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| Author Edward McKeown |
I’ve recently become associated with a new book promoter, Juniper Grove Book Solutions, and am delighted to participate in their tour for author Edward McKeown’s latest sci-fi release, WAS ONCE A HERO.
It’s my pleasure to welcome Edward here today and he’s graciously answered some questions about his writing. But first, here’s a brief synopsis of WAS ONCE A HERO from Hellfire Publishing:
Reluctant privateer Robert Fenaday searches the stars for his lost love, Lisa, a naval intelligence officer whose ship disappeared near the end of the Conchirri War. He’s joined by the genetically engineered assassin, Shasti Rainhell, whose cold perfection masks her dark past.
Both are blackmailed by government spymaster, Mandela, into a suicidal mission to the doomed planet Enshar. Leading a team of scientists and soldiers, they must unravel the mystery of that planet’s death before an ancient force reaches out to claim their lives.
Edward has enjoyed a life-long love affair with science fiction. He writes believable people in extraordinary situations, balancing romance, humor, adventure and reasonable extrapolations of science.
Mason - Why write this book?
Edward - I felt an absence of the sort of tale that I used to love, the sort of star-spanning adventure that: Andre Norton, Jamie Schmidt, Jack Sutton and so many others wrote. I wanted characters that I felt like traveling with in these adventures. Yet I also wanted to update this type of tale to a less black and white age, where the good guys were less pure and the bad guys had rational reasons for what they were doing.
Mason - What made this story so compelling to you that you had to tell it?
Edward - My characters compelled me. Not only did they want to tell me about this adventure, but they wanted me to know of their lives before they started: who they were, what their hopes and dreams were, why they acted the way they did. In short they wanted what most of us want, to be understood and recognized.
Robert Fenaday wanted me to know of his love for his lost wife and what he would endure to find her. Shasti Rainhell, who was the first character where I really explored a female point-of-view wanted to me to know of her pains, her longing and her fury. Others came forward with their own tales, Telisan, the steadfast honest friend who would bear a lie for honor’s sake. Duna, the genial uncle of an alien who would ruthlessly use anyone he had to in order to save his kind. So I sat in a room surrounded by them and wrote down their story.
Mason - How did you go about doing research for this book?
Edward - Hee-hee. I’m a black belt and teach in a variety of Kung Fu styles. For some of the fight scenes I used my class and my training. “Hey try to brain me with this staff.” Or “You five guys rush me at once….” I wanted less “baloney heroics” so I tried wherever possible to ration my character’s abilities to something I could do at the same age as the character.
I wanted a more real person, a more recognizable man. James Bond and Captain Kirk are interesting characters but you likely don’t feel you could be them. My male pov character, Robert Fenaday is a more realistic portrayal of a man forced into an adventure, not the usual square-jawed professional hero types.
As I kept the “exceptions” to current physics to a minimum, largely just the accepted ones of FTL and some mental powers, a great deal of research was not required.
Mason - Of all the authors (past and present) you enjoy reading, has any one (or more) influenced your writing in anyway?
Edward - Andre Norton and CJ Cherryh. With Norton I loved her characters and the sense of wonder that she generated about her vast future galaxy, the Zacathans, the Space Patrol, and the Forerunners. I wanted to explore that universe in the company of Murdoc Jern and Eet and other’s of her Everyman characters. To me the modern version of that style belongs to CJ Cherryh who does similar wide-ranging writing but with a darker and more complicated sensibility.
Mason - Have you always wanted to write or did something happen to put you on this path?
Edward - I was an avid reader since childhood and loved SF & F from the beginning, The Beyond by Sutton, Star gate by Norton, A Pride of Monsters, the Witches of Karres, the Last Planet and so many others. So you could say I was steeped in the traditions. I wrote a little when I was in high school and college, some fan fiction and the occasional short but it wasn’t until a high school friend of mine made it with his novel Heart of the Old Country (Tim McLoughlin) that I thought maybe I could do it. Then I got into a writing group and started to learn the trade. Foolishly I thought I could write at the beginning of this journey, in some respects I feel like I have only really learned in the last few years.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Edward - The entire Robert Fenaday/ Shasti Rainhell trilogy series: Was Once a Hero, Fearful Symmetry and Points of Departure will be out in the next year or so. Fearful Symmetry is in the can and being formatted as we speak and I am just waiting for a release date from Dawn. Other works are coming. Dawn and I are working on the various comic/noir stories of the Lair of the Lesbian Love Goddess series set in the 24th century spaceport of NY.
We also have the short story prequel: Regrets and Requiems, in which we learn the early history of Robert & Shasti. I have been the editor of the Sha’Daa series and the third of those is coming out Halloween 2103 and we then start work on the Fourth. All four anthologies are going to be issued/reissued through Janet Morris’ Perseid Publishing. I have solo effort coming up the Jeremy Leclerc Knight Templar Urban Fantasy series later this year.
Edward, thanks so much for joining us today. Your extensive background in science fiction does show in your work. It also seems you’re keeping quite busy with future installments.
Whether it's in the short stories of Edward’s "Lair of the Lesbian Love Goddess series" or in the Fenaday and Rainhell novels, classic "Planet" tales of a crews of unlikely companions facing unknown dangers, it is his intent to give the reader the sort of page turning, involving adventure that Andre Norton wrote and leaven it with the emotional complexity and ambiguity that CJ Cherryh brings to the field.
Edward says that while the experiences of the SF Universe are out of reach of those unable to pay for a rocket ride, he uses his own background to try for an underlying verity in his characters. He has parachuted, flown in gliders, hang gliders and been strapped to the floor of military helicopters. He has also been rated as an expert shot and carries a black belt in the martial arts. He’s been paralyzed by fear, exhilarated by love and walked into fights, both literal and metaphorical, that he knew he could not win. In addition, Edward says he has the good fortune to be married to the talented artist Schelly Keefer.
For more on Edward and his writing, visit his website, find him on Facebook and Twitter, visit his Amazon author’s page and find him at Goodreads.
There is a tour wide giveaway included in Edward’s blog tour. Prizes include 10 eBook copies of WAS ONCE A HERO and the giveaway is open internationally. Just check out the Rafflecopter widget below or if the widget isn’t working, visit the Rafflecopter widget link here to sign up.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Is the sci-fi genre one of your favorite genres to read or do you enjoy mixing it with other reads?
I’m delighted to welcome author Elizabeth Nelson here today as part of her Premier Virtual Author Book Tour for her latest release, CURIOSITY KILLED THE KAT, and to talk about her writing.
In celebration of her romantic suspense novel, Elizabeth is giving away one copy (print or Kindle) of CURIOSITY KILLED THE KAT. Please see the end of the post for the details. I reviewed this tantalizing book yesterday.
Here’s a brief description of the book:
Katherine (“Kat”) thought she had the perfect marriage to International Lawyer Steven Flynn. Until he tried to kill her. Katherine was the perfect obedient wife. She would do anything for her husband. That is, until she discovers he’s the ring leader of a human trafficking organization.
The action is fast and furious, the dialogue smart and the sex scenes hot. Meet Katherine in Curiosity Killed The Kat as she goes farther and farther down the rabbit hole of political intrigue, sex, and revenge. Will she let herself be saved by love or will curiosity and a thirst for killer justice kill the Kat?
Elizabeth wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills and relationship techniques have helped hundreds of others find their mojo. She joins us now to talk about her writing.
Mason - Your book is categorized as romantic suspense, which is harder to write - the romance or the suspense and why?
Elizabeth - Great question. For me it is always the suspense. I have firsthand experience with romance so I can generally draw on past experience to come up with the romance part. The suspense is much harder. I like to keep my life simple and free of drama. Though challenging to write, it was lots of fun to do.
Mason - If you could spent a day with any author (living or dead), who would it be and how would you spend the day?
Elizabeth - This is much easier to answer. Nicholas Kristof. Hands 
down. I loved his book Half The Sky. It moved me in so many ways. Our day would be spent in Africa at a woman’s clinic working with women and girls who have been discriminated against, sold into prostitution, or raped. It would be a heartfelt day but would also be very rewarding.
Mason - With all the recent buzz about FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, do you think the general public will now look at romance books different and if so, is that a good or bad thing?
Elizabeth - The Fifty Shades Trilogy really shook America. I think what romance readers will look for now is either the erotica or the traditional less descriptive love story. If readers are anything like me, I like the descriptive juicy stories. I can’t get enough of it! I mean how many times do we go out with our girlfriends and demand them to spill the beans? If writers can find that balance of writing erotica romance I believe the market just got a whole lot bigger.
Elizabeth, thanks so much for joining us today. I believe you’re right about the romance market opening up. The sub-genres of romance just added many more layers.
A bit of background on Elizabeth. After earning a master’s degree in secondary education from UNC, she worked abroad teaching English, bar-tended at late night clubs in Chicago, and continues various philanthropy projects that focus on empowering women. But she always returned to writing.
Though she’ll forever be a free-spirit at heart, she now lives in Los Angeles with her two dogs. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rock concerts.
For more on Elizabeth and her writing, check out her Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.nelson.180625 and find her on Pinterest at https://pinterest.com/bristleconebook/
Here are the giveaway guidelines. The book is available in print or Kindle for residents of the U.S. and Canada and Kindle version only for international entries. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win CURIOSITY KILLED THE KAT.” The message in your email should include your name and mailing address if you’re a U.S. or Canadian resident and wish a print book or note that you wish the Kindle version and your Kindle address. If you’re an international resident, please just note your Kindle address in the message. And, just so you know, I don’t share any of this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of CURIOSITY KILLED THE KAT will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, Nov. 21.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you think the romance genre has expanded in recent months?
Another week - more books savored and others to read, and Sunday Salon to help us find what each has enjoyed. It’s time to sit back, relax, refresh yourself with a cup of your favorite steaming hot beverage and see what books are being shared.
The book I have to share today is a bit different, but not different, from what I normally read. It’s different because it includes sexual encounters that go well beyond fantasy play and into areas of torture that are not my cup of tea. It’s not different because it’s filled with suspense, intrigue and human struggle to overcome. What is different about this book is a small part of the plot but critical to the story so for that reason, I recommend it.
Believing you have the perfect life and marriage and having that can be
two completely different things. So Katherine ‘Kat’ Flynn discovers about her life with the man she adored.
Married to an international lawyer, Kat was the perfect obedient wife. She did everything her husband Steven said, even when his sexual demands went beyond fantasy play of S&M into torture and abuse. She craved his attention and love and thought all was right with her world as long as she did what she was suppose to.
During a dinner outing with a partner in Steven’s law firm, Kat has a most unusual request from the partner’s date. In quiet whispers and without the men knowing, the lady ask for Kat’s help as she feared for her life.
That request puts Kat on a path of discovery. She soon learns what her husband and his partner are really up to and how dangerous it can be for her, as well as others. In addition, Kat learns what she is truly capable of.
CURIOSITY KILLED THE KAT is a quick read with a steady pace that holds your attention from the first paragraph. While you have a glimmer of what Steven is up to, the suspense and intrigue is well worth finding out all the details. The story is filled with action, passion, and inspiration as Kat emerges to find her way.
Author Elizabeth Nelson has crafted realistic characters and combined them with a compelling plot that unfortunately still exist in today’s headlines. She has designed her protagonist with flaws making her journey more plausible. The dialogue is well written and flows smoothly.
This is one read that is filled with surprises, suspense, intrigue, and hope.
Curiosity Killed the Kat by Elizabeth Nelson, A Katherine Flynn Novel, Bristlecone Books, @2012, ISBN: 978-1477587812, Paperback, 120 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this title was sent to me as part of the author’s blog tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Author Elizabeth Nelson is on tour with Premier Virtual Author Book Tours.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. What have you read this past week?
Forever, a division of Grand Central Publishing, just released their first
trade paperback for the imprint with author Jennifer Delamere’s AN HEIRESS AT HEART, which hit bookshelves a few weeks ago.
AN HEIRESS AT HEART has an amazing back-story regarding its acquisition. It’s a triple-threat publishing phenomenon: a debut for the author, a first acquisition for her editor at Forever, and the first buy for the agent. The story’s plot is also unbelievable. An emotionally wrenching and passionate historical romance, AN HEIRESS AT HEART tells of a youthful indiscretion by Lizzie Poole and her chance for redemption—if only she can pull off hiding her true identity to her long lost family and battling her growing feelings for Lord Geoffrey Somerville.
Jennifer joins us today to talk about her interesting journey to publication and the extensive research she does for her books. In addition, thanks to Jennifer and the delightful Jessica at Grand Central Publishing, I have one copy of AN HEIRESS AT HEART to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for the details. Here’s Jennifer.
Can you talk a little bit about connecting with your editor and publisher via twitter?
Jennifer - I had tried to schedule a pitch session with Jessica Alvarez at the annual Romance Writers of America conference, but unfortunately all the openings were taken. I was following her on Twitter, and a few weeks after the conference I saw her tweet that she was looking for inspirational historical romances. I emailed a query letter and mentioned her tweet. She requested to see my manuscript. She read it and--happy day!--she wanted to take me on as a client.
Very soon afterward, Jessica tweeted that she was happy to have a new client who wrote inspirational historical romance. It turned out that Lauren Plude at Grand Central saw Jessica’s tweet. She contacted Jessica and asked to read the manuscript. Lauren loved it, too. Thanks to Twitter, we were all able to connect.
What was your favorite part of the acquisition/publishing process (or so far!)
Jennifer - At the risk of sounding like a glutton for punishment, I have to say that the growing pains that I went through revising the book have been the best part of the process so far. It was a lot of very hard work, but well worth it. My editor’s insights and suggestions greatly improved the quality of my writing and the book as a whole.
I’m grateful for that. The thrill I got at my first-ever book signing—and it was a thrill, no doubt about it!—came largely from knowing I was giving my readers the best book I could possibly write.
Where were you when you found out that Forever had decided to publish AN HEIRESS AT HEART and what was your reaction?
Jennifer - Like many authors, I have a day job. When my agent called to tell me that Forever wanted to buy my book, I was jumping up and down—quietly, of course—in my cubicle! Since I was on my cell phone I could step out to the break room and “squee” a little louder! I was amazed not only that they wanted my book, but at the high level of enthusiasm they had for it. It was gratifying to see how much they loved it.
What surprised you most about the publishing process?
Jennifer - While I was still sweating my way through revisions, my publisher set up a cover shoot and began designing the book’s cover. I thought to myself, my gosh, they haven’t even gotten the finished product yet, and here they are moving ahead with the cover! It was humbling and a bit scary to think I’d given a day’s work to the model, the costumer, the photographer, and who knows who else, and all because the publisher had confidence that I (still a very new author) could properly finish the book.
How long was the process for you from writing to 10/30 when the book went on sale? (This is often a question readers want to know--the actual timeline)
Jennifer - I began writing AN HEIRESS AT HEART on November 1, 2009. I know the exact date because I began the book as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), the annual event where writers around the world commit to writing 50,000 words during the month of November. I did indeed write those first 50,000 words in November, but because I was still learning it took me another year and a half to complete and polish the book. Then it took about six months to sell it. I was very fortunate in that regard—it often takes much longer for a writer to make that first sale. From sale to publication took about a year.
Research is so important to you. Is there a fun research fact that you loved but didn't end up in the final book?
Jennifer - There were all sorts of fascinating details about the Great Exhibition of 1851 (the first “world’s fair”) that didn’t make it into the book. I loved the fact that even poor people from all over the country had saved their pennies for over a year just so they could go, and they traveled together in groups. The railways, which were still quite new, made travel to London faster and cheaper than ever before. Many of these trips were arranged by Thomas Cook, who had founded Cook’s Tours, a business you could really describe as the first travel agency. Before the nineteenth century, tourism was primarily available only for the wealthy upper classes, but Cook made group travel and tourism more accessible to the common man.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. Your journey from those first 50,000 words to the beautiful book you have now is inspiring. Since I’m not one to use Twitter much, it’s intriguing to see what a big part it played in this adventure.
For those who haven’t met Jennifer yet, here’s a bit of background on her.
The youngest child of a Navy pilot and a journalist, Jennifer acquired a love of adventure and an excitement for learning that continues to this day. She’s lived in three countries and traveled through the U.S. An avid reader of classics and historical fiction, she also enjoys biographies and histories, which she mines for the vivid details to bring to life the characters and places in her books. She resides with her husband in North Carolina.
For more on Jennifer and her writing, visit her website at: http://www.jenniferdelamere.com/
Here is the guidelines for the giveaway. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win An Heiress At Heart.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. only. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of AN HEIRESS AT HEART will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Nov. 17.
As a writer, has a social media such as Twitter ever played a key role in your book process? As a reader, do you follow your favorite authors via social media? I do appreciate you stopping by today. Have a wonderful Saturday.
Children have a vivid imagination that can create worlds where none exist and make the obscure simple. Author Angela Shelton has also done this in her latest release, THE ADVENTURES OF TILDA PINKERTON.
This charming children’s fantasy takes readers on a journey that will have them laughing in no time. While written for youngsters, adults can delight in the whimsical tale as well.
Tilda Pinkerton is a mystical maker of magnificent hats that are both mysterious and magical. She takes an enormous fall and crash lands on Ooleeoo. Since her memory is a bit foggy, she doesn’t recall being hunted by the Keeper of Darkness.
Creating hats is what Tilda loves best and she has a unique talent for it. Her hats seem to make people do whatever they dream of. Wearing a Tilda hat causes people to act on their brilliant ideas they never believed they could do.
But the Mayor of Moodle doesn’t like what’s happening to the people wearing Tilda’s hats so he issues a ban on wearing them. The dark side of the Mayor is causing problems in Ooleeoo or is there something unworldly taking over?
It’s up to Tilda to save those she’s come to know, no matter the risk.
Shelton has created such an amazing fantasy world that it draws you in quickly and has you believing it could be real. Her eccentric characters are well-developed with unique traits that make you smile like Gladys the toad who thinks she‘s a cat. The story flows at a steady pace with suspension and humor.
THE ADVENTURES OF TILDA PINKERSTON is an enchanting tale that will delight readers of all ages. It will make a wonderful bedtime book to share with young toddlers, while entertaining older youngsters who read on their own and reigniting the imagination of adults who take a chance on a new adventure.
This is a wonderful book that adults can share and discuss with their youngsters, sparking their own imaginations. Looking forward to Tilda’s next tantalizing adventure.
The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton by Angela Shelton, Book 1: Crash Landing On Ooleeoo, Quiet Owl Books, @2012, ISBN: 978-0615646770, Paperback, 272 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me as part of a blog tour for the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Author Angela Shelton is on tour with THE ADVENTURES OF TILDA PINKERTON. To find out more about her writing, as well as other tour spots featuring interviews and giveaways, visit her Promo Page at Premier Virtual Author Book Tour.
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
(Giveaway announcement: The winners of Eliza's giveaway have been selected. The winners are: Margaret Literary Chanteuse won the copy of UNDER HER SPELL and mushuu 17 won the $10 gift certificate. Thanks so much to all who participated.)
One of the joys of blogging has been the opportunity to meet authors and learn more about how ideas become the books I love to read. One such author is the delightful Eliza Daly whose lighthearted debut romance, UNDER HER SPELL, was recently released by Crimson Romance.
Here’s a brief blurb of UNDER HER SPELL (on sale this week for only $1.99!):
When a series of failed relationships and business ventures have Monica Jackson doubting her self-worth, she turns to spell casting to attract positive energy and the opportunities needed to achieve her goals. But can Monica’s belief in spells restore her belief in herself?
Monica creates a spell to find her soul mate, and one to ensure the success of her new romantic event planning company, Enhance Your Romance. Monica is confident she has found her niche until divorce lawyer Reed Walker opens a practice next door to her office. The anti-marriage slogan plastered on his office window, and his down-on-love clients, quickly prove detrimental to Monica’s business. When his arrival appears to trigger a string of bad luck, Monica fears one of her spells sent negative energy into the universe and it has returned to her threefold. Although Reed is beyond sexy, and she admires his self-confidence, she’ll do whatever it takes to get the universe back on her side, and Reed out of her life. No way is she losing another business.
Reed finds himself attracted to Monica’s beauty and her optimism. His job and his parents’ divorce have made him a pessimist, especially when it comes to love. However, he soon finds that Monica’s pro-love attitude is rubbing off on him, causing him to lose his edge. If Reed doesn’t distance himself from Monica, he’ll likely destroy his reputation as a pit bull divorce lawyer.
Can Monica and Reed look past what they might be losing to realize the love they have found?
Eliza joins us today and takes a different spin on the normal Q&A by interviewing herself. This way she gets to answer questions she’s been dying to answer, but no one has asked. In addition, she has a tantalizing giveaway for a lucky visitor.
I would like to thank Mason for helping me celebrate the release 
of my debut romantic comedy, UNDER HER SPELL. I’m excited to be here today at Thoughts in Progress. I’ve conducted several interviews since my book was recently released, so to make an interview as fresh as possible, I decided to answer some questions I haven’t been asked.
What are some unique book titles on your shelves?
* Alice et Les Chats Persans (Alice and the Persian Cats. My French isn’t great, but I bought it one time when I was in Paris because it had a cute cat on the cover.)
* French for Cats (I bought it in Savannah so my cats Quigley and Frankie could translate the previous book for me.)
* Talk to the Tail ‘Cause the Whiskers Ain’t Listenin’! (Story of my life. Are you seeing a pattern here?)
* The Definitive Guide to Underground Humor: Quaint Quotes about Death, Funny Funeral Home Stories, and Hilarious Headstone Epitaphs. (I love visiting cemeteries, especially in Ireland, even if I don’t know anyone buried there. I bought this book when writing an upcoming romantic comedy titled Thinking Outside the Box, in which the heroine plans themed funerals.)
* So Is He Gay? The Single Woman’s Guide to Whether He’d Make a Better Groom or Caterer at Your Wedding. (Bought it because the title made me laugh out loud in the store!)
What were the hardest and the easiest elements for you to learn about the craft of writing?
Dialogue came naturally for me. When I first started writing I could have written a book 100% in dialogue I enjoyed writing it so much. I maybe should have considered writing a screenplay instead of a book. The hardest thing for me to learn was writing conflict and tension. Probably because I avoid both in real life.
What does your office look like?
A retro groovy pad that Marsha Brady would die for. Easier to show than to tell, which is what all good writers strive to do.
You wrote a book about spell casting, does this mean you believe in spells?
I believe in positive thinking and that believing strongly in a goal will help you achieve it. And that is the essence of spell casting. Do I actively cast spells? No, but I no longer believe they are merely a bunch of hocus pocus, like the movie with that same name suggests. (Although I must admit I love that movie.)
Do you have an English or creative writing degree?
I am often asked this question. Many people think this is true of writers. I would like to debunk that myth right now. A lot of writers I know write about what they know, or at least this is often the case early in their writing careers. Look at John Grisham, Patricia Cornwell, and Lisa Scottoline. They all wrote about their professions. I’m an event planner who travels, and I’ve written several books with event planner heroines and several set in Paris, my favorite city. The first book I wrote was a romantic comedy about a businesswoman who was stressed out from flying. Hmm…me? The book was actually very therapeutic.
What other types of books have you written?
I also write lighthearted women’s fiction and paranormal young adult. You can check out my YA book at www.bethwatson.net. I’m currently querying this book to agents along with a women’s fiction book set in Paris.
If you could temporarily move anywhere in the world while writing a book set there, where would it be?
My first reaction is to say Ireland, my favorite country, so I’m going to surprise everyone who knows me and say Monte Carlo. I could improve my French. Eat pain au chocolat for breakfast daily. Try a different local wine with dinner nightly… And of course, write. There’s an air of intrigue and romance about Monte Carlo that has always drawn me to the city. However, I’ll have to be a NYT bestselling author to afford to live there even temporarily.
You’ve mentioned that you love to travel. What’s the most unique picture you have of yourself while on vacation?
A picture of me with two monkeys at a floating market in Thailand. I’d just stepped off a boat and a woman tossed these two monkeys at me and they started climbing all over me. I laughed until I started panicking about contracting some rare tropical disease.
GIVEAWAY
I’ll be giving away a copy of my e-book UNDER HER SPELL (from Amazon, B&N, or Kobo) and a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift certificate. Either leave your e-mail address with your comment or check back here November 11 for the winners’ names and instructions. Please ask me a question to be eligible to win one of these prizes. Please keep it PG13, or maybe even G.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by today. Please check out future stops on my blog tour, ending November 27. I’ll be giving away a variety of gifts. If you comment on 5 stops, and are a Facebook fan, you’ll be eligible to win one of two $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift certificates at the end of my blog tour. Winners will be announced on my website’s news page the end of November. A December Holiday Giveaway for my readers will also be revealed at that time.
Eliza, thanks so much for joining us today. I so enjoyed your interview. I had never stopped to think that there were questions authors hadn’t been asked that they wished they had been.
Now let me share a bit of background on Eliza. Her first attempt at creative writing was in fourth grade. She and her friends were huge Charlie’s Angels fans and she would sit in her bedroom at night writing scripts for them to act out at recess the following day. She was Kelly Garrett. Fast forward to the present, she’s still writing stories about beautiful women who always get their men. Eliza says the journey from fourth grade script writer to published author wasn’t an easy one, but it was always an adventure and the final destination was well worth it.
When Eliza isn’t traveling for her job as an event planner, or tracing her ancestry roots through Ireland, she’s at home in Milwaukee working on her next novel, bouncing ideas off her husband Mark, and her cats Quigley and Frankie.
For more about Eliza and her writing, you can check out her website, visit her on Facebook, find her on Twitter, and visit with her at Goodreads.
UNDER HER SPELL is available at Amazon (on sale this week for only $1.99!), iTunes, Google Play (Nook compatible) and Barnes & Noble (coming soon).
If you’re an author, what is one thing you’ve never been asked that you wish someone had asked? If you’re a reader, what one question you would like to ask your favorite author? Remember, be sure to ask Eliza a question for a chance to win one of the fun prizes she’s giving away. Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Before we know it Christmas will be here and a great way to get into
the spirit of the season is by reading author Carolyn Brown’s latest release, MISTLETOE COWBOY.
Brown has a unique way of mixing a sexy cowboy, a spitfire artist, a blizzard, some Christmas magic, and a meddling grandmother for a rip-roaring good time. This story has steamy romance and a touch of old-fashion Christmas.
Sage Presley barely makes it home to the Rockin C Ranch before everything is cut off by a blizzard. She can’t believe her grandmother has agreed to sell the ranch to some cowboy. She’s determined to talk her out of it. But Sage doesn’t know her Grand has already left Texas early to visit her sister in Pennsylvania.
Creed Riley can’t believe his good fortune when Ada Presley agreed to sell him her ranch at a bargain. The only catch was he had to let her granddaughter live on the ranch for as long as she wants. Creed doesn’t see a problem with her living on the back forty. That is until he meets the granddaughter.
Thrown together by a desire for the ranch and a blizzard, sparks begin to fly between the snowbound couple. When you add in the world’s ugliest dog, a mama cat with kittens and Christmas preparations you’ll be laughing out loud.
Brown’s characters are well-developed and well-rounded. They are realistic making you wish you lived next door to them despite their flaws. She combines family, traditions, love, and friendship into a heartwarming Christmas story. She also has a way of blending wholesome family fun with tantalizing sexual tension.
MISTLETOE COWBOY is a sizzling quick read that is guaranteed to leave you feeling toasty. Part of Brown’s Spikes and Spurs series, this is a stand alone read. References are made to characters from other installments in the series, but new readers aren’t left in the dark.
Cowboys, Christmas, love, mistletoe and lots of humor - a great combination for a steamy read you won’t be able to put down.
Author Carolyn Brown’s website is http://www.carolynlbrown.com/
Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown, A Spikes and Spurs Novel, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402270154, 352 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Have you started reading Christmas-themed books yet. Thanks so much for stopping by today.
**NOTE: Author Debbie Dykes was scheduled to guest post today but was unable to due to unforeseen circumstances. Hopefully we’ll be able to reschedule her post soon. Thanks again. **
In this day and age of stock market scandals and banking woes most
aren’t eager to read anything dealing with financial issues. However, author Debbie Dyke has put a fun and interesting spin on the situation resulting in a delightful mystery, THE BLOODY MARY CLUB.
Savvy 40ish investment advisor Gina Van Story puts her talents to use and talks her three best friends into forming the Bloody Mary Investment Club. Gina teaches her friends the ins and outs of the stock market while they enjoy made-to-order Bloody Mary cocktails at the historic Gadsby’s Tavern.
All seems to be going well as they become majority owners in the local bank. However, trouble begins when they turn down a lucrative buyout offer for their part in the bank. Gina is attacked, threats are made and friendships become strained. To make matters worse, the man trying to buy them out is not only charming and seductive but possibly capable of murder.
Dyke has created a witty and charming protagonist in Gina. She’s strong, independent and loyal to her friends. All of the characters are well developed and feature realistic traits making the story more plausible. The friends can bicker among themselves, but stand as one against trouble as true friends do.
The story overall moves at a good pace and holds your interest. It has charm and intrigue. While there are financial terms used that slow the story a bit, they are necessary for the plot.
THE BLOODY MARY CLUB is a tantalizing read that will have you smiling about financial woes. Can’t wait to see what Gina invests in next.
Author Debbie Dyke’s website is www.debbiedyke.com
The Bloody Mary Club by Debbie Dyke, DCD Publishing, @2012, ISBN: 978-0985407407, Paperback, 394 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s blog tour. An eBook copy was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Please join me tomorrow as author Debbie Dyke is scheduled to visit. Thanks so much for stopping by today.
I’m delighted to be a part of author Ali McNamara’s blog tour for her current release, From Notting Hill with Love…Actually.
Film Buff Scarlett O’Brien believes that real life can be just as exciting and romantic as the movies, and she will stop at nothing to live like a cinema heroine in Ali’s U.S. debut From Notting Hill with Love…Actually (Sourcebooks Landmark; ISBN: 978-14022-6948-6; TP; Fiction; $14.99; October 2012).
Scarlett’s dream of living a dazzling life like Julia Roberts comes true when she is offered a house-sitting job at an impossibly grand mansion in Notting Hill, the setting of one of her favorite movies.
Scarlett jumps at the chance to live out her film fantasies, leaving behind her family, friends, and even her fiancé. As a chaotic comedy of her very own begins to erupt, with over-the-top new friends and a handsome but irksome new neighbor, Scarlett must decide where her heart truly lies.
If you’re a hopeless romantic with big-screen dreams or head over heels for movies like Bridget Jones Diary, Pretty Woman, and Sleepless in Seattle, clear out a Saturday afternoon and flip to the back of the book for some fun romantic comedy trivia and Scarlett’s top five movie list for a marathon. Make sure you have plenty of popcorn on hand!
Ali joins us today and graciously answers some questions about her writing.
Mason - What is an average writing day like for you? Do you write longhand and/or on the computer, have a favorite place to write, a favorite time to write, listen to music, etc.?
Ali - I really don’t have an average writing day! I rarely begin writing before midday, usually because I like to get everything else out of the way first in the morning so my mind is clear to begin work in the afternoon. With a family and two dogs, daily chores still have to be done! Sadly they don’t disappear because my characters might be up to something more exciting in my book!
I have a tiny portable Macbook Air which I write on, mainly plugged into a big screen at a desk in my study. But sometimes I like to take it out to coffee shops to write for a change. Although I
write in silence at home, I find I get much more done when I’m tucked away in the corner of a busy Starbucks!
Mason - What is the worst advice you’ve ever received concerning writing?
Ali - Several people told me I wouldn’t be able to get ‘From Notting Hill with Love…Actually’ published because of all the film references. Including a well-known author, and a fairly well respected society in the UK that gives unpublished authors novel appraisals. Just as well I didn’t listen to them, as it’s now gone on to sell over 90,000 copies worldwide…
Mason - Of all the authors (past and present) you enjoy reading, has any one (or more) been an influence in your writing?
Ali - I wouldn’t say she was an influence on my writing, but when I was a child I lived and breathed an English children’s author called Enid Blyton.
Mason - If your book was turned into a movie today, who would you like to see play the main characters and why?
Ali - Scarlett – Anne Hathaway
Sean- I’ve never yet found anyone to fully match up to my Sean ;-)
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Ali - My third book – which is a sequel to ‘From Notting Hill with Love...Actually’ called ‘From Notting Hill to New York…Actually’ comes out in the UK in November, and I’m currently writing my fourth book, which I’m very excited about. It has a music theme this time - with a twist!
Ali, thanks so much for visiting today and answering these questions. I’m glad you didn’t listen to the advice about From Notting Hill With Love…Actually. Sometimes it pays to listen to your own heart rather than advice from others.
Here’s a bit of background on Ali. She lives in Cambridgeshire with her husband and two children, and when she isn't writing, she enjoys watching too much reality TV, eating too much chocolate, and counteracting the results of the previous activities by getting plenty of exercise.
For more on Ali and her writing, visit her website at www.alimcnamara.co.uk or find her on Twitter @AliMcNamara.
Do you enjoy books with movie themes or connections? Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Finding new mysteries is always fun. However, when you discover an author who didn’t really set out to write mysteries but does (and does it well), that’s an added bonus.
Author Nancy Springer’s smart, chilling, and unrelenting new book DARK LIE goes on-sale Tuesday, November 6.
Nancy has passed the fifty-book milestone, authoring dozens of novels for adults, young adults and children, in genres including mythic fantasy, contemporary fiction, magical realism, horror, and mystery -- although she did not realize she wrote mystery until she won the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America two years in succession.
I’d like to welcome Nancy here today to talk about her writing. Thanks to Nancy and the delightful Fiona at Penguin, I have a copy of DARK LIE to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for guidelines.
Although already a publishing phenomenon, Nancy has now established herself as an exciting new suspense writer with a unique voice and scores of surprises up her sleeves. Her gripping psychological suspense DARK LIE is her first adult thriller, and it makes for an impressive debut. Here’s a brief synopsis:
Dorrie and Sam Clark appear to their neighbors as a happily married couple with steady jobs and a well-kept suburban home in America’s heartland. But they’re not quite what they seem. Outwardly plain and hard-working, Sam hides a depth of devotion for his wife that no one would suspect. And Dorrie, plagued by a dark past, secretly follows the comings and goings of her sixteen-year-old daughter, Juliet, who she gave up for adoption when she was hardly more than a child herself.
At the mall one afternoon, Dorrie watches from afar as a man swings his cane at her daughter, strikes her, and shoves her inside his van before speeding away. Instinctively, Dorrie sends her own car speeding after it and plummets into a dangerous collision course with the depraved abductor. With Dorrie on the run, Sam begins to uncover telling secrets about his wife and before long finds himself on a dogged, desperate search to save her.
As mother and daughter unite in a terrifying struggle to survive, to what extremes will Dorrie go in overcoming her own limitations and in confronting her dark, tormented past?
Now Nancy has graciously answered some questions for me.
Mason - Most authors make their protagonist young and beautiful. You made Dorrie Clark somewhat plain with a disease. What made this story so compelling to you that you had to tell it?
Nancy - I’m tired of young and beautiful. When I was young, I didn’t perceive myself as beautiful. Now I am neither young nor beautiful. I believe this is true of the demographic majority. I knew I could identify with a plain and dumpy main character, and I believed a lot of other readers could. I’ve written such female protagonists before, from preference, but in this case Dorrie’s appearance also factors into the plot. I’ll say no more lest I commit a spoiler.
Mason - If you had to write this book over, would you do anything differently - content in the book, your writing schedule, the way you researched it, etc.?
Nancy - As it stands, the book is just as I’d like it, but that happened after my excellent editor at NAL told me to lengthen the
book by expanding the subplots and working toward greater depth of characterization. I added about a hundred pages. So that’s what I would have done differently.
My writing schedule has remained the same all my adult life: in the morning, after I eat but before I dress and become decent to be seen in public, I write. I developed this behavior as a defense against the demands of children who went to school without lunch, friends who wanted a favor, and similar interruptions. Now I continue it because it’s a good habit. I sit down, and automatically I write.
Research likewise was not a problem. I’ve been to Ohio – my mother’s family came from there. I have a couple of good friends with lupus, more or less severe, and they provided details. I’m a lazy researcher, so I prefer to write what I know.
Mason - You have written in various genres (mystic fantasy, contemporary fiction, etc.). How did you come to try your hand at a suspense thriller?
Nancy - Writing a psychological suspense thriller was just another challenge I set myself. Early in my writing career I wrote only one type of fiction, mythic fantasy, but when one of my contracts was orphaned (my editor left, but the publisher still held the option for my next fantasy), I learned that I had better diversify if I wanted to earn a living. Then I found that I liked the challenge of trying to write in different genres. Also, I love driving my editors and agents crazy with never knowing what I’m going to write next.
Mason - With the book’s release, as you look back what was the biggest surprise that occurred in writing the story?
Nancy - The biggest surprise that occurred in writing the story is the same as the biggest surprise anyone is likely to encounter when reading it. So I can’t tell. Because I am a character-driven writer rather than a plot-driven one, I often discover unexpected twists in my story as I am writing it. Believe me, Dorrie White really, really surprised me.
Mason - Is there any advice you’ve been given that you pass on to writers just beginning?
Nancy - It’s not advice I’ve been given, but it is advice that I’d like to give: participate in critique groups and thank all the other writers for their advice, but pay attention only if something someone says rings a mighty bell of resonance deep within you. Otherwise, just be polite and learn from critiquing the work of others. Doing so will force you to conceptualize your values as a writer. Critique groups can be tremendously helpful in this way. But always remember, Hemingway’s critique group would have told him to stop using so many simple declarative sentences beginning with prepositions. A critique group will try to squelch your unique voice and make your prose sound as if it was written by a committee. Don’t let this happen to you, but do participate; there is no better, faster way to learn how to write.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Nancy - Another psychological suspense thriller! Working title: DRAWN INTO DARKNESS.
Nancy, thanks for joining us today and answering these questions. I love the fact that you’ve made your protagonist different in her appearance. You are so right when you say Dorrie White is surprising.
Born in New Jersey, Nancy lived for many decades near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, of Civil War fame, raising two children, writing, riding horseback, fishing, and bird watching. In 2007 she surprised her friends and herself by moving with her second husband to an isolated area of the Florida panhandle, where the bird watching is spectacular and where, when fishing, she occasionally catches an alligator.
For more on Nancy and her writing, visit her website at http://www.nancyspringer.info/
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win DARK LIE.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. only. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win the copy of DARK LIE will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Nov. 9.
Do you have an image of what protagonists are suppose to look like? Do you enjoy books where the protagonist is a bit different? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Please keep those affected by Superstorm Sandy in your thoughts and prayers and help in any way possible.
There’s something about cooler weather that always brings back memories of my youth snuggling under big, thick quilts handmade by my grandmother. The elements of love, caring and family that went into her quilts can also be found woven into author Jennifer Chiaverini’s New York Times bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series.
I’m delighted to share with you today a look at Jennifer’s latest installment in the Elm Creek Quilts series, THE GIVING QUILT. In time for Thanksgiving, THE GIVING QUILT is a heartfelt tale that celebrates the joy of generosity.
I’m also happy to announce that Jennifer will be visiting my home state next week on your book tour. She will be heading to Atlanta for her first time ever on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The setting is the Georgia Center for the Book at the DeKalb County Public Library at 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 7. The library is located at 215 Sycamore Street in Decatur (GA).
A modern master of contemporary and historical fiction, Jennifer’s Elm Creek Quilts series has topped the bestseller list twice in the last year alone. In THE GIVING QUILT, Jennifer takes a page from her own life to deliver an emotional and poignant story very close to her heart. As a long-time member and advocate of Project Linus, an organization dedicated to providing quilts and blankets to children in need, Jennifer decided to donate a very unique and special gift—a prime spot in one of her bestselling novels.
At Elm Creek Manor, the circle of quilters is hard at work preparing for
“Quiltsgiving.” Held annually the week after Thanksgiving, expert and novice quilters from near and far gather for a special winter session of quilt camp to make pieces for Project Linus.
As the week unfolds, the quilters respond to the question, “Why do you give?” in ways as varied as the life experiences that drew them to Elm Creek Manor. Each of the quilters, including a librarian, a teacher, a college student, and a quilt shop clerk, uses her unique talents to teach, inspire, and give back to her fellow campers.
Once again Jennifer delivers the complex characters and rich descriptions of setting and mood that fans and critics have come to expect. Featuring not only well-loved characters but intriguing newcomers, THE GIVING QUILT will remind us all that it is truly better to give than to receive.
Jennifer is also the author of five collections of quilt projects inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and sons in Madison, Wisconsin.
For more on Jennifer and her writing, visit her website at www.elmcreek.net.
Are you a quilter? Do you enjoy reading novels where quilting is woven into the story? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Don’t forget, if you’re in Decatur (GA) next week stop by for Jennifer’s book tour.
