Category Archives: Interviews

Author interviews posted to this blog

Debbie Dyke, Author of The Bloody Mary Club

Posted in Amie Louellen, Book review, Chick Lit Plus, Chicklit, Excerpt, Guest Post, Interviews, self-published by

I love having special guests on my blog., and today’s guest is no exception. She has a fabulous resume–screen writer turned novelist and expert (imho) on the  stock market. She’s here to talk about her book, The Bloody Mary Club and her adventures into  writing and publishing. Here’s a warm round of cyber applause for Debbie Dyke!

Thank you for inviting to post to your blog! I’m the author of The Bloody Mary Club, a financial thriller about an all women investment club that gets into trouble when their portfolio turns deadly.  I’m very passionate about the stock market and investments.  I’m also fascinated by the recent Ponzi schemes and financial scams that have been reported in the front page news. I’ve watched the bank meltdowns with great interest. As a former stockbroker, I’ve met a few embezzlers and worked with several bad brokers who’ve run away with client’s money.

My first venture into financial writing was “The Wall Street Calendar.”  I received a 365 day calendar for Christmas several years ago; it was called “money saving tips.” It was awful! Each day I’d cringe with the new tidbit of information. Example:  to save on toilet paper step on the roll. By flattening, you will save on paper use! At some point I said, “this is so bad, I could write a better one.” And sure enough, once I said that I had to go through with it.  I started working on a smart Wall Street Calendar which if you are paying attention put to good use at the beginning of each chapter of The Bloody Mary Club.  My Wall Street 365 day calendar caught the attention of the publisher of the most the most well regarded financial commentator at the time– Lou Rukeyser.

After I completed the calendar, I took a screenwriting class for fun and was hooked.The fun stopped once my scripts started to get attention.  When I was featured in Script Magazine, the editor, Shelly Mellott, liked my financial know-how so much she asked me to join her with the magazine as an owner. As you can tell, I’m an asset-focused gal, I put my money where my passion lies and became an owner. We were a great team. Script Magazine has since been sold to Final Draft.  It was the most fun ever!  I went to scriptwriting and film fests all over the United States. I met writers, producers, directors and agents. It opened doors for my writing and gave me amazing exposure. Over the years, I wrote five screen plays, several treatments, and articles for magazines. Two of my screenplays were option by HBO and an A list actress. I also collaborated with award winning director Uli Edel ( Baader Meinhof Complex, Tyson, Purgatory, Little Vampires) on a action movie called Closing In.

The best advice I received was from a top agent at CAA . He told me that if you wanted to be respected in Hollywood and control your work, you need to be novelist. Novelists are held in very high regard. Screenwriters are at the bottom of the barrel of the Hollywood pecking order and many aren’t even invited to their own opening night. I took his advice to heart. The Bloody Mary Club novel is based on my script.

I describe The Bloody Mary Club as a smart girl financial fiction. I won’t tell you how to get a man, buy fabulous heels or decorate a swanky condo, but I will use investing terms, mention stocks and weave a story about the ins and outs of a bank takeover.  Although it’s fiction, it has real world relevance.  I want to make the stock market and investing understandable and fun. I aim to increase the interest in Chick lit financial thrillers. In this era of bankruptcy’s, foreclosures and retirements in question, you need to know how to chart your own course. My characters in the investment club are women in their forties with no financial security and desperately rely on Gina Van Story to save them from a dead end retirement. All she demands is that the investment earrings stay put in the club until retirement age. This of course is a downer for them because Gina has all the toys and is about to enter the 1% club. They want to spend their club profits as soon they get them and Gina won’t allow it.  It’s the classic battle of the ‘haves’ versus the ‘have not’s’.

Ladies! This is your wake up call to take get your financial house in order. Don’t wait for a rich prince to come and save you! Here’s a passage from The Bloody Mary Club, Page 28 where my lead character Gina gives her ladies a wakeup call for being lazy about their finances:

“You’ve all grown up thinking you can’t handle this stuff and if you’re a good girl, some big strong man will come along and take care of it for you. Wake up. It’s not going to happen. Without this club, you’ll be greeters at Wal-Mart when you’re seventy,” Gina plucked a shrimp from her drink and jiggled it at Vivi. “Your legal secretary job isn’t secure.”

Vivi picked imaginary lint off her slinky top.

“What happens when your on-man-shop lawyer is thrown in jail for tax evasion? You’re pushing fifty, who’s going to hire a legal secretary who types on an electric typewriter and uses shorthand?”

Vivi pouted.

Gina moved onto Sarah busy snacking on peanuts: “And you can’t stretch your paycheck. You’re floating your bills. If mommy and daddy didn’t help out, you’d have no phone service, electricity or water. What are you going to do when they aren’t around? You think you’ll inherit their money? Statistics aren’t on your side. Mom and the General will need that money for their nursing home care. Your ex will get the last laugh as he skis down the slopes in Zermatt after having a wine and raclette meal paid for from his impenetrable trust fund.”

Sarah picked at her cuticles with one eye stuck in a half blink. “You forgot Joanie, she’s a mess”

After reading The Bloody Mary Club, I hope that the reader will realize that financial thrillers are fun to read and you might even learn something about the stock market. Through my story you will see that even the fat cats top get ripped off and that there are no get rich quick shortcuts.   In this era of self-directed IRA’s, everyone is responsible for their financial future and must make wise investment decisions. We all need to be savvy investors or else face a painful and dismal retirement. I make it clear through my characters that there are short cuts to make money or guarantees to double your return

I like it when readers tell me that they learned something from The Bloody Mary Club and that they also enjoyed the story. I’ve gotten a great response from readers that don’t normally follow the stock market or have an interest in anything concerning money. Readers have asked me to give them financial advice, to look over a proposed investment or even verify their trading strategies.  In this day and age with retirement up in the air, it’s gratifying to have this kind of positive response.  Through my writing, I want to make the stock market fun and understandable. I’m not looking to write the all encompassing story about Wall Street, I want to write about a tiny slice of Wall Street and stay within that framework.  My next novel, Gina’s Tonic, focuses on day trading and money laundering. There’s going to be offshore money maneuvers, a day-trader who’s forced to trade for profit or else die and nasty drug dealers trying to launder truckloads of money. For sure, the gin and tonics will flow on this novel!!

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my journey with you.  I hope you enjoy reading The Bloody Mary Club and come away with an appreciation of all things financial!  You can keep up with me by visiting my website:  www.DebbieDyke.com,

My blog;: http://debbiedykebooks.blogspot.com/

Facebook at: DebbieDykeBooks.

Cheers! Debbie Dyke, Author, The Bloody Mary Club.

Thanks for stopping by, Debbie. Readers if you want to know more about The Bloody Mary Club and Debbie Dyke, there’s an interview and review of The Bloody Mary Club at my review site, www.amiesreviews.wordpress.com

Samantha March

Publisher- Marching Ink

Book Reviewer/Freelance Editor

Blog Tour Coordinator

Author of Destined to Fail

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Five minutes after the close of the market, Gina was perched on the corner of her desk with her legs crossed tightly. Andrew sat before her in an armchair diverting his eyes away from her legs.

“Miss Van Story…”

“Call me Gina.” She drummed her fingers on her desk. “So Andrew, there are 1000 shares outstanding. Give me some numbers.”

“Six thousand dollars a share.”

Gina fixed her gaze on him and forced a straight face.

“I think that’s in the ballpark. At least third base if not a home run.” Andrew returned her gaze. “It’s a damn good offer…if I may say so myself.”

“It’s quite good,” Gina replied poker-faced.

Andrew gestured to the paperwork spread out on her desk. “Looks like you’re a busy lady. Why don’t you give me a list of the shareholders and I’d be happy to call them for you.”

“That’s not the way I do things.”

“I think your shareholders would be pleased to hear from me. Otherwise, I want you to inform them about our off er as soon as possible.” Andrew inched forward in his chair, “And lucky you, a sale could make you a lot of commission.”

“If you have anything in writing, you can leave it with me.” Gina sprung off the desk and struck out her hand. “I’ll look it over and make a decision.”

“I’m getting the feeling that you’re not taking me seri­ously.” Andrew dug into his briefcase and offered her an AU folder. “We’re committed to this deal.”

“Rest assured, Mr. Walsh, I take your proposal very seriously.” She set the package on the desk and turned her back on him.

“As the Beck Bank market maker, you have a fiduciary responsibility to present them with my offer.” Andrew cleared his throat then blasted, “And I expect you to do that.”

Gina spoke softly, barely above a whisper. “I know what my job is, Mr. Walsh. Maybe I should explain it to you. I match buyers and sellers.” She made two fists and smashed them together. “When someone wants to sell their shares, they call me and I go down my client waiting list and find who’s next in line to buy. I have a very long waiting list. Some clients have waited for years before they even get one share. I’m sure you’ve realized by now that that these shares are thinly traded, not a lot of them floating around. And here’s the most unusual thing, I don’t even get a commission on trades.” She went to the credenza and held up a bound report. “I keep the books. Balance out the shares. Handle all accounting. Again, I do all of this for free.”

Juli D. Revezzo ~ In the Spotlight

Posted in Guest Post, Interviews, My Posts, self-published by

One of the greatest joys I get when I invite writers to my blog is that I usually find a new friend. And such is the case with today’s guest. I’ve been trying to get Juli over here for a while but something always happened, whether it was be losing files or her getting bombarded by hurricanes. So today is a special day because we finally got it together! Go, us.

And since we finally got it all together, Juli, tell us about your book.

Well, it’s about a woman whose husband’s obsessed with a chair he’s creating. She’s not altogether sure this is a good thing. In fact, the chair’s featuring in some very vivid nightmares she’s been having—along with the appearance of several ghosts and other folks she’s sure aren’t exactly …well, human. Her hubby’s sanity seems to be slipping too. Because of all this, she’d just like to toss the chair in the wood chipper.

The blurb goes:

Settling into their new home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Caitlin finds strange changes coming over her husband Trevor. He seems obsessed with a beautiful chair he’s carving.

When the nightmares deepen and ghosts begin lurking—she knows something’s not right, and not just her newfound precognitive abilities. It’s the damned chair, she’s sure. Could it be just what it seems: a mundane piece of furniture? If so, why is it attracting dark forces—the forces she suspects drove Trevor’s siblings to insanity and suicide?

Before the same happens to Trevor, Caitlin must convince him to sell his art. But armed with only a handful of allies, and little experience of the supernatural, she must proceed with caution against the hellish forces besieging her family. If she succeeds, she will break the ancestral curse. If she fails, she may lose forever the one thing she cares about most: her beloved Trevor.

And if your readers would like to check it out, it’s available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about?

My friend, author Jolene Dawe, and I were writing collections of short stories for each other’s Christmas presents one year. The collection centered around various pagan gods and coupled with my recent readings in the ancient Welsh mythological collection The Mabinogion, The Artist’s Inheritance was born.

One thing you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book.

That creativity isn’t always as easy as some folks make it seem, and if they go and peek into The Mabinogion or other Celtic myths, that’d be just fine too.

Your favorite character—

Oh, Caitlin, most definitely. Although my ghost soldier Roland is a sweetie as well.

And the most dreaded question of all—are you going to try your hand at self-publishing again?

Yes. I have several more stories to tell in Caitlin’s world, and a few other stories are stewing that I hope to release.

Any advice to those thinking about self-publishing?

My experience so far has been rather positive. Aside from a charity anthology I was blessed to be part of last year (Dark Things II: Cat Crimes), I have been very lucky—and am very grateful—to have friends who walked this path before me. They were generous in lending their talents and their expertise, without which, The Artist’s Inheritance wouldn’t’ve made it out the door, so to speak. If your readers would like to learn more about it, they can check it out at Amazon, or Smashwords, and they’re also welcome to visit my site at http://julidrevezzo.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Inheritance-Antique-Magic-ebook/dp/B008XL82IU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345040600&sr=1-1

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/220457

 Just a few more questions. Why did you choose your genre? 

It seems to come naturally. I’ve written a version of fantasy and paranormal long since before I even knew what to call it.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? How has that childhood dream affected your current career?

Oh, a few things. The one that stands out, though, is I wanted to be a singer in a rock band.  How has the dream affected me? I tend to feel a rhythm in most stories. I’m told not everyone does. ;) I admit, I may be weird.

What do you do for fun?

Read. Watch movies, I dabble in gardening a little too.

How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

I have a confession to make. I’m terrible at titles. This one, The Artist’s Inheritance was originally “The Artist’s Price”, until my hubby suggested the new title.

Have you ever used contemporary events or stories “ripped from the headlines” in your work?

Now and then. Not this one, so much as other works. Well, they were contemporary at the time.

How much of your work is real? How much is fantasy?

For the most part, for this one, just the setting. Fort Pickens is an actual Civil War era fort in north Florida. The rest is all out of my imagination.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

Sometimes finding the right audience, sometimes just getting to “The End” can be challenging.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Keep trying, keep learning and if you really love what you do, don’t give up. Heck, these days, self-publishing is a very viable option. If you love it, polish it and try it out. You never know.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

I have to say not so much writer’s block as working writer’s block. That’s something I heard the singer of Googoo Dolls once mention and it made perfect sense. In a nutshell, it’s where you can start about a million manuscripts but never finish them beyond a few thousand words. What do I do about it? Keep trying, trying something different. Usually working on something totally new will help shake the cobwebs loose.

Who is your favorite author and why? What books have most influenced your life?

Hands down, my favorite is fantasy author Michael Moorcock. He just has this…Baroque style and characters that I just fell in love with. I haven’t read one book of his that I’ve looked back on with anything less than a smile. Even when I’m not working on a manuscript with fantastic elements I tend to think, what would Michael do?

How did you deal with rejection letters?

Pout and log it in my journal and go on to the next name on my list. Really, that’s all you can do, besides self publishing your work. But I’ve always thought, why not exhaust all your options first?

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Books on craft, books in your genre, books in different genres, literary classics, novels, plays, history books. Any book on any topic that strikes your fancy. You can learn from just about everything. What to do and probably more importantly, what not to do. Some of my must-have writing tip books are Self-Editing For Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King. That one can help you get the bugs out of your manuscript before you hit send or upload. There’s a great book called Slang Through the Ages by Jonathon Green—that one really helps out if you want to include some form of historical scene in your work. I could go on, and on and on, but those are all the best off the top of my head.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Author Patty G. Henderson invited me to be part of a charity anthology of suspenseful cat *ahem* tales, called Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, last year whose proceeds are going to Cat House On the Kings in California. If your readers would like to check it out too:

It’s still available in Kindle and paperback at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/DARK-THINGS-II-Crimes-ebook/dp/B006O15YBE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0/185-0297248-1137456?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

And in Epub at Lulu:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/compiled-by-patty-g-henderson/dark-things-ii-cat-crimes/ebook/product-18787458.html

Thanks for having me here today, Amy! I’ve looked forward to it and appreciate you hosting me.

Thanks for coming, Juli.

Readers, are you intrigued with The Artist’s Inheritance? Well, come on back tomorrow. That’s when I’m posting my review of The Artist’s Inheritance.  Until then…

Lots of <3–Amie

And I almost forgot! Juli is  also over at The Saturated Page today. Be sure to check that out as well.

http://thesaturatedpage.wordpress.com/

Carol Caddo ~ In The Spotlight

Posted in Chicklit, Excerpt, Guest Post, Interviews, Romance by

Happy Thursday everybody. Only one more  day until Friday and I have something great to help pull you through. Are you ready? I’ve got Carol Caddo  here with me. She’s sharing some great insight as well as a peek between the covers of her new book Deja Vu of Love.

Hi Carol glad you could come in for an interview what motivated you to do this interview?

Hi to you as well glad you invited me, I love having the opportunity to reach out to readers who have enjoyed or are just discovering their passion for reading my passion writing.  I love writing great Chick Lit stories, with strong women and interesting pathos that offer a ton of options for character development.  The characters have a story they want to tell.  I try not to dictate their decisions.  I like characters who are just a bit flawed and everyone’s ideal best friend warts and all.

What is your personal motto?

You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken shit.  My dad taught me that and truer words were never spoken.  So get rid of it and start a fresh batch but don’t waste an entire day trying to turn it into soup.

How do you feed your muse?

I garden and play the, what if game, which is how all my stories start something will grab my attention in life for instance the book I am starting.  The story concept came from a brief video clip I saw, so then I go hmmm what if… and then it starts.  Once that process starts there is no stopping no rest for the brain it just pounds me until I ferret it all out.  Then I can relax and start the writing process which at that point is like hitting the print button on a computer.

How do you develop your characters?

I write dialog and monologues for them in a journal sort of like the confession cams on realty television.  I let the characters talk about how they really feel about something either alone or in conversation with one or more of the other characters.

What has been the most significant book you’ve read in your life?

Well you know I am a fiction writer and reader so I do not read substance nor do I write it.  I write fun, interesting books with great characters and interesting dynamics between the characters.  I think that if you say significant in terms of impact on me it is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.  That was the first time I feel in love with writing, I enjoyed the story too, but the writing rocked me.  I think I was about 8th grade.

Tell me a little more about Deja Vue of Love.

I am very excited about the book and the characters, I care for them all deeply, after all this is the first book I ever wrote.  So to say I am attached to these guys is an understatement.  The book is on sale for 1.99  on Kindle, but there will be several free days to download the book. If you want to be notified go to my Facebook page and like Carol Cadoo’s Bookstore. The free dates will be listed here.

How do you develop your characters and how do you decide who stays and who goes in a story?

Gosh that was a great question, um well first of all I write fiction so none of my characters are real, but I will say that I use life as a muse.  What I mean by that is I might see a character flaw in someone at the grocery store.  So I would use that flaw maybe not the same sex character as the muse in my head.  I may change the location and reinterpret the characters pathos related to that character flaw.  Of course to me naming the characters is a very personal process and I create the character and then name them.  If that makes any sense to you, hope I am not too wordy.  Wow, I know I am being too wordy but quickly just want to say as far as who goes and who stays that sort of happens organically.  I never push my attitude or opinion on the storyline development I allow it to present itself.

I noticed a lot of people are talking about your hero Gianni Payne in Deja Vue of Love, he is really sexy.

Oh yeah he is my ideal sexy.  Gianni is a combination of every man who I have felt that heart pounding, wave in your ears kind of attraction.  He is indeed my dream man.  I hope he is a lot of women’s dream man.  We all have a need for that responsible bad boy in our lives.  The cool thing with Deja Vue of Love is you can enjoy the bad boy and not have to go through two years of break up recovery.

How did you get started writing?

Well actually when I wrote Deja Vue of Love I worked as a waitress at Skippers in Cayucos for Mr. Ted and Ms. Sylvia my dream bosses.  I took a work shop on writing as I always wanted to try my hand at a book.  My writing partner of 25 years Danny Waller and I wrote romantic comedies in screenplay form he did all the narrative and storyline, I did character development and dialogue.   I really wanted to write a book.  So I bought 12 yellow legal pads and a package of Bic pens and started writing Deja Vue of Love I think around 1995 before cell phones, computers, Facebook and the internet.  So I had to go in and update.

Do you have any other books?

I have a second book called Inheritance of Love and then the third book in the Nightstand Love Trio is on the boards but Journey to Loveonly drafted it is about half written.  I believe Journey of Love will be available right around the Valentine’s Day holiday and Inheritance of Love will be available for Christmas Holiday so keep your eyes posted for it.

What was your day job?

Well as most artists I have been in a variety of professions.  I have worked as an actress, director, choreographer, wedding planner and waitress.  Not to mention a plethora of other short lived careers.  I spent the last ten years working as a wedding planner which was a huge research project for human nature.

What advice do you have for people who would like to write a book?

Write it.

Yes but what can they do to get it started?

Start writing

No other pearls of wisdom on that subject?

There is no better advice than start writing.  Every great journey starts with the first step; every great story starts with the first keystroke.  Talking about it, thinking about it, researching it all of that is well and good but you have to write it.  If you don’t get that started nothing else matters.  There’s no book without writing.

Do you feel there is a difference between self-published and corporately published books?

Sure yes I totally think self- publishing is the way to go until you get to Diva Danielle Steel level.  It is an opportunity to get your craft out there.  It does not matter if you have fifty books written if no one reads them what good is the gift of writing.  So I love self- publishing in addition it allows you to stay on the front lines of your marketing and research area. Plus you are communicating and reaching out to your readers without all the red tape.

What is the greatest challenge you have faced in your writing career?

Balancing a personal relationship with the book writing process and a writer’s personality.  The book won.  (Carol is laughing)

Okay here is an easy one what do you watch on Television?

Oh man I love Monk love, l love, love, love it, I am an addict fan of Project Runway,  enjoy Top Chef, Next Food Network, Chopped, Cupcake Wars and the true crime shows.  I spend a lot of time listening  to TCM while I am writing I like to have old film Noir on it relaxes me.

Do you watch movies?

I watch Film Noir movies some of my favs DOA, Rear Window, Dial M for Murder and Double Indemnity

Do you still live in Cayucos?

No not anymore I lived in Cayucos raising my oldest son Zach it was a wonderful decade of my life.  But it is bone chilling cold up on the Central Coast and after I broke my kneecap.  Great story bad reality, I couldn’t take the damp cold.  Now I live out in the desert and love it.  The sunsets are incredible and the mornings are little gifts from God.

What is the first thing you remember writing?

In the sixth grade I wrote a book called Wilbur the Waterlogged Wagendorf and my teacher wrote Carol this is really good you might consider a future as a writer.  Her name was Mrs. Alan and she was the first one besides my mother who ever read my stuff.  I was on cloud nine for days, kept the paper in my nightstand drawer for years.

Who do you live with?

Well I have one son who is seventeen still at home his name is Garette and my oldest son Zachary is living in Tulsa on his own.  I also have my two baby dogs a Giant Schnauzer and her name is Hazel and my spoiled little boy who is part golden retriever and part lab his name is Harry and he is precious.  I have a great life my house is always full of what I call rotating visitors.  Musicians and other artist who swing through California for business stay on my acre and assist in repairs, landscaping etc. in lieu of rent.  It’s a great way to live Simi communally.

Do you have any interesting writing eccentricities?

Well I am not sure how you define eccentricities but I do believe that the character just uses me to channel their story.  In other words when I am done with a writing session, when I reread it is like reading for the first time as I have no memory of the writing.  Let me clarify I don’t go into a fugue state but it is rather out of body kind of experience.

What authors or friends influenced you in helping you become a writer?

 My very first love of books came from my best friends growing up.  Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden both girl detective series.  I had every one of those books and use to like to line them up numerically and just look at how many I had.  I still have my favorite six Nancy Drew books on my nightstand, I use them when I am in the middle of a book and can’t sleep.  As I don’t read other books when I am writing I love those books, some of them still have stains on the pages from long ago Oreo cookie and orange section binges. I had as a kid reading.  Still my favorite reading snack, but I would have to say my mom always encouraged me to write. From about the fourth grade she knew I had a gift and really fostered that gift with support of my efforts.  She was also my first proofer and editor.

 Besides writing, what other interests do you have?

Well I love to grow Sunflowers, lavender and roses.  I also have two children and two dogs I adore.  I am a homebody who lives in the middle of nowhere so my recreation time is spent decorating my dream home Casa de Flores Too and landscaping my acre of heaven.  I also am a television junky and a Project Runway devotee.

How can readers connect with you online?

I would love readers to connect with me online.  After all I write so they will read me. I so want to know what they think, here are my vitals

carolcadoobookstore@gmail.com

Twitter carolcadoo@carolcadoo or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CarolCadoo

The only thing I ask is not to send me any story ideas, I don’t use outside story ideas and I am of the mindset that ideas like air go out in the universe and people breath them in.  That is why sometimes when you have never thought of something in your life and then you do.  Suddenly you start seeing and hearing about the idea all over the place.  So other than story line and character development I am open to any and all correspondence from people who like or have another opinion on my books.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I learned how important it is to get the right Posse surrounding you.  So many things require expertise that as a writer I am sorry to say I don’t possess.  Oh sure could I do it, if I had to yeah but then I would have complaints from consumers on the quality.  There are many examples of the need for a strong, fearless Posse to bring me out of the creative zone and into the business zone cause in this business you have to own balance or buy it.  If you have to buy it you need it to be compatible with your creative process, yet be able to work independently of that creativity to get the job done.

Have you ever hated what you have done and if so what did you do about it?

You know the hardest thing to admit is when something just really sucks on the reread.  Especially when you work and work and work the passage, line, scene or whatever it is.  I use to work it until my mind was numb, as I didn’t want to give up on it.  But I have since learned you have to let it go.  You can’t force it so now I am ruthless.  As far as what I do about it I cut it, immediately.

Have you ever experienced writers block?

Does not exist, that whole thing is bunk to me, writers block is just a nice way to say you have not done your homework.  You know a book is written when the time is right.  For instance I write the entire book in my head as I am weeding the garden, cooking dinner, cleaning house.  Then when my mind is ready I sit down and write the story my mind has already written.  I just do the physical labor of inputting, at the time of the original draft. It generally takes me about 10 days to write a book, that is the first draft.  As soon as the draft is over I have a group of trusted readers who take that bad boy apart page by page.  They send me a report of all the plot line issues, character issues, dialog issues and timeline stuff like that.  I usually read the notes and continue on with my life or draft another book.  Then after a time a reread the draft make the changes fix the holes my readers have found and then bingo we have a book.

 Do you have any strange writing habits and what do you eat when you write?

You know I don’t think I have any quirky writing rituals.  I can’t write in a quiet space but that is because I started writing with kids.  So now I just turn on Law and Order reruns and get to writing.  As far as food come to think about it I do prefer cold Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pepsi and Jalapeno Almonds when I am writing.  I like coffee too, but I forget I have the water boiling because I get so into the write.  I use a French Press because I like fresh coffee each time so the water always boils out.

So, what have you learned over the course of your writing career NOT to do?

Boy you got that right, man I have learned not to use the return or enter key on my manuscripts.  I am laughing as I think of my format guy and the first time he saw my manuscript.  I also learned that you can’t be afraid to break the whole book apart and restructure it.  That was an important moment in my writing.  I have learned to find out my flaws for instance for me the words just, and, but and had are crutch words for me.  Also I tend to over use by a lot my ly adjective words.  That and you really can’t give up if you believe in yourself do it. Who cares if it is a best seller write the book and they will read.

Carol Cadoo was voted most likely to………

Get this booked published. I never give up.  Somebody told me once my biggest problem is I don’t know how to quit.  I think they were telling the truth.  You never get anywhere quitting, you might have to change the route but just keep pushing forward.

Now let’s talk about the love scenes?

Hold on I have one thing to say about that otherwise I let my readers imagination to do the work.  You don’t have to commit murder to write a mystery.

What would you change in your life or career to date?

You know you can’t unscramble an egg so …I don’t think I would change a thing cause if you alter the Universe by just a little everything goes south.  Everything comes in the time and space it is meant to be in.   I have had this incredible Forrest Gumpesque life and wow you start trying to control things and the Universe will kick your ass. Yeah I wouldn’t want to change a thing …nope not a thing.

 Would you change the future if you could?

Holy Cow I don’t think so but then again I don’t know kind of spooky to think about.  Would that alter the past wow I don’t know maybe I will write a book? (Laughing)

Carol, I’m amazed at all the things we have in common! Now give us that sneak-peek at Deja Vu of Love.

~*~*~*~ The Excerpt ~*~*~*~

It just couldn’t be, no way, things like this don’t happen in real life… yet there he stood. Stunning, arrogant, ok ay Jazz Kelly had to admit it sexy as all get out.. Have you ever had that feeling you’ve experienced something before a smile, a sigh, a touch a look… Oh my god the look, when Jazz Kelly saw “the look” she almost collapsed. That’s when Jazz knew, this was Déjà Vu of Love.

Jazz tried to pull herself together in the middle of the hotel lobby, last time she had contact with Mr. Gianni Payne he tried to destroy her life he almost succeeded.  He didn’t but only because Jazz was stronger than he or anyone else thought.

She had survived… no beyond that she had thrived.  A successful production company, endorsements with major linen and home wares companies.  She had lunch with Mick Jagger dog gone it.  Jazz was not going to get sucked into that pretend relationship again.  Oh  no she would not go.  Gianni Payne could go to the devil and take his girl Friday Alicia with him.

Jazz was an important successful business woman and she would not be tricked by the passion that was already rising in her.  How could she be so attracted to a person who with the exception of one gift had added nothing but pain.  Oh well at the end of the day Jazz had to admit the price of the ticket was worth the ride.  Now only one question remained was she going to get on the ride or walk.

****

Across the Lobby Gianni Payne was reeling from the shock of seeing Jazz Kelly again.  He thought he was over her years ago.  His almost middle aged ego did not need another go round with that vixen.  Even as he thought the word he could not help but smile.  Jazz Kelly was his kind of woman that was for sure. The biggest problem was she had made it very clear to Gianni he was not her kind of man.  Besides Alicia would kill him if he got that nightmare going again.  It had taken him months if not years to bounce back from that hurt.  Nope, he boarded the elevator I can’t go there again.

****

Alicia, Gianni Payne’s assistant had watched everything from the café just of the lobby o the four star hotel.  Enjoying her tea she had practically spit the delicious concoction when she spotted the stunning auburn haired beauty strolling through the lobby.  At first Alicia was in complete denial, no way, no way.  I thought I took care of  her  8 years ago.  Oh this is not good if Gianni sees her it is all over.  Alicia would never be able to keep them apart again; this was not good Alicia needed to think.

****

Jazz Kelly watched Gianni Payne board the elevator, oh clearly he had seen Jazz he chose to ignore her.  Fine two could play the ignore game; she was not here to see Gianni Payne anyway.  Jazz was in Zurich to work, she had Chalet to design and a party to go to.  She was Jazz Kelly of Trading Casa’s a hit television show now.  Not a little Client Service Manager.  She was no longer a girl she was a woman.

~*~*~*~  Deja Vu of Love The Trailer ~*~*~*~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pYf3FkMZ4k

 Sights and Sounds of Deja Vu of Love Book Trailer

 ~*~*~* Buy The Book ~*~*~*~

http://www.amazon.com/Deja-Vu-of-Love-ebook/dp/B008FK66J6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341688023&sr=1-1&keywords=carol+cadoo

~*~*~* ~ Connect with Carol ~*~*~*~

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/CarolCadoo

Twitter @CarolCadoo

Thanks, Carol, for stopping in and allowing me to be a part of your blog tour. Best of  luck with your book! And thanks, readers, for checking in!

Lots of <3–Amie

Viewer Discretion Advised by Cindy Roesel ~ A Review & More

Posted in Book review, Chick Lit Plus, Chicklit, Giveaway, Interviews, self-published by

♥♥♥♥♥ You Gotta Read This! ♥♥♥♥♥

LIVE FROM MIAMI! The sensationalism shown on television can only be topped by the drama that happens behind the camera! After being fired from her job in Los Angeles, Charlene “Charley” Thomas moves to sizzling Miami and begins working as news director at a local television station. While getting used to her new gig, Charley wakes up to the fact that her station manager, Jonathan Lefton, is the boss from hell who will do anything for a story no matter who gets hurt in the process. When nude pictures of noon anchor, Miranda Andrews, are discovered in the men’s room of a Key West bar, all hell breaks loose. They end up on Lefton’s desk and he promotes her over the main anchor, sparking off a firestorm. Miranda’s quickly thrown into the mix and assigned special reports. Charley finds herself overseeing an investigation that could shine light on the guilt of a dirty cop. Real life begins to mimic the drama of broadcast news when station personalities face life and death all for rating and Emmys! VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED is a modern day “Sex and the City” meets “Broadcast News.”

~*~*~*~ The Review ~*~*~*~

I never know what’s in store for me when I crack open some of novels I’m asked to review.  It’s good for me to read outside my chosen genre of romance, and it feels fine to stretch my legs and test other waters. Next in line is chicklit (You know, books that are written by and targeted toward women). When I think of chicklit, I think of books like Bridget Jones Diary and other light-hearted and fun reads. But we all know that chicklit is more than that. It accounts for novels that cover more serious issues and problems with today’s world. Well, Viewer Discretion Advised fits right in the middle. It’s fun and  upbeat, but it’s more than that. Cindy Roesel takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of what it’s like behind the scenes in a newsroom. Fast-paced, smart and savvy, yet it deals with issues in the lives of the people who work at WCAR–drinking problems, low self-esteem, cheating husbands, fragile egos, and the problems that result with long distance relationships.

How Cindy managed to pack all that in under 300 pages is a mystery to me, but it’s all there. The reader can’t help but root for Charley. There’s something inherently likable about her. Everyone around her can sense it as well. This also means that we love the people she loves by way of association.  The reader wants her to end up with Oz, needs Rori to get help, and Charley to succeed in the cut-throat world she has landed in. But Charley knows her stuff (As does Cindy) and with odds like that she has to succeed. And the same goes for Cindy Roesel and Viewer Discretion Advised as well.

And one thing is certain: I’ll never look at the news the same way again.

~*~*~*~ Author Bio~*~*~*~

CINDY ROESEL is an Emmy Award winning television broadcast journalist. After working for twenty years in newsrooms filled with ambitious backbiting adrenalin junkies, she’s turning her experiences into novels.  Cindy lives in Miami with her shih tzu, Sassy.

~*~*~*~ The Interview ~*~*~*~

Amie: Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about? 

Cindy: It’s often said, “write what you know.” Well. I’ve wanted to write a novel since I was a little girl and the majority of my first career has been as a TV news anchor and reporter and that includes writing, so it makes sense that my first book should be about a broadcast journalist.  VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED is a suspenseful, romantic thriller set in Miami, Florida, which features news director, Charlize “Charley” Thomas.  It’s a mix of the new HBO hit show “The Newsroom” meets “Sex and the City.”

Amie: One thing you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book.

Cindy: It’s important that readers walk away knowing that if you work hard you can accomplish anything.  That may sound hokey, but I believe in the dream.  I was the first one in my family to graduate from college, go into a profession and I won an Emmy Award for my hard work in Broadcasting.  Charley comes up against quite a few obstacles, but she doesn’t give up and she never looks for the easy way to get something done.  It’s really important young women on their career path find a mentor they believe in that they can trust.  It’s important to me that readers of VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED see Charley as a positive professional woman.

Amie: Why did you choose your genre?

Cindy: I always knew my first attempt at writing would be fiction. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED evolved into a suspenseful, romantic, thriller as I wrote it.  I really didn’t plan it that way.  Actually, I thought it was going to be a chick-lit romance, but then the story and the characters took over.  There comes a point when the writer, in this case, me, stops resisting and follows their lead so the project is organic.

Amie: Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

Cindy: There are many challenges for a writer, especially one who wants to write well.  Writers have to not only write, but they must read, and that includes reading everything, not only what they enjoy.  It’s important to surround yourself with other writers in real life and on the Internet.  I write book reviews for a blog called Chick Lit Central and I’ve made a lot of friends over the web, some of whom I’ve met in person.  We read one another’s work, and help proof each other.  I’m constantly taking classes and going to author readings at my local bookstores.  The bottom line is you must always be working at your craft.

Another challenge is getting my butt in the chair to actually write, but once I’m there, you practically have to peel me out.  There are so many other things vying for my attention, and I’m easily distracted.  Let’s face it, once we’re on the computer there’s Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, ChickLitPlus, your Blog, mine, Chick Lit Central…. all screaming our name….  so I guess what the big challenge comes down to for me is to FOCUS!

Amie: What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Cindy: The first thing I’d tell writers who are just starting out is, “Congratulations!  You’ve entered a very special club.  What you’re going to do is honorable work and the people you’re going to surround yourself with are unique, life as you know it has changed.  Number one rule:  There are no rules, except this one.  Don’t fall in love with your first drafts.  The final project never looks like what you first put down on paper.  Remember, writing is rewriting.  Have fun!”

Amie: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?    

Cindy: No, I don’t believe in writer’s block.  When I have to write something or I have a deadline, I do it.  It may not be my best work, but I fulfill my obligations.

Amie: What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?   

Cindy: A comfy writing environment, a dictionary, thesaurus, EB White’s, “The Elements of Style,” a full pot of coffee and lots of writer and non-writer friends!  I also happen to love having plenty of plain M&Ms on hand…. yummy!

Thank you so much Amie for inviting me and VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED to visit you and your wonderful blog and Facebook site.

Thanks for coming, Cindy. Readers, you’re all  invited to contact Cindy anytime if you have questions or comments about anything here or in her novel.

And…**Everyone who leaves a comment at http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/05/viewer-discretion-advised-by-cindy.html will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Viewer Discretion Advised before August 20 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.** Whoop!

~*~*~*~ Connect with Cindy ~*~*~*~

www.cindyroesel.com

~*~*~*~ Buy the Book ~*~*~*~
AMAZON.COM
 B&N.com

~*~*~*~  Cindy On Tour ~*~*~*~

CLP Blog Tours

Jannine Corti-Petska ~ Today’s Special Guest

Posted in Excerpt, Historical, Interviews, Romance, The Wild Rose Press by

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I heart my job! In the past two years I have met some fabulous writers, editors, and agents and it just keeps getting better. What I love the most, these fantastic people want to come visit my blog and share their stories, inspirations, and wonderful books with me. Yeah, this is the life.

Today is no exception. Today I have fellow Wild Rose Press author Jannine Corti-Petska here. She graciously allowed me to grill her…er, interview her about writing in general and her latest two books.

Jannine, as a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? How has that childhood dream affected your current career?

I went from a child’s cowgirl dream and owning a horse to a teenage dream of racing cars to a high school dream of speaking 5 languages and becoming an international interpreter. Since none became a reality (I was working on the languages), I turned to what I did most: reading and writing.

In my late twenties, I realized I wanted to try my hand at writing historical romances and  discovered I actually had a talent for weaving intricate tales. But those childhood dreams were not lost. With the exception of racing cars, I’ve used the other two in my stories set in the 19th century American West and in the medieval period.

That’s one of the best things about being a writer, you get to be someone else–if only for a little while. How has your environment/ upbringing colored your writing?

I was fortunate to be raised in an Old World environment. While it did have its drawbacks, it also provided me with a way of life that most American children never experienced. Having Italian parents whose first language wasn’t English helped shape my love for and eagerness to learn several languages.

My mom read a lot, though mostly stories in magazines. I began reading very early and my interest in the written word blossomed from there. In my Italian medievals, I capture the essence of the Italian culture I know so well. As I grew up in Los Angeles County, near Hollywood, my father loved watching westerns on TV. I’m not sure how much of it he understood, but those shows shaped my interest in the American West. And the larger-than-life cowboy hero. He just seemed so romantic and courageous. 

I totally agree. Love the cowboys! How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

For Dante’s Flame, I used a surname for the hero that, for some reason, I love—Santangelo. This is book 3 of my Italian medieval series. The hero in book 1 read Dante’s works, and I knew I wanted to use the name in one of my stories.

For Mine to Keep, written for The Wild Rose Press’ “Love Letters” short stories line,  the idea came about when the story unfolded in my mind. Of course, keep was a symbol of the medieval era and the castle used in the story. And mine had to do with the hero and heroine wanting to spend the rest of their lives together even though at the beginning, their marriage served only one purpose—to gain an inheritance. Also, the hero fought for and almost lost his life over holding on to the woman he loved.

Can you say romantic? <wink> Have you ever used contemporary events or stories “ripped from the headlines” in your work?

I have, although mostly, I go with a modern theme in many of my books: physical abuse, alcoholism, family conflict, the mafia, and so on. I give these themes a historical twist.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

Other than writing sex scenes, the challenge for me is discipline.  Thirty years ago I could write anywhere, anytime, under any kind of circumstances. Today, a fly on the wall distracts me! And my memory has gotten so bad that I find it difficult to keep facts straight. Confusion and disorganization cause me hours and days of frustration. Now I have to make a lot of notes, notes on those notes, more notes and….well, you get the picture. Then I have to remember which of those 1000 pages (exaggeration) of notes I wrote certain details I may need. I get excited if I can recall a fact or two! It’s not pretty, lol. So I suppose sustaining a story gives me the most problems these days. My mind is not growing old gracefully. Clutter is its enemy.

I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one. So, how did you deal with rejection letters?

Not well, at first. I was devastated every time I opened a rejection letter (sent snail mail). There was a system to my disappointment. My first reaction was my heart dropping to my stomach. On the heels of that, I’d get angry, thinking the editor or agent didn’t know what she was talking about. Surely my work was as good as authors who are published. I’d stew for a day, then I’d get energized and dive back into writing.  Rejection is terribly difficult to take when your being judged on something so personal as writing. In my mind, rejecting my work meant rejecting me.

I was most frustrated that my rejections weren’t horrible. Normally it wasn’t a don’t-quit-your-day-job letter. There was some quality of my writing editors and agents liked. One of my biggest problems was trying to sell Italian-set medievals in the late 90s and early 2000. In that sense, I had felt as if my heritage was rejected as well. I’ve since grown an extremely thick skin.

My friends used to joke that I got the best rejection letters. To me it didn’t matter, it was still a rejection. Next question, what tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Must-have tangible tools would be pad and pen (or pencil). When I began writing, I used this method as computers weren’t really on the scene, and those that were had a huge price tag. But an endless supply of pad and pen, I think, I essential. Computers are great, but when they go bad, you can lose all your work. You don’t have to back up your pad and pen.

A non-tangible tool would be keeping an open mind. Tunnel vision gives an author one, very tiny piece of the story. With an open mind, creativity really has an outlet to expand, making story possibilities endless. There are no boundaries to what a writer can achieve. Although there is a “formula” to writing romances, it’s what you create within that “formula” that makes or breaks a story. An open minded approach to writing will take your story from one dimensional to full and satisfying.

Again, glad to know I’m not the only one. I was writing notes long hand today. Sometimes the ideas just flow better that way.

Jannine, thanks for coming by. But visitors, don’t leave yet, the best is coming up. Keep reading for a look at Jannine’s latest releases…

 

-♦-♦-♦-♦-♦- Dante’s Flame  -♦-♦-♦-♦-♦-

Book 3 of the Italian medieval series 

Alessandra Podesta writes illicit tales unsuitable for a young lady. Exasperated, her father sends her to visit relatives in Naples to curb her wild imagination. But in her undying need for adventure, she toys with the affections of her tutor and is forced to marry him. When she unknowingly falls into a dangerous game of supremacy between two countries, she trusts the wrong people and endangers her life.

French tutor Dante Santangelo is secretly aiding the French in maintaining their rule over Naples. When he is manipulated into marrying the visiting cousin of the Valente Family, he seizes upon the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the family, who are under suspicion of helping the Spanish. When Alessandra’s life is in jeopardy Dante must choose between love and duty. Will he offer up his life to save Alessandra? Or remain duty-bound to the French?

Buy It Now:

The Wild Rose Press

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=845&zenid=ed2d7fc911aa2625089e24c300fa3313

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1612173136/ref=sr_1_1?p=S01R&keywords=Dante%27s+Flame&ie=UTF8&qid=1341441653#reader_1612173136

 -♦-♦-♦-♦-♦- MINE TO KEEP  -♦-♦-♦-♦-♦-

  ~ Blurb ~

Lady Elizabella Aldrich receives notice of an inheritance in Padua, Italy. Arriving from England, she discovers another heir lays claim to the castle. An unreasonably handsome Italian rogue stands between her and the castle she’s inherited.

Leonardo Da Mitri never met the noble who included him in his will. But after one look at Lady Eliza he relishes the challenge of defeating the beauty to make the castle his own.

Astonished to learn they must wed and remain married for a year, it soon becomes apparent someone does not want the nuptials to take place. As Eliza fights her growing desire for Leo, he fights for his life. Will he walk away from his inheritance—and Eliza? Or is he willing to risk everything to stay married to the woman who has claimed his heart as hers… to keep?

 ~EXCERPT ~

Elizabella and Leonardo haven’t been married long. Neither have they consummated their

marriage. In this scene, they both slipped on wet stone in the castle’s great room, and Leo traps her to the floor.

“Think you my brother will stand idle when I tell him how horrible you have treated me? You are rude and ill-mannered.”

“So I am.” Leo feigned boredom. Her observation of his character didn’t offend him. She was unapprised about Italian society…and Italian men.

“From the moment we met, you acted as if I am not fit to be in your company. So be it. I am not a noble, so I need not behave like the rigid men

in your society. And since I am not compatible in your eyes, then I shall do what I should have done last night.”

“You would not dare!”

He lifted his mouth into a non-committal smile.

“Oh! Let me up at once!”

“It appears milady must be taught manners as well.” Leo crushed her lips beneath his. He ran his hand down her waist and hip caring not that his

caresses were rough, groping. Her protests died in an instant. When he pushed her tunic up to her shoulders, he was surprised to find her naked beneath the expensive garment. He tore away to lave his tongue across her breast, taunting her nipple. Her deep, unfettered moan seeped into his heart. Last night had been merely a prelude to the ecstasy awaiting him with his feisty wife.

Leo recaptured her mouth and shed any misgivings about consummating their marriage. Even though theirs was more illusory than real, he should have sunk into her and be damned his righteous conscience. He desired Eliza like no other.

He broke off the kiss and gazed at her, from the red, irritated skin around her parted lips to her eyelashes shadowed high upon her cheeks. Resisting her was impossible, from the way her body moved, like a sultry feline, to her soft sounds of pleasure.

“Eliza.” Her name echoed in his head. “Do you want me? Truthfully, do you desire me?”

When her lashes fluttered upward, her eyes beheld a desirous sheen. Leo’s heart skipped a beat while his manhood surged upward in anticipation. Pray she didn’t reject him, for he’d not walk away a second time. Hope kindled the jagged pounding of his heart, even when her features lost their passionate glow.

“If I said no, would you leave me be?”

Buy It Now

The Wild Rose Press

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4938

What a great excerpt! Thank you, Jannine! I’m sure everyone is adding this to their TBR list. I know I am!  Thanks for sharing your books with us and thank you, readers, for stopping by! Ciao–Amie

A Year to Remember by Shelly Bell ~ A Review & More

Posted in Book review, Chick Lit Plus, Chicklit, Excerpt, Humor, Interviews, Romance, self-published by

♥♥♥♥♥ You Gotta Read This Book! ♥♥♥♥♥               

When her younger brother marries on her twenty-ninth birthday, food addict Sara Friedman drunkenly vows to three hundred wedding guests to find and marry her soul mate within the year.　 After her humiliating toast becomes a YouTube sensation, she permits a national morning show to chronicle her search. With the help of best friend, Missy, she plunges head first into the shallow end of the dating pool. Her journey leads her to question the true meaning of soul mates, as she decides between fulfilling her vow to marry before her thirtieth birthday and following her heart’s desire. But before she can make the biggest decision of her life, Sara must begin to take her first steps toward recovery from her addiction to food.

~*~*~*~*~ The Review ~*~*~*~*~

This is a really long post, so  I’ll keep my review short and sweet. READ THIS BOOK.  But seriously, A Year to Remember is laugh out loud funny, and I was sad to see it end. The kind of book that you want to thumb back through even though you just read the last page. The kind of book with characters you wish you could be friends with. Even better, the ending is *good*, and Sara ends up with the right man for her.  You can’t always say that about chicklit. And y’all know I’m a sucker for a happy ending. Okay, I demand it on a regular basis. There’s no one more deserving of a happy ending than Sara. She’s funny, a good friend, and an all around decent person. That’s not to say that she’s perfect, but isn’t it our imperfections that make us funny, I mean, human. And for Sara, the year is about more than just finding the perfect man. It’s a year of hard self discoveries. As painful as that may be, I wish us all to have A Year to Remember!

~*~*~*~*~ An Excerpt From A Year To Remember ~*~*~*~*~

“Today, I turned twenty-nine and I wonder if I’ll ever meet my own beshert. Did we already meet and fail to recognize we belonged together? Did I lose my chance already?”

I stopped and pondered my own profound musings for a moment, before remembering I still held the microphone. Oh dear, what was I saying? I decided I better wrap it up, since the room started spinning.

“I’m jealous of my brother.” Crap, did that really just come out of my mouth?

“I mean, I’m not jealous just because my younger brother got married before me and I’m twenty-nine with no possible prospects in sight,” I stammered.

The audience giggled, and I wondered if they believed me, because I sure didn’t.

“I’m happy for my brother, because if he can find his beshert, it gives me hope that someday, I will, too.”

Before I could stop myself, the words I would live to regret flew out of my mouth. “Even without a significant man in my life at the moment, I promise you by the time I turn thirty, I will be married.”

Oh my God, did I really just say that? “With that, I’ll end by saying Mazel Tov, Seth and Emily. L’chayim!” I held up my empty glass of champagne.

Everyone clapped as I returned to my table. I hoped the videographer could edit my speech out of the wedding video, or ’I’d never live it down. My brother would play it at every holiday just to torture me.

Missy gave me a sympathetic smile. “That was a great speech until you blew it by admitting you were jealous and swore to marry by your thirtieth birthday.”

I groaned and put my head in my hands, terrified to think the night just started.

~*~*~*~*~ Let’s Hear From Shelly ~*~*~*~*~

Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about? 

I was working on another book when the idea for A Year to Remember downloaded in my head as my family and I drove to the movie theater. That’s literally what happened; The scenes, main character names, and even the title, came to me all at once like a downloaded movie. I skipped the film I was supposed to see and wrote the outline in the lobby. Three months later, I had a completed manuscript.

When I was turning thirty, I decided I needed to do anything and everything to find a husband. I used to say my dates were so bad, I should write a book about them. Eight years later I did.

One thing you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book.  

I’m hoping they’ll walk away with the knowledge that weight can be a symptom of food addiction and it’s not always about lack of willpower.

Why did you choose your genre? 

I love reading Chick Lit, especially books by Jennifer Weiner and Jane Green (I apologize to them if they feel that classifying them as Chick Lit authors demeans them. That’s not my intention.) To me, it’s the most personal way for readers to identify with the protagonist. I wanted my readers to know what goes on in a food addict’s mind.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing? 

Finding the time is difficult for me. I’m a full-time attorney and I have two elementary aged children, so I’m often writing at the table while my kids do their homework. I gave up television in order to write.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?   

Join a writer’s organization like Romance Writers of America. There is such a wealth of information to be found from peers. It’s not only about the writing these days. Authors are expected to know about the publishing industry and how to market themselves. Savvy Authors is another great resource to learn about the industry and it offers excellent workshops. Most importantly, don’t give up!

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?  

There are some days when the words don’t flow. On those days, I don’t write. I’ll edit or research. I take a step back and wait for it. Usually, it’s when I’m not thinking about it that I’ll get an idea. The inspiration can come from anywhere, but often times it’s through lyrics in a song on the radio.

 What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers? 

Beta readers are a great tool to utilize while you’re writing. That way, you can have other people tell you what’s working and not working. It’s different from a critique partner or writing group because beta readers aren’t writers; they’re readers. Social media is another tool that’s important. It connects you to potential readers, but more importantly, it connects you to others in the industry. I find writers to be very supportive, and I love making contact with them through Twitter and Facebook. Once you have a finished manuscript, a website or blog is an absolute must.

~*~*~*~*~ Author Bio ~*~*~*~*~

Shelly Bell started reading at three years old. In elementary school, the librarian gave her books to test out for the school library. As a teenager, she spent her allowance each week on romance novels, enjoying both young adult and adult romance.

Married to Jason in 2003, they have two children and reside in the metro-Detroit area, where she reads on her Kindle each night when her family falls asleep.

She is a member of Romance Writers of America and writes both women’s fiction and paranormal romance.

~*~*~*~*~ Connect with Shelly ~*~*~*~*~

www.ShellyBellBooks.com

Twitter Facebook

Pinterest             LinkedIn

Google Plus       Goodreads

~*~*~*~*~ Buy the Book ~*~*~*~*~

 ~*~ For e-book ~*~

Soul Mate Publishing

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

 ~*~ For paperback ~*~

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

~*~*~*~*~ Shelly On Tour ~*~*~*~*~

 http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/04/year-to-remember-by-shelly-bell.html

Interview With A Jewish Vampire by Erica Manfred ~ A Review & More

Posted in Book review, Chick Lit Plus, Chicklit, Humor, Interviews, self-published by
The last thing zaftig middle-aged journalist, Rhoda Ginsburg, expected when she signed up for JDate was to fall in love with  a vampire.  But when she meets drop-dead gorgeous Sheldon, a Hasidic vampire, she falls hard. She rationalizes that he may not be alive, but at least he’s Jewish.She learns that back in the nineteenth century Sheldon was a rabbi who was turned into a vampire by Count Dracula, an anti-Semite who got his kicks from turning Orthodox Jews into vampires because then they’d have to drink blood, which isn’t kosher.Soon after she meets Sheldon, she discovers her beloved mother, Fanny, is terminally ill, so she comes up with the crackpot idea of getting Sheldon to turn Fanny and her friends, known as “the goils,” into vampires.  Once she becomes a vampire, Fanny tires of her boring life in Century Village, Florida, and, seeking thrills, she goes clubbing and disappears into the nightlife of South Beach in Miami.  When Fanny and her goil posse  “go rogue” and start preying on the young, Rhoda and Sheldon must track them down to keep them from killing again.

Interview with a Jewish Vampire turns vampire lore on its head, proving that not all vampires are young and beautiful and it IS possible to be undead and kosher.

~*~*~*~ The Review ~*~*~*~

I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m not a big fan of vampires. I have not read, nor do I plan on reading Twilight, I have never seen an episode of Buffy, and I’ve only seen one episode of True Blood. Well, I watched part of an episode, but it was so…ick. And well, I didn’t watch the rest of it. So I was surprised when I agreed to read Interview With a Jewish Vampire by Erica Manfred, but there was something about the blurb that lured me in. Maybe it was  her snarky sense of humor, or the irony of a Jewish vampire (I mean, how are you going to ward them off? Not with a cross.).

Whatever it was, I caved, put my ick factor away for the day, and dove right in. Erica has a fabulous sense of humor which pulled me in from the beginning and I must admit, there is something charming about a man who likes his women a little chubby–even if that man is a vampire. (Oh, the bygone era of Rubuen). But the heart of a great book lies in the reader’s ability to idenitfy with the characters. And Erica has this down to an art. There is so much in this book for reader’s to connect with. Even if you’re not Jewish or over-weight, most of us have regrets in our lives, like Rhoda, our heroine who is over 40 and childless. And I would chance to say that most of us would do danged near anything to keep our loved ones with us always. And Sheldon, our Jewish rabbi vamp? Well, he’s pretty great.  Even with his little quirks–like insomnia, a golem who doubles as a guilt-flinging Jewish mother, and well, the fact that he’s a vampire–he still comes out on top. And he’s more than perfect for Rhoda.

But I think what I liked best was the simple fact that the  book doesn’t take itself so seriously. Certainly not like other vamp works (okay, I admit to reading Salem’s Lot, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Interview with a Vampire, but that’s all you’re getting out of me.) Despite some of the issues Rhoda faces–her mother’s mortality topping that list– it was still a FUN read. There’s no ick factor, no spurting blood, no damned for eternity. And I loved it!

So take it from this not-digging-the-undead-craze reader, this is one vampire book you don’t want to miss!

~*~*~*~ Excerpt from Interview With a Jewish Vampire ~*~*~*~ 

No, I wasn’t interested in the story of his life. I was interested in getting to know him in a more biblical sense. I figured he was just another narcissistic celebrity wannabe. As a writer I was constantly getting hit on–not by attractive men–but by people who thought their lives were so fascinating they would make surefire bestseller material. All they thought they needed was a writer to tell their story which, of course, I would be thrilled to do on spec because they didn’t have any money. None of them realized that writers are not charitable institutions.

“You will want to write my story,” he said urgently, “You’ve never heard anything like it before. It will make you rich and famous.”

“Sure, sure. So what’s so special about your story?” I asked wearily, disappointed that he was only interested in my writing skills, not my body.

~*~*~*~  The Interview ~*~*~*~

Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about?  I’ve been a vampire fan since reading Anne Rice’s Interview With a Vampire in the 1980s.   I started wondering what a Jewish vampire would be like and thought meeting one on Jdate was funny. Since I’m a journalist I imagined myself meeting a Jewish vampire and interviewing him.   The book originally started as a humor piece and morphed into a novel.

One thing you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book.  Yes, that I’m hysterically funny and they should feel compelled to tell everyone they know to buy my book.

Why did you choose your genre?  I have no idea what my genre is.   I wish I knew.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?  Yes, getting started.  That’s the part I hate.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?   Take workshops and get a lot of feedback.  Pay attention to what experienced writers tell you and don’t assume you know it all right off the bat.  Join a critique group.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?   Yes, I do suffer from it–a lot.  I tell myself to write it any old way and worry about fixing it up later.  That’s why God invented computers.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?  A computer and a refrigerator full of snacks so you have someplace to visit when you need to stretch your legs.   A dog or cat helps too.


~*~*~*~ Author Bio~*~*~*~

Erica Manfred is a freelance journalist, humorous essayist, and author.   Her most recent book is the novel,  Interview with a Jewish Vampire.  She’s also authored two non-fiction self-help books, including most recently He’s History You’re Not; Surviving Divorce After Forty.     Her articles and essays have appeared in Cosmopolitan, The New York Times Magazine, Ms., New Age Journal, Village Voice, Woman’s Day, SELF, Ladies Home Journal, and many other publications.  Erica lives in Woodstock, New York with her Chihuahua, Shadow, and her daughter, Freda. Brought up by Jewish parents who spoke Yiddish but avoided religion, she got her Jewish education at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation which welcomes Jews from all backgrounds, from atheist to Orthodox, to vampire.    Her website is www.ericamanfred.com, or visit www.jewishvampire.com

~*~*~*~ Praise for Erica Manfred ~*~*~*~

Erica Manfred’s wry humor is the perfect match for the sexy-vampire genre in this novel about the emotional intricacies of dating a hot Jewish guy who is a card-carrying member of the undead. Delicious!” –Nancy Peske, coauthor of the bestselling Cinematherapy series

“Bloodaholics! Only Erica could think of this. Clever, clever, clever.”- –Avigayil Lansmann, contributor to The Meta Arts Magazine.

With wild irreverent humor this book turns upside down and sideways all the vampire clichés and stock images. Jewish vampires keeping kosher, old lady vampires on the prowl. Above all, it’s fun! –Rachel Pollack, author of World Fantasy Award winner Godmother Night

~*~*~*~ Erica on Tour ~*~*~*~

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/03/interview-with-jewish-vampire-by-erica.html

Many thanks to Erica for sharing her hi-larious story with us. And many more to you for stopping by today! 

Lots of <3–Amie

Author Monica Marlow

Posted in Amie Louellen, Chick Lit Plus, Chicklit, Interviews, self-published by

I know I’ve told you how lucky I am that I get to meet all these great indy authors. Well, today is no exception. Monica Marlow, author of Finding Felicity is here answering all my probing questions about her book, her writing, and writing in general.  I know, right? So hold your applause until the last question has been answered. Are you ready? Here’s Monica…

Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about? 

A good friend of mine told me he was meeting with the CEO of a major lingerie company. I found myself wondering what kind of a life she led, what she was like, what she cared about.  Before I knew it, Madeline O’Connor was born!  Once I flushed out her character, putting her in an unlikely situation like falling in love with a monk let the story and the ideas flow.  I happen to be one of those writers who believes that character drives plot, so once I had my characters created, the story virtually wrote itself.

One thing you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book. 

My hope is that readers will look at their own lives and reach the conclusion that no matter what, it all really is perfect, just the way it is.

Why did you choose your genre? 

I’ve always read women’s fiction, romance, and chick lit, so I just wrote the story the characters wanted to tell. I didn’t make a conscious decision to write a particular genre.  In fact, categorizing Finding Felicity was difficult because it didn’t seem to fit neatly into a specific genre, which was why bigger New York publishers did not publish it.  Literary publishers thought it was too commercial, and commercial publishers found it too literary.  Years after it was finished, a small press decided to publish it, calling it a “romance”, a decision with which some readers have vehemently disagreed.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing? 

Mostly, finding or creating the time.  With a full-time day job that has a 90-minute round trip commute, and a horse, I sometimes just don’t have the energy to write at the end of the day. When I was writing Finding Felicity, I got up at 4am to write before going into the office.  I’m finding that the older I get, the less energy I have, so it’s harder to sit down for a four-hour stretch to write.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?  

Write every single day, and keep writing.  Don’t ever give up on your dream of being published.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?  

I do suffer from writer’s block. After I finished Finding Felicity, I went for years without writing. I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to write next. I had an idea for a story about a woman and her horse, but it just wasn’t flowing the way Finding Felicity did. Finally, I moved across the country from Los Angeles to North Carolina, bought a horse, and now, I’m writing a memoir about my first year with him. Of course, that flies in the face of the advice marketing pros would give an author since I’m not really branding myself.  But what can I say?  I write because I want to make a difference in people’s lives, to share a message, not necessarily to have a career as an author.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers? 

Friends who write.  Writing can be a lonely endeavor, and having friends who understand that, and can sit down and brainstorm with you or even just ask, “How are the pages coming?” are worth their weight in gold.  I know … not exactly.

~*~*~*~ Finding Felicity ~*~*~*~

When Madeline O’Connor learns that her estranged sister is gravely ill, she leaves behind her life in Manhattan to be at her sister’s side in Italy. There, she discovers an ancient Benedictine monastery that accommodates travelers, and she decides to stay there, among the monks. Everything in her life turns upside down when she falls for Brother Anthony Lamberti, a soft-spoken Italian completely different from the men she knows in New York. Together Madeline and Anthony find love for the first time, and learn that life and love always find a way. When her sister dies, a new life for Madeline begins. A new life that she would never have imagined and yet is perfect for her in every way.

~*~*~*~Author Bio~*~*~*~

Monica Marlowe was born in Toronto and later moved to Los Angeles. While in LA, Monica studied the craft of novel writing and participated in the Noel Hynd Workshop. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Spiritual Psychology. Now, Monica makes her home in North Carolina and divides her time between the East and West Coasts. Monica is currently writing a memoir, The Gift Horse, about acquiring her first horse and finding herself on a most unexpected path. Monica writes stories about heroes and heroines who follow their heart, wherever the path may lead, knowing that the heart has reasons of its own.

~*~*~*~Connect With Monica~*~*~*~

http://www.monicamarlowe.blogspot.com/p/links.html

www.monicamarlowe.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/monicamarlowe

www.twitter.com/authormonica

~*~*~*~Monica’s Tour ~*~*~*~

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/03/finding-felicity-by-monica-marlowe.html

And Monica will be appearing again June 6th, when I’ll share my thoughts on Finding Felicity. Hope you can come back. Thanks for stopping by today!

Lots of <3–Amie  

Pepper Phillips ~ Author Interview

Posted in Chick Lit Plus, Chicklit, Guest Post, Humor, Interviews, self-published by

I’m a lucky girl. See, about a year ago I got tangled up with Chicklit Blog Tours (waves to Samantha) and started doing interviews and reviews with them. It has been great fun. I’ve hosted writers that I might not have heard about, indy authors who were brave enough to publish their own work and authors who have a house behind them yet want more exposure. I’ve read everything from mystery to romance, speculative fiction to gritty reality,  all in the name of ‘chicklit’. But the main thing is, I’ve read books that I might not have read otherwise.

Today’s guest does not fit into this latter category.  Pepper Phillips’ novel The Devil Has Dimples is a book that I hope I would have found on my own, but I’m so glad I had the chance to read it.  I’ll be posting a complete review of the novel really soon (maybe even this afternoon), but right now ‘mom duty’ calls. So to hold you over until then, I have Pepper (doncha just love that name?) here answering all of my nosy questions.

~*~*~*~The Interview ~*~*~*~

Amie: Hmmm…first question–Why did you choose your genre?

Pepper: I write in several different genres, contemporary, women’s fiction, time-travel, paranormal, historical, children’s stories, etc.  I have to go where the story leads me.

Amie:  As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  How has that childhood dream affected your current career?

Pepper: I wanted to be a teacher, a ballerina, a librarian, a businesswoman, a wife, a mother.  I am a businesswoman, a wife, a mother, have taught as a substitute teacher, was a modern jazz dancer (met the husband while dancing at a USO show) and have enough books to start a small library, so most of the goals were accomplished in one way or another.  I think that my various interests show up in my work as a writer.

 Amie: A USO show? How cool is that! What do you do for fun?

Pepper: That’s a hard question…LOL!  I love to read and always have a book lying around that I’m reading, or one of my two kindles.  (I couldn’t resist buying the Kindle Fire so I could view children’s books in color, because I have several of those written as well.)  I think taking pictures is fun.  I did take a workshop and a college course in photography, and love to arrange a photo for the best effect.

 Amie: How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

Pepper: Usually they come to me with the idea.  There’s only one that I had trouble with and my critique partner thought of a title that really works.

Amie: Yay, critique partners! What would we do without them? Have you ever used contemporary events or stories “ripped from the headlines” in your work?

Pepper: Sort of.  My time-travel, which isn’t finished, came to mind while I walked in front of the television and they were talking about the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, who has never been found.  My brain started clicking and I thought that being pulled into the past would work.  Though I always love to read time-travels, I came up with an idea I’ve never seen done.  So, that’s on my list to finish.

Amie: Please tell me you’ll come back when it’s finished. I LOVE time travels! How much of your work is real?  How much is fantasy?

Pepper: Good question.  My stories are fantasy…but there are real things stuck into the story to make it funny or ring true.  The beginning scene of The Devil Has Dimples is pure fantasy, but it’s funny.

Amie: It’s adorable, that’s what it is! :) Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

Pepper: Editing.  You have to go over your manuscript with a fine-tooth comb…several times.  Thankfully, I have some fantastic editors who give great pointers so I can make my story better.  I’ve always thought that if I can make my readers laugh, cry and think, then I’ve done my job.

Amie: You made me laugh that’s for sure. What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Pepper: Write every day.  Read every day.  Study the craft always.  I still study craft.

Amie: Who is your favorite author and why?  What books have most influenced your life?

Pepper: My favorite author changes as I grow in my writing.  I will read anything the following authors write:  Marshall Karp, Lisa Lutz, Suzanne Brockmann, Lee Child.  Right now I’m in a Russell Blake mood.  I’m reading him because his stories are interesting, the heros (except for the assassin) are good men, and their women are fascinating.  He has a touch of humor in his work, and I like that.

The books that influenced my life the most are those from my childhood.  They took me on so many adventures.  Lois Lenski was my favorite author, Toby Tyler and the Circus, Pollyanna and The Diary of Anne Frank are the books I remember most.

Amie: What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers? 

Pepper: LOL…a computer!  What a bonus over a typewriter!  When I write or edit, I have www.onelook.comrunning in the background so I can easily check my compound words.  My first editor pointed me in that direction as I really had a problem with the little devils.  It made me more aware of them.

Visual Thesaurus is another tool that I use to find the ‘right’ word to use.  I also like Webster’s Ninth for a dictionary as it gives you the year a particular word came into usage, perfect if you’re writing anything historical.

Hmmm…I think I may have to use a few of those myself! Thanks for stopping by, Pepper! And visitors don’t forget to be watching for my review of The Devil Has Dimples. 

Lot’s of <3–Amie

~*~*~*~ About Pepper ~*~*~*~

Pepper Phillips wrote her first play in the seventh grade. But before that she read every book in her age group at the small local library. An only child, she entertained herself in the worlds she created in her mind. She’s still pretty mindless in some respects, but her writing world is where she is the happiest. She ventured into self-publishing in 2011.

~*~*~*~ Connect with Pepper ~*~*~*~

Pepper Phillips Website

 Amazon - Smashwords - Nook

Twitter:  Pepper_Phillips

Facebook

~*~*~*~ Blog Tour ~*~*~*~

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/03/devil-has-dimples-by-pepper-phillips.html

Vivid ~ by Andrea Murray a Review & More

Posted in Book review, Chick Lit Plus, Interviews, self-published, Young Adult by
~♥♥♥♥♥ LOVED it! ♥♥♥♥♥~ 
When Vivian Cartwright was five years old, she witnessed her mother’s death.Now, sixteen-year-old Vivian only wants a normal life—hard to accomplish when you possess the power to control energy. Her entire life she has feared her power and its connection to her mother’s murder. She has kept her ability a secret from everyone except her guardian, Charlotte, who has hidden Vivian from the man responsible for her mother’s murder.Her secret is safe until Vivian subconsciously defends herself at school using her power. After this first use of her gift in many years, Vivian’s power seems to take on a mind of its own, increasing in strength and demanding to be used. This increase in power also brings dreams of her mother’s death and the mysterious man connected with it. When she is assigned to tutor the would-be boyfriend of Trista Parmer (a.k.a. the biggest diva in school), Vivian cannot deny the electrifying connection that she feels for the boy, Easton Garrett. In her desire to get Easton away from Vivian, Trista doubles her efforts to humiliate Vivian, forcing Vivian to use her supernatural gift over and over. With each use, Vivian fears she is losing control and discovers her powers are growing—maybe too much—bringing her unknowingly closer to the man who murdered her mother.
~*~*~*~ THE REVIEW ~*~*~*~
Sixteen year old Vivian  Cartwright has always known she was a little different than her classmates. Aside from living with her aunt–her only known relative–Vivian can make things happen. She’s worked her entire life to control this talent, afraid that she will lose control and really hurt somebody. But when her high school nemesis pushes her too far, Vivian ends up burning another student’s arm. This incident lands her trouble, and she has to tutor the star baseball player in order to keep herself from getting suspended.
This also gives Vivian the one thing every high school girl wants–a hot boyfriend. But the budding relationship is plagued from the start with troubles over her powers. Oh, she and Easton are fine, but she and her best friend, Abby, have a falling out. But the real problem comes when Vivian’s use of her special powers brings the one man to her that she never wanted to meet–the man responsible for her mother’s death.
One thing is certain when you read Vivid by Andrea Murray, you won’t be bored. Vivian is so real and true, her voice is that of a million teenage girls. She is far from perfect–special talents aside. She’s trying to make it, fly under the radar, and just get through high school. (sound familiar?)This realism made me love her all the more. She’s good natured and unassuming, thankful for what she has, even though she knows it’s not a lot. She’s strong and uncertain, but loyal to a fault. She’s the perfect YA heroine.
Andrea does a wonderful job creating the characters, their motivations are logical and believable.  You’ll find yourself cheering for Viv long before the real trouble starts.
Another thing I loved about this book? The ending is open, which means a second installment. Whoop! Can’t wait to read more–to find out what happens to Viv, to Easton, and Abby.
~*~*~*~ THE INTERVIEW ~*~*~*~

Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about?

The idea for the novel came from a dream.  I know it sounds completely corny, but I dreamed about my protagonist, Vivian.  Last school year, I had a group of 8th grade students who were avid readers.  The class make up was almost entirely female, and I had been reading one science fiction/paranormal romance and realistic romance after another to recommend to these girls since those were the genres they preferred.

My own children were two and four at the time, and my husband and I were struggling to get them to sleep in their own beds at night.  We would put them to bed each night and would lie in bed with them until they went to sleep (big parenting mistake, by the way).  I would lie there, fighting to stay awake and failing miserably.  In that between time when I wasn’t asleep but wasn’t truly awake either, I would see her story.  The first scene I dreamed was the scene with Easton at the lake when he sees her take the lightning into her body.

One thing you want the reader to walk away with after reading this book.

I want the readers to see a strong, independent teenage girl. In so many paranormal romances, the female character, while typically the narrator, is not the supernaturally powerful character.  She waits for her brooding, Byronic hero, who happens to be a vampire, werewolf, angel, demon–take your pick–to rescue her from some terrifying situation that is usually the result of her bad boy syndrome!  I didn’t want that for Vivian.  I want readers to see that she takes care of herself (and anyone else when she needs to).

Why did you choose your genre?

Is there any other?  Just kidding!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal.  I usually have to force myself to read any other genre, but I do like historical romance and some realistic, too.  To be honest, I wish I enjoyed realistic fiction more.  It seems like everyone is writing paranormal romance, but alas, it is my first love.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

Writing, no.  Publishing, yes.  Storytelling is something I’ve always done.  The writing is just a natural extension of the storytelling.  But publishing is a whole other beast!  I find it discouraging and tedious to send query letters and browse literary agency sites.  In fact, I think it sucks the joy out of the writing. You pour the proverbial blood, sweat, and tears into a work only to be told how ‘it’s just not what we’re looking for’ or ‘I just couldn’t connect to your story’.  That is why I decided to e-publish.  Life is too short to wait six months to hear back from agents who are overworked and overwhelmed by their slush piles.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Interesting that you ask this because just last month I had to speak at Career Day in the junior high school where I teach.  The counselor asked me to speak not as a fifteen-year veteran of teaching but as an author.  I felt like a total phony!  What do I know about writing?  I’ve written one novel that I e-published!  When I said this very thing to my nephew, he said, “Have people bought your book and told you they enjoyed it?” When I answered that they have, his reply was, “Then you’re an author.”

So, when I spoke to this group of eager faces, I tried to remember that, and the one thing I stressed was DON’T GIVE UP!  If an agent rejects you, if you can’t get your format just right for some site you’re trying to upload to, or if your computer crashes right before you publish (and yes, that did happen), don’t stop.  Sounds like a cheap inspirational poster, but it is 100 percent true. Believe in yourself, even when you want to give up.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

I like to call it a ‘detour’ :) Blocks imply you can’t get around.  Detours just require time and creativity.  Sometimes, you get a sign, and the detour is easy to find.  Sometimes, you have to build a new road.  But build it you must.

I actually use the same technique I use when I’m creating a new lesson for my students.  Begin with the end.  What result do I want?  Where do I want to be when I’m finished?  Then, I walk backward.  Make an skeletal outline, and fill it as you go.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Grammar and mechanics are essential–and I’m not just saying that for job security!  Yes, writers stretch or modify grammar and mechanics for the sake of creativity and style sometimes, but I really wonder if some of them know the rules at all.

I also think computer skills are important, especially if he or she is planning on e-publishing.  A basic knowledge isn’t enough.  The ‘Help’ function is your friend!

~*~*~* Author Bio ~*~*~*~

Andrea Murray has been teaching English for longer than most of her students have been alive.  She has taught everything from junior high language arts to concurrent credit freshman composition. She lives in a very small town in Arkansas with her precocious daughter, energetic son, and racecar-driving husband.  When she isn’t writing or reading novels for her students, she’s probably watching reality television or cheesy science fiction movies.  In addition to Vivid, Andrea has also written Vicious, the sequel to her first novel.

~*~*~*~ Buy the Book ~*~*~*~

http://www.amazon.com/Vivid-The-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B006M5L7EK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335996082&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vivid-andrea-murray/1108019987?ean=2940013881563

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/144332

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5418176.Andrea_Murray/blog?format=rss

~*~*~*~ The Giveaway ~*~*~*~

Everyone who leaves a comment on Andrea’s Chicklit Plus Page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! If you purchase your copy of Vivid before May 28 and send your receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, you will get five bonus entries!

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/03/vivid-by-andrea-murray.html

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