet A:

Susan finished her soft drink and tossed the can into a nearby recycling bin. “I could make Kurt ask me out if I wanted to.” “Yeah? Prove it. Get him to ask you out. I’ll bet you fifty dollars you can’t do it,” Robin taunted. “All he’s interested in is football.” Melissa Taylor, Susan’s best friend, cleared her throat. “How long would she have to get the date?” “Two weeks ought to be enough for an old pro like Susan.” Robin snickered as her gaze swept around the lounge. “Would the rest of you like to get a piece of the action?”

Snippet B:

“You missed me,” she taunted. She had no sooner finished speaking before a second bean ball flew through the air. This one caught the shoulder of her new blouse. The blonde laughed. Aimee grabbed a bean ball from the table and threw it at the blonde. She hit the woman right in the chest. “Help me!” the blonde shrieked. “She hit me in the heart. Where’s the sheriff?” From the corner of her eye, Aimee saw the priest hurrying their way. She fired one final bean ball, which hit the blonde’s forehead with a beany thud.

Snippet C:

“That’s what I get for falling in love with a pro football player,” Stacey teased, her blonde hair turned to frosted silver by the light of the full moon above them. Matt squeezed her hand that wore his engagement ring. “It’s too late to back out now. You’re mine.” “Mmm, do I like the sound of that!” The car rounded a curve, and without warning a deer bounded across the road. “Look out!” Stacey screamed. Matt braked sharply to avoid the animal. The tires slid on a patch of loose gravel in the road, and he lost control of the convertible.

Book 3:

Dan Alexander, Pitcher by Jean Joachim

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0UT7CS

Find Jean Here: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com

Snippet A:

Then, it happened. She dropped a hot dog loaded with mustard. The man in the stands stood up and started hollering. Holly bent over to clean it up. The guy in the TV booth running the camera zeroed in on her rear, and there it was, big as life on the Jumbotron! People clapped and hooted. The players laughed. Dan held his breath. She craned her neck and looked around. Although Dan couldn’t hear what the man was saying, the pitcher saw him point to the giant screen. Dan cringed as she spied her backside, huge, amusing the crowd.

Snippet B:

Depressed after losing the World Series, Matt needed sunshine, in short supply in February in New York. In the weeks before spring training, he’d agreed to head up a two-week camp for underprivileged kids. Matt wouldn’t be doing it alone, some joker, named Dusty Carmichael, from professional softball would partner with him. This jerk, Carmichael, was a pitcher. How good could he be playing men’s softball? It annoyed him to think he’d be running the show with little help from newbie who was getting paid a bundle. He shook his head. Why did he always get stuck with the losers?

Snippet C:

She rummaged through her purse until she located her wallet. No matter how many times she looked, she couldn’t scrounge up more than three dollars and fifty-six cents. She prayed it would be enough to buy breakfast. As to her next meal, well, she’d have to figure that out. She looked at the menu. One item under four dollars. She sat at the counter. “Coffee?” The waitress asked as she turned the cup. “No!” She didn’t have enough money for coffee. “I mean. Thank you, just water, please.” Kate sensed heat in her cheeks. She’d never been this broke before.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Which Snippet is from Book 1 - Man Down(required)

Which Snippet is fro Book 2 - The Captain and the Cheerleader(required)

Which Snippet is from Book 3 - Dan Alexander, Pitcher(required)

 

 

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April 5, 2017 · 9:20 am

Author Interview with Kara O’Neal / New Release: The Editor’s Kisses

Please help me welcome Kara O’Neal, an author friend and fellow Authors Helping Authors member…

 

Hi Kara…Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

Hello there! My name is Kara O’Neal, and I was born and raised in Texas. I’ve put down roots here with my wonderful husband and three children. We’ve got a sweet – and very prissy – sheltie, named Stormy. She’s a doll.

I’m a middle school teacher, working with students who have special needs. I’ve been at the same campus for nineteen years, and I love it. The people I work with are dedicated and true servants to their profession.

Where did you get the idea for The Editor’s Kisses? Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share? What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

When I was a girl, I loved – and still love – the Little House series. While I enjoyed the events surrounding the Ingalls the most, any story about the town and its citizens was fun, too. I was an avid reader from four years old. I read everything from Shel Silverstein to Rudyard Kipling. However, I never fancied myself a writer.

My sister, who is the inspiration for the fabulous heroine in my second book, was the one who first turned my thoughts in that direction. I was a senior in high school when she sparked my interest. But, I didn’t write my first scene until I was a senior in college. It took a long time for me to be published, but in that waiting period, I wrote. The Pikes Run Series was born, and I would have to say that any story I write comes from the characters. While I have two main families, I also tell stories about a town and its citizens.

The Editor’s Kisses came to life because Stephen Dawson wanted to start Pikes Run’s first newspaper and Constance Forrester wanted to get women the vote and saw his paper as a way to help the process along. Their love story evolved as they worked through that.

The most difficult thing, for me, when writing a book is making sure the character comes across to the reader. I want each one to be different, to have different faults and quirks. I want them to be their own person. And sometimes that is hard to do.

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

Oh, heavens. Probably Anne of Green Gables.

Do you collect anything?

Castles and crosses! I love them. And my husband’s aunt makes the most gorgeous crosses from stained glass. They’re amazing.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why?

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book of all time because Mr. Darcy and Lizzie Bennett are the most complex characters ever written. I was so caught up in the story that I can honestly say I was shocked beyond everything when Mr. Darcy…well…let me not spoil it in case someone hasn’t read it and wants to!

What’s your favorite childhood book?

Anne of Green Gables.

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

Colin O’Donoghue and Jennifer Morrison. They could play any characters they want from any of my books.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

A bad one.

What is your favorite quote?

From the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – “There are no perfect men in this world, only those with perfect intentions.”

Your most prized material possession?

I have a Texas flag that flew over the state capitol the day I graduated from high school. It’s a symbol of home for me.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

Four of my heroines, and one of my heroes, are based off people I know. Emma (Welcome Home) is based off my baby sister, Alice (The Sheriff’s Gift) is based off my middle sister, Angelique (The Cowboy’s Charms) is based off one of my best friends, Willa (Love’s Redemption) is based off another best friend, and last, Lonnie (Love’s Redemption) is based off my husband.

What is your favorite…

Movie – Pride and Prejudice

Music – Texas country or Red Dirt music

Place you’ve visited — England

Place you’d like to visit — Ireland

TV show from childhood – Little House and Golden Girls

TV show from adulthood – The Closer and Once Upon A Time

Food – Brisket and chips/salsa

Sports team – Texans and Astros

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Card games

 

Thank you, Kara. I enjoyed getting to know more about you. Please tell us about your book.

Blurb:

Constance Forrester has no intention of getting married. She is a suffragette and determined to change society. When Stephen Dawson, her school chum, starts a newspaper in their sleepy little town, Constance discovers an opportunity. With confidence and an unflinching will, she asks Stephen to take a risk and employ her as a journalist.

Stephen is stunned by Constance’s impossible proposal and immediately turns her down. But the small moments he’s spent with Constance have peeked someone’s curiosity, and Stephen finds himself sought after by the town princess, Madeline Talbut. Stephen has loved Madeline for years, and when the young lady finally shows an interest in him, he concocts a plan: enter into a fake courtship with Constance in order to make Madeline love him, and in return, Constance can be a journalist for his newspaper. Anonymously, of course.

It’s a chance Constance can’t pass up. So what if she has to attend parties and withstand Stephen’s heart-melting kisses? A suffragette must forge through barriers, break down walls and risk all for the sake of freedom. But Stephen changes the game, and Constance finds herself the object of the editor’s desire…

Excerpt:

“Constance,” he uttered. “I’m gonna kiss you.”

She flinched again.

“I won’t hurt you, I swear it. But if I don’t kiss you…they’ll all question us and our…attachment.” He was an ass. He was using their agreement to coax her into acquiescence, and while he knew it, and was ashamed of it, he continued. “It will only be for a second. I’ll just brush my lips with yours.”

In the darkness, he felt her slight nod against his chin. His heart pounded at her quiet surrender.

When she pulled back as far as the space would allow, and lifted her head to his, heat slashed through him. He’d never needed a kiss as much as he needed hers.

Madeline had kissed him. Once. Behind the schoolhouse when they were sixteen. And that moment hadn’t caused near the anticipation this one was.

He lowered his head and swallowed her gasp. It wasn’t a brush even though he only set his lips on hers. It was a fire. A shot of whiskey that whipped through him and pooled in his gut. He deepened the connection, and she let him, sighing and sinking into him despite already being as close to him as he could get her.

But there was a melting. A need to move to the ground and cover her, press her down and make her his. He used his tongue, tasting her. She capitulated instantly and opened her mouth under his. He took what she allowed without hesitation as his free hand came up to grip her waist.

The damn closet was too small. His left hand was wedged between her side and the slender door. But though he couldn’t get his arms around her, he didn’t stop the kiss. It went on and on, stealing his breath, tightening his chest, and making him doubt everything he’d ever known about his heart.

Bio:

I was born and raised in Texas. It is the fire in my blood that inspires me, and I had to make it the setting of my first series. My family and friends take center stage in my books. My sisters and best friends are my heroines, and my husband created my favorite hero. Love and family are the point of my stories, and I seek to entertain, relieve stress and inspire people. Books can take one on a journey that one can relive over and over. I am extremely grateful to those authors who did that very thing for me. I learned and fell in love with their words and characters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Buy link for The Editor’s Kisses: http://amzn.to/2nDLp04

Contact links:

My website: www.karaoneal.com.

My facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KaraONeal84/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karaoneal7/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kara-ONeal/e/B00FL19TH8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1465007993&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/kara+o’neal?_requestid=845025

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraONealAuthor

 

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April 2, 2017 · 9:13 am

Liz Tyner Author Interview & New Release: The Wallflower Duchess

Please help me welcome a dear author friend from my Oklahoma Romance Writers group and a mega talented writer, Liz Tyner…

 

So glad to have you here, Liz. Where did you get the idea for The Wallflower Duchess?

I’d written about the duke in The Notorious Countess and made him irritatingly perfect. I wanted to write a story about a man who felt pressured to be correct. People agreed with him because of who he was, and not necessarily because he was right all the time, so he knew no one would tell him when he was wrong.

What is the most difficult thing with writing this particular book?

I wanted both characters to be introverted and controlled. I based the hero’s personality on Tommy Lee Jones, and I kept looking at the dialog and thinking, “Tommy Lee Jones wouldn’t say that.” That was a learning experience for me in characterization. About halfway through the book I decided to just let the characters talk to each other. Tommy Lee Jones had to get another role.

Are there any tricks or habits you use when creating a story?

I have tried almost every writing inspirational trick I’ve ever heard of. A timer. Listening to motivational tapes. Writing at the library. Mostly, a word count calendar keeps me on track.

What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?

Telling the plot of one of my novels. The only way to experience a book is to read it.

What do you want your readers to come away with after they read The Wallflower Duchess?

Besides the romance, I hope the readers like the sisters’ relationship and the handkerchiefs. The scenes with the windows and the characters using handkerchiefs as signals were my favorites to write.

You mentioned the scenes you enjoyed writing. Is that why you write?

Writing is a part of me. I can give you all sorts of reasons of things that happened in my past that led me to want to write. But what I really believe is that it’s a part of my being much like the color of my eyes or hair. It just is.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books?

A diversion from life. A moment in another world. Perhaps a bit of whimsy or humor added in their day.

And, one final question. If you were to wake up and find yourself in heaven, what is the first thing you’d like read in the newcomers orientation manual?

We don’t have allergies here. Or alarm clocks. But we have maid service and a thermostat dial that lets you control the seasons.

Great interview…I know what you mean about writing being a part of you. So true! Please tell us about your book. 

 

Excerpt:

Edge had botched the first proposal terribly. But he wasn’t going to botch the first kiss.

He moved Lily slightly, turning her so he could savor every second and give her a feeling she would cherish.

‘This is how it starts,’ she said, whispering, shaking her head, turning away. ‘It’s not safe.’

‘One kiss,’ he said, knowing it was likely the biggest lie of his life.

‘No.’

But she didn’t push away. She didn’t move to her feet—she just sat, and leaned closer against him.

‘Half a dozen, then.’ He didn’t smile, again letting her hair brush his face. ‘Twenty. And that’s my final offer.’

 

Buy links:

http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=69871

https://www.amazon.com/Wallflower-Duchess-Harlequin-Historical-ebook/dp/B01LZFO0QB/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490462970&sr=8-2&keywords=liz+tyner

Bio:

Liz Tyner first became published when she sent four lines of her high school assignment to a national magazine to use as a filler. Her articles and photos have appeared in numerous trade and regional publications, but her heart lies in writing romance. The Wallflower Duchess is her sixth book to be published by Harlequin, a division of Harper Collins. Coincidentally Harper Collins began as a small shop in 1817—the same time frame as her novels are set.

 

Find out more about Liz at:

Blog: http://www.liztyner.com/

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/liztyner2

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/LizTyner1

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/liztyner1/

 

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March 31, 2017 · 8:45 am

Friday Fragment Contest – #Giveaway #FunGame #BookLovers – March 31, 2017

fri-fragments-and-spotalie

Happy Friday and welcome to my weekly contest –

Guess the fragment, and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, given away monthly!!!

Below you will find three different books, by three different authors, and beneath each, you will find three different short excerpts. Only one excerpt is from the listed book. Using the form at the bottom of the post, enter your guesses as to which excerpt is correct for each book. Once a month, I will draw a name from all those who attempt a guess on this game, AND on my Facebook SpotaLie game (check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/) The winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Each week, the first person to guess all 3 correctly receives an additional entry. (TIP: Click on each link and read the blurbs for a better chance at guessing correctly) – Remember, you get an entry just for guessing!

In addition to filling out the contact form, we’d also love it if you would comment, whether it is about your guesses, the books, the authors, etc. 

Have fun!

Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to win. There is no limit on how many times one entrant can win. You do not have to guess correctly to be entered in the monthly drawing.

*** Since tomorrow (April 1)  is the day I draw a winner, all guesses made after today (March 31) will go toward the April drawing.

*** The game runs from the day it’s posted through the following Friday morning when the next post goes up, so feel free to send your guesses in and comment any time during that week. In order to stay up to date on each post, follow my blog by signing up in the column to the right. 

Last week’s extra giveaway winners are listed below.  Congrats, ladies!

From Gemma Juliana – Free copy of The Amulet – Winner: Elf

From Cailin Briste – Free copy of Shane: Marshal of Tallav Book #1 in the Sons of Tallav series. – Winner Mary Anne

From Suzanne Stengl  – Free copy of ANGEL WINGS – Winner Melissa O’Leary

Book 1:

Overload Flux by Carol Van Natta

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OHNCCYI

Find Carol here: http://author.carolvannatta.com

Snippet A:

Imara badly wanted to get all the answers she could from him immediately, but she couldn’t justify torturing him any longer. He was only staying with her now out of good manners, and perhaps protectiveness. “You’ve got to get some rest, Agent Sòng. The security team will monitor the assho…uh, valued patron, so Derrit and I will be fine.” He gave her a tired but genuine smile. “I would be honored if you would call me Lièrén.” “Shì de, dāngrán, zūnjìng de xiānshēng.” Yes, of course, honored sir. She gave him an exaggerated bow. “Whatever honored sir desires.”

Snippet B:

“When they assigned you to me, did they tell you not to talk?” “No.” Her voice sounded low and rusty, as if she didn’t use it much. A ground skimmer that was weaving through the lanes came within centimeters of scraping their side panel, but she smoothly adjusted their position to narrowly avoid it. “Good,” he told her. “I’d hate to inhibit your natural garrulousness.” She glanced at him with a raised eyebrow and quirked a corner of her mouth in what may have been a smile, but said nothing. He laughed, delighted to discover she had a sense of humor. “I get the feeling you don’t do this very often.” “Drive?” “No, have a casual conversation.”

Snippet C:

For paradise, it sure as hell rained a lot. Jerzi hunched his shoulders forward and tried to keep the warm, torrential rain from drenching every square centimeter of his new corporate suit as he half ran toward the huge, rounded entrance to the lecture space in the Optimal Polytechnic Chemistry building. It was supposedly the tallest building of the four clustered on the anchored ovoid disc that made up this part of the famous floating campus, but he couldn’t see anything but gray shapes. The only available parking for his flitter had been on the east end of the floater, on top of the Materials Science building.

 

Book 2:

Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Pressed-Perfectly-Proper-Paranormal-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01FOR0Z7G/

Find Kristen here: http://kirstenweiss.com

Snippet A

Once upon a time, in the foothills of granite mountains, when the sun hadn’t yet risen in the east, there were three sisters. And one, me, had been stuck at the hospital all night. The shadow of our small town’s modern hospital loomed over the parking lot. Behind it swelled Sierra peaks, a jagged frame vanishing into dark clouds. The muggy air promised rain to come, but I shivered in my thin blouse and safari jacket. Maybe if I hadn’t been so tired, I would have paid more attention to the images written in the clouds…

Snippet B

I was going to jail. Worse, my arch nemesis would be the one to drag me from my own paranormal museum. “I do not traffic in stolen goods.” My voice cracked on the final word. You’d think my innocence would go without saying, but Detective Laurel Hammer’s loathing for me was irrational. So I was saying it. I crossed my arms, defiant. The photos of executed murderers watched, impassive, from the museum’s glossy white walls. GD, the museum’s ghost detecting cat, hopped off the haunted rocking chair in the corner. He landed, silent, on the checkerboard floor

Snippet C

It was just meat. Sickly green tiles, slick with something I didn’t want to identify. A wall of cabinets with square, metallic doors. And on the autopsy table…just meat. I adjusted my mask, adapted my breathing. My stomach flipped at the smell of ammonia and petroleum. By this point, I should have been used to the oil stink. Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, reeked of the stuff. It seeped from the ground, staining the sand, hanging heavy in the air. But surely I was imagining the odor here, in the morgue two stories below the city’s streets.

 

Book 3:

The Cafe Birds by Alicia Hope

Buy link: – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYFPJ11

Find Alicia Here: https://www.aliciahopeauthor.blogspot.com.au

Snippet A

‘… even the most utilitarian bra doesn’t address all the issues, like white meat wobble, boobie bounce, old lady sway, tray tableism, and don’t get me started on strap gouge or mono-boobs!’ ‘What the heck is tray tableism?’ Grace giggled. ‘When your bust is jammed up under your collarbone, like a built-in tray table.’ Nita frowned. ‘Designers call it “lift and separate” but it’s more like “lift and suffocate”. I’ve also had bras that were sweet to look at but completely useless, and others that simply relocated the bulk to my back – and aren’t back boobs just the LOVELIEST sight?’

Snippet B

‘Elise?’ The voice was hoarse, breathy, weak. Fanning the flowers so each blossom was clearly visible from the bed, Elise set down the vase and pulled a chair closer to the bedside. ‘Yes, Emilie. How are you feeling?’ She took the shaky hand extended toward her. It felt small and chilled. She rubbed it between both her own. Emilie focused watery eyes on the younger woman’s flawlessly made-up face, and her nose caught a hint of expensive fragrance. She blinked and swallowed. ‘Elise … I must tell you … a story … from ze past.’

Snippet C

With a sheepish smile Grayson hurried to the bathroom as suds dripped into his eyes again. Trying to remove the image of his smooth, round pectorals and the hint of a six pack above his towel, Maggie took a deep breath and lifted her chin. Taking her steaming mug onto the landing she closed the door behind her, lent back against it, and sighed. So much for keeping our distance. I not only have a dinner date with Grayson, I’m also sharing my bathroom with him! First Harry, and now the plumbing. Is the universe conspiring to throw us together?

 

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Which Snippet is from Book 1 - Overload Flux (required)

Which Snippet is fro Book 2 - Pressed to Death(required)

Which Snippet is from Book 3 - The Cafe Birds(required)

 

Correct answers from last week:

The first person to guess correctly was Elf, who wins an extra entry!!

Book 1:  Raven of Blackthorn Manor – C

Book 2: Maon: Marshal of Tallav -B

Book 3: The Thurston Heirloom – A

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March 30, 2017 · 7:58 am

Joanie MacNeil—Desperate and Dateless

Please help me welcome Joanie MacNeil, sharing about her trip to Morocco, and her new release!

 

A visit to Fes Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Morocco, November 2013 

It hadn’t rained for a very long time in that part of Morocco we were told during our coach journey over the rugged mountains towards the northern city of Fes. Promising news for our visit to the mysterious ancient medina the following day.

‘Don’t let the water anywhere near your lips,’ our guide advised as the coach approached our hotel. None of us wanted to suffer the consequences of an upset stomach or worse. We became a bit paranoid and did as we were told. Should we wash our hair? Should we clean our teeth? Some of us bought extra bottled water and stocked up on sanitized hand wash at the nearby supermarket. Better to be super cautious during our two night stay.

There was much excitement amongst the tour group as we approached the high ancient walls surrounding the medina. The anticipation of experiencing exotic aromas in the ancient bazaars teased our senses.

Of course, the much needed rain fell overnight, resulting in a muddy flow at the entrance to the fruit and vegetable section of the medina where life continues today as it was in ancient times. I cringed as I looked down at my feet to see my recently purchased sports shoes lose their fresh new look. I curled my toes in an effort to keep them dry in the brown flowing slush.

We negotiated our way through the crowded narrow streets, glimpsing the many stalls and various wares on display. Most of the time we, or I, were too busy watching where we were going, and where we put our feet. There was a fair amount of running water thanks to the rain which continued on and off during the morning.

We were warned not to stray from the group as there are over 9000 thousand winding thoroughfares in the medina. ‘If you get lost, you will never find your way out,’ our guide told us a number of times. We believed him. Why wouldn’t we? We believed him about the water too. He was the one who got sick.

As well as the tour company guide, we were accompanied by a Moroccan guide dressed in a traditional woolen djellaba: the long-sleeved garment with the peaked hood worn in the original Star Wars movie. His was a light color and, he told us, kept him warm, dry and comfortable. We were also accompanied by local guides plus two or three other minders placed in strategic positions around the group. Monitoring the progress of our raggle-taggle troupe amongst the crush of people couldn’t have been easy. They were familiar and skilled in the task of keeping watch so that we didn’t stray and remained safe.

The alleyways were hot, humid, cool, depending whether they were covered or not. and whether there was any airflow. In the narrow spaces we had to quickly step aside to make way for the occasional heavily laden working donkey, carrying out its everyday duties.

Highlights of the medina:

  • We glimpsed the oldest mosque in the world, tucked away in the medina, and were able to take a photo of the interior from the door.
  • A visit to the leather factory. Earlier, we had been warned that the smell was pretty awful and were given a sprig of mint to hold against our noses. Fortunately, the weather conditions meant the smell wasn’t as bad as it could have been. While washing and dyeing the leather in the vats of brightly colored dyes the workers endure awful conditions. An insufferable task on extremely hot days. A whiff of fresh mint did help cope with some of the more unsavory aromas that wafted around us in the maze of alleyways.
  • From the tannery we moved on to the carpet shop. The warm sweet mint tea was very welcome as was the opportunity to sit down on a comfortable bench in pleasant, dry conditions. The men began their sales pitches for each of the intricately designed patterns of richly colored carpets as, with a flourish, they unrolled them onto the floor.

Though the rain did spoil the morning in some ways, it added to our experience giving us a memorable and fascinating glimpse into the past. Exhausted, we climbed aboard our coach back to the hotel, for a lazy, leisurely afternoon.

Vats of dye, Fes Medina, Morocco – Photo ©Joanie MacNeil

 

 

What a fascinating post…and an amazing trip! Thanks for sharing. And now, please tell us about your new release…

Blurb

Neither Zoe O’Malley nor Liam Reynolds consider themselves desperate or dateless, but fate intervenes when each independently receives a ticket to the Desperate and Dateless Ball and their lives become irretrievably entangled. Can they live by their golden rule—never mix business with pleasure?

Excerpt

Liam looked up in time to see Zoe hurry down the stairs towards him.

“You forgot your jacket.” Zoe smiled as she skipped down the stairs and walked towards him.

“So I did, thanks.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to have it dry-cleaned?”

“No need. It’s fine.” Liam allowed his gaze to roam over her. While he usually liked his women tall and leggy, there was something appealing about the petite, softly curved female standing before him. He reached for his jacket.

When Zoe seemed reluctant to relinquish her grasp, Liam gave the fabric a gentle tug and she let go. His gaze locked with hers. He was mesmerized, completely absorbed by the vision of Zoe’s moist parted lips and the golden highlights in her hair. She sparkled in the summer sun. And then there were her eyes. They were the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen. Blue…a tropical lagoon on a warm summer’s day. It seemed to Liam as if he and Zoe were caught in time.

In the lazy heat, a fly buzzed between them. Liam’s gaze followed the movement of Zoe’s hand as she swished the fly away. Her fingertip brushed a leg of the fine silver spider earring, causing it to swing gently. The red stone that formed the spider’s back shimmered in the sunshine.

Unable to drag his eyes away from her, Liam watched, spellbound, as Zoe licked her pretty Cupid’s bow mouth. He wondered about the taste of that mouth.

“I’ll ring you when the work is done.” Zoe’s husky voice penetrated his wild thoughts.

“I’ll look forward to your call.” Liam swallowed. He hadn’t meant that to sound like a come-on and he hoped Zoe didn’t take it the wrong way. The expression on her face told him nothing.

He smiled. Her eyes lit up when she returned his smile and she sparkled even more. Why did this woman with the spider swinging from her ear have this weird effect on him? She wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever met. Not like the cool sophisticated career women he usually rubbed shoulders with…or dated.

Liam turned away from her and made his way back to the car. As he climbed inside, he stole a glance in Zoe’s direction, but she’d already gone back into the house.

It had been ages since a female presence had stirred him the way she did. He shook his head. There was little time in his life to even think about dating a petite blue-eyed brunette who smelled as sweet as a blend of jasmine and freesias. He had a business to manage. Besides, he was her client, and he never mixed business and pleasure. A sure recipe for disaster. He’d seen better men than himself come to grief through such folly.

And then, of course, there was Daniel to consider.

Buy Links

www.bookswelove.net/authors/macneil-joanie/

www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JQRDGTK

 

Bio

Australian romance author, Joanie MacNeil, writes short contemporary romances: a blend of sweet, sexy, heart-warming stories about new love and second chances.  One of her favourite pastimes is travelling with her own romantic hero.

Contacts

www.joaniemacneil.com/

www.facebook.com/romanceauthorjoaniemacneil

 

 

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March 25, 2017 · 8:27 am

Author Interview with Lisa DeVore ~ New Release: Sebastian’s Castle

I am very pleased to introduce today’s guest. Lisa DeVore is one of my Wild Rose Press authors. I had the pleasure of working with her on her debut novel, and on a handful of stories since. She’s a sweetheart of a person and a wonderful author. I love her and her stories. 🙂 Her latest is an excellent ghost story/romance. She’s here to tell us all about it, after her interview:

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

My name is Lisa DeVore. I was born and raised in Alliance, Ohio (about 20 miles NE of Canton, Ohio…home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame). I have been married to my best friend for nearly twenty-three years. Our oldest son, Lewie, is twenty-one, and works with his dad doing custom restoration on old hot rods and motorcycles. Our son, Cole, is eighteen and will be graduating in June, and off to college to study computer technology. And our “baby” girl, Jessica, will turn sixteen on my 50th birthday March 27th. She’s all about driving right now. We have three four-legged kids, Smitty & Wess, who are toy fox terriers (and brothers from the same litter) and my mini-pin, Chester.

Where did you get the idea for “Sebastian’s Castle”?

My hometown, Alliance, has its very own castle…Glamorgan Castle. The mansion was built from 1904-1909 and is now home to the Alliance City Schools’ administration. As a student and resident of Alliance, I’ve grown up around the castle, and have shared its beauty and history with my kids. It inspired the castle in my book, from the layout to the breathtaking chandelier. However, I don’t believe Glamorgan Castle has any secret passages. Who knows though? The ghost came naturally…what castle doesn’t have a ghost? Sebastian’s last name was, also, borrowed from William Henry Morgan, owner of the Alliance castle.
For more information on Glamorgan Castle- http://www.alliancecityschools.org/glamorgan-castle-history

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

This is my first “ghost” story, but the suspense genre is not new to me. I have to say, it was fun to write!

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

I have toured and visited Glamorgan Castle many, many times since I was a child, and know its history as well as my own, but prior to writing “Sebastian’s Castle” I took two tours. I wanted to feel the rooms, and the history. I wanted to see it as my characters, Brynn and Jax might see it, and imagine them there. Having that template for Brynn’s Mystic, CT castle made it come alive for me, and, I hope, my readers.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? 

The most difficult thing about writing a book, for me, is time. I haven’t, as yet, experienced writer’s block. My writing takes me on dips and curves that I don’t even see coming. I have really given up on outlines, because my stories always take turns along the way, and I never keep to one. And, I may start off with a hero and he ends up the villain. I just never know!

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?

Music. It inspires me. For each book, I have a theme song I listen to.

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

“Gone With the Wind.”

(Me too!!) Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

My day job is accounting for an electrical distributor. I work part time, and I do like it. My degree is in accounting, so it’s good to be able to use that knowledge. And I work with some great people.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

Absolutely, without question, social media.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

My favorite book of all time is the Bible. It inspires, calms, and gives hope. It has stood the test of time, and there is always something new to learn from Its pages. My favorite childhood book is “Green Eggs and Ham”. I loved that book! I read it so many times as a child, and to my kids, that I knew it by heart!

If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂

It would be Sebastian Morgan from “Sebastian’s Castle”. How cool would it be to spend a day with a ghost? I am a geek when it comes to history, and I would spend the day annoying him with questions about his life, and what it was like to live in his time.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Last May, I met my favorite singer, Scott Stapp (the front man of Creed, Art of Anarchy). His life experiences are in his music, and have inspired many. He has been criticized, and persecuted in the media, but he stays true to his style of writing, and gives God the glory. He is truly a kind man who loves God, his family, and fans. It was a pleasure meeting him…and he gives an amazing concert!

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Nora Roberts. I don’t believe there’s one book she’s written whose characters didn’t come alive to me. Her stories have so much depth. She is a master at putting her reader in the moment.

What is your favorite…

Movie– The Patriot
Music– Rock
Place you’ve visited- Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, Florida
Place you’d like to visit- Salem, Mass.
TV show from childhood- The Brady Bunch
TV show from adulthood- Once Upon A Time
Food– Pizza
Sports team– Cleveland Indians!!
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Television

Love the interview, Lisa. I enjoyed learning more about you. Now, please tell us about Sebastian’s Castle…

Blurb:

Being married to a cop is hard, being the widow of one is harder. After Brynn Austin’s husband, Nate, was murdered in an undercover operation, there wasn’t enough evidence to convict the gang leader who killed him. Brynn refuses to let him kill their dream to renovate an old Connecticut castle. But her plan is hampered by a ghost who’s not ready to give up his home.

Contractor Jaxson Maddox signs on to renovate the old castle that’s sat empty for years. He didn’t believe the rumors about the place being haunted. But that was before he met the resident ghost. What Jax didn’t sign on for was trouble in the form of falling for the beautiful widow, dealing with a pesky ghost, and risking his life when a threat from Brynn’s past surfaces. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means becoming a ghost himself.

Excerpt:

Light shone in through the windows, but the space wasn’t any less creepy. Old cobwebs hung from the rafters, and dust particles danced in the sunlight. She hoped there wasn’t a family of raccoons, or worse, living here. Brynn pushed those thoughts
from her mind and kneeled in front of the trunk with the screwdriver. She’d never tried to pick a lock before, but there was a first time for everything.

“If you’re set on nosing around, I would rather you used the key. It’s under that pile of books.”

Brynn jumped to her feet and swung around to face the voice. She gripped tightly to her only weapon, the screwdriver.

There he stood, the same man she saw the other day. “Who are you?” She backed toward the wall, holding the screwdriver in front of her. “You’re trespassing.”

“No, my dear, you’re trespassing. This is my castle. I should be asking you the questions.”

Brynn’s eyes bugged out as she really took a look at him. His image was fading in and out. “No,” she said aloud, “it can’t be.”

“My dear, you don’t look well.”

“You’re a…” She patted her face.

“A what? I’m a what?” His face faded and returned.

“You’re a ghost!”
Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Sebastians-Castle-Lisa-DeVore/dp/1509213325/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Bio:

Lisa DeVore is a romantic suspense author for The Wild Rose Press. Her active imagination started at an early age in her NE Ohio hometown, complete with its own castle. She’s an avid reader, loves the beach, dolphins, and sunshine! Yes, she’s a misplaced Floridian. Lisa stays busy utilizing her accounting degree, spending time with her husband of 20-plus years, their two sons and daughter, 2 toy fox terriers, and one mini-pin. And she enjoys spending time in the worlds she creates. Lisa made the Amazon best-seller list for her debut novel “Beautiful Music”, and is excited to announce the release of her fourth book, “Sebastian’s Castle”.
Contact Links:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/lisadevoreAuthor/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mrsldevore

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Lisa+DeVore

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-DeVore/e/B00KMHIWRY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1490133627&sr=8-1

 

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March 24, 2017 · 10:25 am

Friday Fragment Contest – #Giveaway #FunGame #BookLovers – March 24, 2017

fri-fragments-and-spotalie

Happy Friday and welcome to my weekly contest –

Below you will find three different books, by three different authors, and beneath each, you will find three different short excerpts. Only one excerpt is from the listed book. Using the form at the bottom of the post, enter your guesses as to which excerpt is correct for each book. Once a month, I will draw a name from all those who attempt a guess on this game, AND on my Facebook SpotaLie game (check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/) The winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Each week, the first person to guess all 3 correctly receives an additional entry. (TIP: Click on each link and read the blurbs for a better chance at guessing correctly) – Remember, you get an entry just for guessing!

In addition to filling out the contact form, we’d also love it if you would comment, whether it is about your guesses, the books, the authors, etc. (when we offer extra giveaways, commenting is usually the only way to enter.) 

Have fun!

Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to win. There is no limit on how many times one entrant can win. You do not have to guess correctly to be entered in the monthly drawing.

 

*** The game runs from the day it’s posted through the following Friday morning when the next post goes up, so feel free to send your guesses in and comment any time during that week. In order to stay up to date on each post, follow my blog by signing up in the column to the right. 

Extra Giveaways!!! (Last week’s winners are: Mary Anne Landers won Stephanie Berget’s E-copy of Sweet Cowboy Kisses and Elf won a $5 Amazon gift card from  Colleen L Donnelly. Congrats, ladies!)

This week, lucky winners will be drawn from all commenters for the following prizes:

From Gemma Juliana – Free copy of The Amulet

From Cailin Briste – Free copy of Shane: Marshal of Tallav Book #1 in the Sons of Tallav series.

From Suzanne Stengl  – Free copy of ANGEL WINGS

 

Book 1:

Raven of Blackthorn Manor by Gemma Juliana

Buy link: http://a.co/gPeLwHY

Find Gemma here: http://www.amazon.com/author/gemmajuliana

Snippet A:

“No!” Olympia’s heart thudded. “I can’t, won’t go with you. I’m working on a project with a tight deadline.” “That’s too bad, because you are now mine. I won you in our high stakes private poker tournament until I’m paid.” The sheikh’s mouth disappeared into a cruel thin line as his eyes lingered on her breasts, then her hips. He snapped his fingers, and the four henchmen standing behind him came forward and encircled Olympia. “Rick—,” sheer terror blazed in Olympia’s eyes. “Don’t let this happen.” This couldn’t be happening. Rick watched in horror as the scene played out before his eyes.

Snippet B:

The promise of a bitter cold winter hung in the air as Oonagh carried wood inside and placed it at the grate of her fireplace. She stoked the fire, pleased as flames leapt with vibrant life. “Come my child, I’ve prepared a very special gift for you.” Oonagh wrapped her burgundy shawl tightly around her to repel the ice that would surely claim her veins. She pulled her emerald green cape closer and ignored the shiver that wracked her tired body. Emerald eyes blazed with pride as she watched Zoe, her most stunning magical creation ever, rise to her feet to follow. “A gift! You know I love gifts, Ma.”

Snippet C:

I fairly trotted back to the house, so angry I looked neither right nor left. As I cleared the entrance steps and threw open the front doors, I spotted Ronan walking toward the kitchen at the back of the house. Too outraged to talk with him now, I ran straight upstairs to my room. Was I losing it, or had I been in a small cottage with some unseen person who’d managed to remove two books from the desk while I was in the bathroom or the closet? I hadn’t heard a sound. This place had me questioning my sanity—something that had never happened before.

 

Book 2:

Maon: Marshal of Tallav by Cailin Briste

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Maon-Marshal-Tallav-Cailin-Briste-ebook/dp/B01MRUND2U/

Snippet A:

Frau Heinrich continued, her voice a steady acidic drip. “Since you are a true submissive with mild masochistic tendencies, you are fortunate a Tallavan marshal holds your contract. We are always pleased to place our students with a marshal from Tallav. They’re such an exclusive club of men.”

Snippet B:

She was on her way to the Whip Hand to meet the owner and notorious sadist Randolph Meryon. The drawings she carried in her portfolio were the first installment of a trade she’d made. He would become her mentor while she explored sexual domination, and she would design exclusive apparel for his staff.

Snippet C:

Kolya was an artist. A sculptor focused on what he termed brutal beauty. He’d tried but failed to convince Tyen to model for him, claiming he’d make it worth her while with a naughty wiggle of his eyebrows. She’d refused, not willing to experience the pain that went along with being the focus of his creative genius.

 

Book 3:

The Thurston Heirloom by Suzanne Stengl

Buy link: http://amzn.to/2lP7hoK

Snippet A:

Not wanting to join the hikers yet, he found a seat at the bar. Jason delivered a Rickard’s Red as soon as Teague sat down. “How’s it going?” Jason opened the beer. “Good,” Teague answered. “Have you seen the new maid?” A slight pause from Jason. “Mariah?” “Yes.” “About five foot seven? Long reddish brown hair? Blue eyes? Pleasant expression?” “Yes.” “No, I haven’t seen her,” Jason said. “I haven’t even met her.” Something was up. “Then how come you know what she looks like?” “Because everybody’s looking for Mariah.”

Snippet B:

“She’s an ex-girlfriend. They went out last summer when Gaven was home.” Christie felt her chest tighten, and then she let go of her breath, and looked up from the neat rows of hash browns. Ethel Hamilton sat across the table from her, sitting in the place where Gaven had been. Ethel, in her brown dress and her brown hat with all the feathers. “You’re still here,” Christie said, setting down her fork and vaguely wondering if Lucy had added something to the coffee. “Yes, I am.” “You’re a figment of my imagination.”

Snippet C:

The large living room window gaped open with a ragged hole letting in the sea breeze. Shards of glass scattered over her couch and chair and coffee table. Even more astonishing, a man dressed in black jeans and a black T-shirt knelt in the middle of a heap of broken glass in front of the couch. A window washer? His arms, bare and muscled, braced in front of him, gripping the bottom of the couch. Glass flakes sparkled in his hair. Like his clothes, his hair was dark. Dark brown, almost black.

 

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Which Snippet is from Book 1 - Raven of Blackthorn Manor(required)

Which Snippet is fro Book 2 - Maon: Marshal of Tallav(required)

Which Snippet is from Book 3 - The Thurston Heirloom(required)

 

Correct answers & winner of the extra entry from last week:

No one answered correctly last week…better luck this time!

Last week’s answers:

Book 1: Sweet Cowboy Kisses – B

Book 2: The Cowboy’s Triple Surprise – A

Book 3: Mine to Tell – A

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