Category Archives: self-published

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

Paula Takes a Risk by Randi Sherman

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

♥~♥~♥~♥~♥ A Fun Read ♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

After thirty-four years of just letting life happen to her, Paula Tenenbaum’s mundane existence was suddenly interrupted. It was bad enough to be fired from her job because she was “average”, but on that same day, her boyfriend also dumped her for being “un-dynamic.” Somehow, someway Paula needed to make a change. But before she could figure out what her first step should be, her scheming neighbor Larry tapped into her silent desperation and dreams and challenged everything that she believed about herself. At first Paula was skeptical and scared, but quickly, she realized that she had nothing to lose, as she donned the persona of the successful, and vibrant individual that she had always dreamed of being, navigating thru business, colorful personalities and the people that she had idolized from afar. Written with sharp humor, and huge personality, Paula Takes A Risk is the hilarious story about the metamorphosis of Paula Tenenbaum, who naively enters into an adventure that changes her life. This is a story certain to strike a chord in anyone who secretly desires change, but is afraid to make it.

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

I think there’s a little bit of Paula in all of us. Timid, in a rut, comfortable in our life even if we’re not necessarily *happy* with it. And like most of us, Paula needs an outside force to get her moving in a new direction. I guess that’s what losing your job, your longtime boyfriend breaking up with you, and having a manipulative neighbor can do for a person.

Paula gets dragged from her safe-haven of a life and into a world of deception. Not the espionage kind, but the “putting on airs in order to impress people and make them believe you are something that you are not” variety. At the encouragement of her neighbor, Larry, Paula pretends to be an executive vice president of a fictional investment company. But somewhere along the way, a stab of conscious gets to her and the dream world they build comes crashing around their ears.

One thing I really enjoyed about Paula Takes a Risk–other than Randi Sherman’s snarky sense of humor–is that Randi doesn’t overwhelm the reader with the ins and outs of the business world. She definitively catered to her readers with this. Women who  picked up the book for a fun and sassy read, but didn’t necessarily want to learn how to take over Wall Street in three easy steps.

But there was one problem with Paula Takes a Risk. It was just too short!

Seriously though, Paula Takes a Risk is a great read: laugh-out-loud funny while it makes the reader wonder if it’s time for them to take a risk as well.

~*~*~*~ Let’s hear from Randi ~*~*~*~

Patience: I wish I had more.

I chose the self-publishing route because I lack the giselle-like grace and patience to jump through the burning hoops of fire that the publishing world has put into place for new authors.

Submit an outline. No, submit the first seven pages or first chapter, whichever is shorter. What else have you written?  Are you well known? Are you as important as a misbehaved, illiterate rap or reality star or perhaps the drug addled or fourteen year old celebrity who is writing his memoirs – because they are the literary works that are slotted for this year’s print and release. This is what the new author has to look forward to.

I had to be honest with myself. My books are contemporary fiction and may not withstand the multi-year wait or fermentation on a publisher’s desk. To illustrate my point, imagine the difference between:

“Marilyn pulled out her four pound Motorola Brick Analogue Mobile telephone, raised its antennae, and closed her eyes as she tried to recall John’s phone number. As she listened to the third crackling ring, she prayed that he was home. Maybe he would come and help her change the flat tire.”

Verses

“Marilyn pulled out her iPhone and pressed the road assistance icon.”

I was coming upon a milestone birthday and I looked at my life, my choices, and my goals. I wanted to make a change. I looked at the book that I had been working on it off-and-on for years. It was ready. The book Paula Takes a Risk is about takings risks to make dreams come true, and I asked myself: If not now, then when and if not me, well… then who?

I did an online search for self-publishing services. I found that there were plenty to choose from. So, I chose one. The account manager was attentive. A copy editor was assigned and I worked with a designer on the cover. The account manager worked with me on pricing and target audiences and I even purchased a social networking promotional guidance package. The whole process was straight forward and easy. In my dreams, it was only a matter of time before my biggest problem would be managing my schedule around my book signing tour and interviews.  I ignored the truth, which is, I was a client and the publisher simply provided printing and publishing services. The rest was up to me.

Sure when I received the box containing hardcopies of the Paula Takes A Risk, I thought – Wow, here we go! But the work was just beginning. My only regret is that I should have taken the time earlier in the process to learn how to be my own literary agent, publicist and cheer leader. I’m doing that now.

This is what I have learned:

Writing the book is the easy part.

Be realistic. What are you true goals?

Take your time and find the right self-publishing partner

You don’t have to spend a ton on money to self-publish, there all types of choices to make (hardcopies verses on-line book sources)

Learn about social media and how to use it

Learn some patience.

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

Randi Sherman, a native Californian, lives in San Francisco. With her tremendous grasp of the obvious, Randi has always had the ability to find humor in the mundane and share the laughter. She dares to examine and discuss everyday foibles, which obliges people to stop taking themselves too seriously.
Developing characters and writing have been a part of Randi’s life since she was a teenager, umm-mmum-mumm years ago. She spent time performing stand-up comedy at Los Angeles club amateur nights and studied Improvisation in the Bay Area. Realizing that she preferred having an income, living indoors and eating regularly, she reluctantly put her dreams on hold and entered the corporate world, yet never left behind her sense of humor and creative storytelling ability, skills which were not always appreciated during budget and strategy meetings.
Now, after living indoors for a while and eating, albeit too much, her book, Paula Takes a Risk is here. Randi’s unique wit, writing style and candor will surely make the reader sit up, stand up, roll over or assume an interested leaning position and take notice.
Randi would never claim to have a genius IQ, the body of a super model or always have the right thing to wear. However, she can spell the words, “smart” and “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Randi maintains a trim, well-toned body that is cleverly concealed beneath twenty pounds of soft protective layering and she has the appetite of a bird. (By “bird” I mean vulture.) Her entire wardrobe consists of black, black and varying degrees of black, except for those items that are covered with lint because she put them through the wash with a tissue.
Things that Randi cannot live without: people to laugh with, her car horn, a gym membership where there are chubby women who break into a sweat while putting on a jog bra, wine, waist capes, and her partner, Carol.
Randi does not like mean-spirited people, liver, left-overs, communal dressing rooms, tight underwear, and people who point.
Randi is five-foot-seven.

~*~*~*~ Connect with Paula & Randi ~*~*~*~

paulatakesarisk@gmail.com

http://paulatakesarisk.com

http://randimsherman.blogspot.com/

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

http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000004536283/Randi-M.-Sherman-Paula-Takes-a-Risk

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=paula+takes+a+risk

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paula-takes-a-risk-randi-m-sherman/1108568694

~*~*~*~ Randi on Tour ~*~*~*~

http://www.clpblogtours.com/2012/06/paula-takes-risk-by-randi-m-sherman.html

Thanks to Paula and Randi for visiting today. And thanks to you for joining us!

Lots of <3–Amie

Brownie Fix by Ellen Cardona ~ A review

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

~♥~♥~♥~ An Interesting Read~ ♥~♥~♥~

~*~*~*~ The Blurb ~*~*~*~

Chocolate. Love. Sex. Really, what else could a woman want in life? For Persey, the heroine of Brownie Fix, her days are fun-filled until what is normally one of life’s most fulfilling experiences, the birth of her son, leads her straight into a dark state of postpartum depression. Wandering in her own postpartum hell, Persey meets people that are absurd, like the swinging neighbors who want a little more than a cup of sugar and a group of mothers who become whipped up in worship to a climactic furor. On top of the madness, she keeps seeing a yellow-toothed old man who acts like he wants to breastfeed from her. Or is it her imagination? Add the voices in her head that become louder and louder, and it’s little wonder that Persey reaches for brownie mix to soothe her insanity. Buckling under the pressure and lack of sleep from motherhood, Persey experiences the five stages of grief that lead her to uncover a buried secret, and gradually she begins to heal with the help of her family, friends, and, of course, brownies.

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

It happens all the time, I’ll see a preview for a movie and think, “That’s going to be so funny. I can’t wait to see it.” Once I get to the theater, I discover that the funniest parts are in the trailer. Though the movie is enjoyable and has merits all its own, it isn’t the comedy I was led to believe. Such is my experience with Brownie Fix.

I consider myself to have a very well developed sense of humor. But the ‘dark humor’ that is promised in this book was lost on me. When I read the blurb, I thought I was in for a funny little romp, a struggle for sanity in a most humorous manner. But I guess to say that any struggle for sanity can be funny is a joke in itself.

Midway through the novel, I had to wipe the lighthearted (though a strange) cover from my mind and concentrate on what was truly on the page—a women desperately swimming in a swirling pool of hormones, denial, and depression.

Another setback is the crazy people who keep turning up in Persey’s life. I find it hard to believe that anyone could encounter that many fruit loops in such a short period of time. Add to this the presence of the old man who says horribly inappropriate things to her and most probably doesn’t exist, I have to wonder if she encounters the swinging neighbors and the thrashing holy rollers at all. Maybe they are just part of her brain trying to save her before it’s too late.

Yet once I changed my thought process about the book and I stopped trying to find the humor where there was none, I enjoyed the book. Persey is likeable and believable even if most of the people she encounters aren’t. Her husband is a good man, a fine dad, and genuinely loves her. Her mother is a little eccentric, but still someone you’d expect to meet. And her mother in law? Well, she is the mother in law, after all.

As much as I wanted the comedy I thought I was about to read, there is a good, solid story trapped beneath the layers of Persey’s weird, psycho world. All in all, I enjoyed Brownie Fix. I only wish that I didn’t feel as if I had been misled from the start.

~*~*~*~ About Ellen ~*~*~*~

Ellen Cardona wrote Brownie Fix to help deal with the postpartum depression she experienced after one of her pregnancies. Through her writing, she found that postpartum depression was real but conquerable, especially when one has the help of some dark chocolate and even darker humor.
When Ellen is not writing, she teaches literature to college freshmen and attempts to help them understand the writing process, though they think she’s crazy because of her love for literature and writing.
Ellen graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a PhD in Humanities with a specialization in Literature. Even though she has published several academic works on Ezra Pound, she could not ignore her true passion as a fiction writer.
Ellen lives in Richardson, Texas and continues to learn daily from her husband and two children. In good times and bad, she still enjoys her brownies.
~*~*~*~ Connect with Ellen ~*~*~*~
Website (AND TO DOWNLOAD THE FIRST CHAPTER FREE!): http://www.ellencardona.com 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EllenCardona
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ellencardona <http://twitter.com/#%21/ellencardona>  <http://twitter.com/#%21/ellencardona>
Blog: http://ellencardona.com/blog/

Email: ellen (at)ellencardona(dot)com
 
~*~*~*~ Buy the Book ~*~*~*~Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IC38EU/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=ellencardonac-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B005IC38EU&adid=1AR1GXZZAECEWZJEMZMT&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fellencardona.com%2F

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brownie-fix-ellen-cardona/1105068099?ean=2940013043732&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-plecO0ACyhE-_-2%3a2940013043732&Paperback at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brownie-Fix-Ellen-Cardona/dp/1466221518/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1341330305&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=ellen+cardona

~*~*~*~ Ellen’s Tour ~*~*~*~
CLP Blog Tours
A big special “thanks” to Ellen for allowing me to be a part of her tour. And thanks to everyone who stopped by. Leave a comment on Ellen’s tour page (link above) to be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Brownie Fix before July 30 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries. Whoop! Be sure to take advantage of this! 
Lots of <3–Amie

Dark is the Sky by Jessica Chambers ~ A Review

Posted in Book review, Chicklit, Excerpt, self-published by

♥♥♥♥♥ YOU GOTTA READ THIS BOOK! ♥♥♥♥♥

I’ve mentioned before how lucky I am, and it just keeps coming. Last year I got to read Voices on the Waves by Jessica Chambers. And this year Jessica sent me her second book, Dark is the Sky. The books are very different and yet they are a lot the same (in a good way).  Like Voices, Dark is the Sky is about people, a slice of life with a story to tell. It’s about the dynamics and logistics that occur when people get together. But unlike Voices, the people in Dark is the Sky are family. And Dark is the Sky is a bit…well, dark.

The Cameron family has come together for the weekend. Sounds pretty normal, right? Except the Camerons haven’t all been under the same roof in twelve years. Not since the weekend at Joel’s farm when their brother, Scott died. But his girlfriend wants everyone together, because she has suspicions that Scott was murdered.

Now, you should know by now, that I don’t read and tell. So if you want to know the ending, you’ll have to read it for yourself. What I *will* tell you is Dark is the Sky is a unique a story of a family in denial, twins who don’t speak to each other, first cousins who have fallen in love, and extra martial affairs that could rip the family (even more) apart.

Even better, Dark is the Sky is told in a unique way, skipping from present to past as the days of the weekend coincide. This style kept me turning pages and continually guessing if Scott’s death really was an accident. And if it wasn’t who the murderer could be.

Dark is the Sky is a page turning, slice of life story about a family discovering hidden secrets and praying that their revelations won’t tear all of their carefully constructed lives apart.

Oh, and it’s definitely ‘must read’!

But you don’t have to just take my word for it. Here’s an excerpt of Dark is the Sky by Jessica Chambers.

~*~*~*~*~ EXCERPT ~*~*~*~*~

“So,” Tim said, filling the painful silence, “how’s business with the vegetables?”

From his stiff-backed position on the sofa, Joel stared coldly at his twin and sister-in-law seated on either side of the drawing-room fire. “Evidently not as prosperous as yours. Olivia and I had to forego buying Lottie a Porsche this year.”

Carla let out a tinkling laugh. The sound stabbed through Joel’s aching head and he cringed.

Tim’s expression flickered at his curtness, but he smiled. “And I’m sure Lottie is much better off for not being spoilt like mine have been. You’re doing all right, though, aren’t you?”

“I’m earning a living, if that’s what you mean. A good, honest living.”

If Tim noticed the slight behind the words, he didn’t show it. “I’m glad.”

“You are?”

“Course I am. You can’t think I’d want you to fail.”

Joel said nothing, knowing the skepticism was plain to read in his eyes, and Tim bowed his head. Silence smothered the room, broken only by the crackle of the fire. Joel’s resentment burned as fiercely as the logs in the grate. How could Liv do this to him? She knew how he felt about Tim and Carla, even if he had never been able to confide in her the reason behind his hostility. Yet, she’d forced him into entertaining them for a whole bloody weekend, when all he wanted to do was fight to save his marriage. If this was her way of paying him back, she couldn’t have dreamt up a more effective punishment.

“Think I’ll go and get ready for dinner,” Carla said, and set her empty wine glass on the mantelpiece. “Okay if I have a shower, Joel?”

He didn’t look at her. “You know where the bathroom is.”

“Joel, your hospitality overwhelms me. With manners like that, you should open this place as a hotel.”

Once Carla had gone, the men sat in mute awkwardness, staring into their whiskey and sodas.

“What’s wrong?” Tim said at length. “Besides your problem with me, I mean.”

Joel raised his eyebrows. “What makes you think there’s anything else?”

“Come off it. We may not be close anymore, but you’re still my twin. I can see when something’s bothering you, and I wish you’d tell me what it is.”

Joel looked away, chest tight. He and Tim were once inseparable, all the closer for being best mates as well as identical twins. They shared everything, celebrating one another’s triumphs and picking each other up when they fell. What a relief it would be to cry on his brother’s shoulder, admit the mess he’d made of his marriage, and let Tim calm his fears as he used to. But that was out of the question. Joel’s fingers clenched around his tumbler. Tim had forfeited the trust between them and there was no getting it back.

“It’s nothing,” Joel said, voice hard. If Tim thought he would forget his betrayal, let alone forgive him, he had better think again.

~*~*~*~*~ About Jessica~*~*~*~*~

Jessica Chambers has a passion for writing contemporary novels packed with emotion, complex relationships and often a touch of mystery. She is the author of two published works, her debut, Voices on the Waves, reaching the finals of the 2011 RomCon Readers’ Crown Award. Currently, she is straying into the unknown and attempting her first young adult novel.

Visually impaired from birth, Jessica currently lives with her family and Staffordshire bull terrier in the English town ofWindsor. In addition to devouring fiction of all genres, she is a huge dog lover, staunch supporter of Liverpool FC, and admits to being addicted to TV quiz shows.

~*~*~*~*~ Buy Dark is the Sky ~*~*~*~*~

Paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Sky-Jessica-Chambers/dp/0984721509/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323000484&sr=1-1

Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-is-the-Sky-ebook/dp/B006EQV9N6/

Nook:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-is-the-sky-jessica-chambers/1107757155?ean=2940013544604&itm=1&usri=dark+is+the+sky

 ~*~*~*~*~ Thanks for coming by! ~*~*~*~*~

Finding Felicity by Monica Marlow ~ A review

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

♥♥♥♥♥It’s a Great Book♥♥♥♥♥

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.

 ~*~*~*~ The Review ~*~*~*~ 

Well, I just finished Finding Felicity by Monica Marlow. What did I think of the book? Is it possible to love a book as much as you hate it? I think so, because that’s just how I feel about Finding Felicity. What did I love about it? It’s set mostly in Italy in the beautiful monastery of St Valentines. The heroine, Maddie, has come to Italy to reconcile with her sister who has cancer. Her sister who had an affair with Maddie’s husband. While visiting the monastery where her nephew Johnathan is learning to become a monk, Maddie meets, Anthony, a handsome and unusual monk. (Incidentally, Johnathan is the product of the affair between Maddie’s sister and her husband. Not a spoiler, but shows just what well-rounded, true to life characters Monica has created. )

I also while in Italy, Madeline meets up with Tyler, a business associate from New York. While they reconnect, Madeline falls in love with the monastery…and Anthony. But love with a monk is a tricky endeavor. And as Madeline’s sister’s disease progresses, Madeline has to make a choice between two important aspects in her life–her business, her life in New York, and the love of Tyler or Anthony and Italy.

And this is where the hate comes in. I hate heart wrenching choices, I  hate crying my eyes out, and I hate reading a book that I love knowing it’s not going to  end well. I’m a romance writer, I want a happy ending. And though Finding Felicity has one, it’s still heart breaking all the same.

Kudos to Monica for evoking such emotion. I finished the book with a renewed love of Italy and all things Italian. The wonderment of fabulous characters and a desire to re-read The Thornbirds.

So as much as I hated it, I loved it. I have to say it’s well worth the read.

~*~*~*~ 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

~*~*~*~ Catch Monica on Tour ~*~*~*~

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

A BIG thanks to Monica for sharing Finding Felicity with me. And another whopping thanks to all of you for stopping by.

Lots of <3–Amie

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  

The Devil Has Dimples by Pepper Phillips ~ A Review &More

Posted in Book review, Chick Lit Plus, Chicklit, Giveaway, Guest Post, Humor, Romance, self-published by

♥♥♥♥♥ YOU HAVE SO GOT TO READ THIS BOOK! ♥♥♥♥♥

Adopted!

In the Deep South, one of the first questions asked when meeting someone new in a small town is, “Who’s your daddy?” The answer defines you as a person. Not knowing is disheartening.

Sara McLaughlin never knew she was adopted and is stunned to realize that if she wants to find out the questions burning in her brain as to the ‘why’ she was given up at birth, and who her father might be, she has to live in her birth mother’s apartment for the next six weeks.

Grant St. Romain, attorney, is supposed to be helping, but the hunky dimpled devil is making her mind think of other things.

Can she find the truth? Or will she break her heart trying to find out the answers in Boggy Bayou, where many secrets are hidden?

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

Imagine getting a letter from an attorney telling you that he’s settling your mother’s estate, but the name of the deceased is not your mother.  That’s exactly what happens to Sara McLaughlin.  Like any rational human being, she goes to investigate, but as with most small towns, rationality is checked at the city limits sign.  It’s a good thing for Sara that the attorney is so darn good looking. And it’s a good thing for Grant (the attorney) that he has great dimples.

As the terms of Maudie’s will are revealed, Sara must stay in Boggy Bayou and run her antique shop in order to inherit the estate. Or she can walk away and everything will be sold and the moneys donated to charity. Sara decides to stay and what follows is a hilarious,  sexy tale about two people who were meant to be together, but never knew it until now.

This zany story is laugh-out loud funny, squirm in your seat sexy, and so much fun to read. No, I’m not going to tell you who Sara’s daddy is. That would spoil all the fun. I will tell you that I would love to taste one of Sara’s lemon cookies and visit Maudie’s antique shop. Boggy Bayou, despite its secrets and quirks, is my sort of town!

~*~*~*~ & More (aka, A Guest Post) ~*~*~*~

Self-Publishing…Why I Love It and Why I Hate It

Love it because:

I can write the story I want to tell without trying to fit it in a certain sized box.

I can write in different genres.

I can see how many copies I sell in a day.

I’m not limited to a certain amount of books in a year.

I can set my own deadlines.

I can choose my own editors.

I can select a cover that depicts my book the way I want it to, and can also change that cover if it isn’t working.

I can control the inside design either by myself or hire someone to do it.

I can make it ‘free’ if I want.

I can make a soft cover book if I choose.

I have all the rights, just in case Hollywood comes knocking or a TV series.

I can make corrections easily.

The book will always be available for sale.

I can promote it out the wahzoo for as long as I want.

NYT’s is now listing self-published authors on the Best-Seller’s List.

Agents and Publishers are now contacting authors for representation.

Hate it because:

All the promotion depends on me.  Oh wait, most publishers want the author to do their own promotion as well.

Needless to say, I LOVE self-publishing!

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

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
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Pepper’s Tour Page will be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card! If you purchase your copy of The Devil Has Dimples before June 11 and send your receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, you will get five bonus entries!**

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

~*~*~*~ Pepper On Tour ~*~*~*~

Thanks for stopping by (again), Pepper! And thanks to the readers as well!

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

~*~*~*~ Follow Andrea on her Blog Tour ~*~*~*~

CLP Blog Tours