Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Winner Of The Finding Anna Book Trailer Contest Is...


Congratulations to Judith Grey! 


She is the grand prize winner of a signed Finding Anna Box Set.




2nd place: SK Jean

Wins a signed copy of any one of my books (winner's choice).

3rd place:TinkNCognito

Wins a Finding Anna T-shirt with all 4 book covers.


Thank you to everyone who participated in the book trailer contest. It was great fun seeing what everyone came up with. I will be in contact with the winners via the email they provided on their entry regarding their prizes. Thank you all again for participating. 

Does Amazon One-Click Devalue Writing?

Country music is something I've listened to since I was a kid. My dad was a huge country music fan, and I can still see him dancing to HonkyTonk BadonkyDonk. That, of course, is a whole other story. LOL.

What I love about country music, however, is the story behind the songs. My favorite songs are ones that have a deeper meaning than the song itself. There's a line in Automatic that says, "Cause when everything's handed to you, it's only worth the time you put in.'


So what does this have to do with books and writing? After listening to this song it got me thinking about a conversation I stumbled upon recently about e-book prices.

Twenty years ago no one knew what an e-book was. There was no such thing as Amazon one-click. Readers thought nothing of going to a bookstore, spending hours combing through books, and then shelling out twenty dollars for a few hours of entertainment in the form of a story. While Amazon and other e-book retailers have opened up the market to authors who may otherwise never have the opportunity to see their stories published, have they also caused writing to be devalued because it's now so easy to access? Because it only takes seconds to download a book rather than the minutes, or even hours depending on how far you were from a bookstore, do readers take for granted the months authors put into writing a quality book?

What do you think? Has the value of books as a whole been damaged by the ability to easily download to e-readers?

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

REVIEW: Falling For Love by Marie Force


Title: Falling For Love
Author: Marie Force
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Amazon

This is the fourth book in Marie Force's Gansett Island Series. The main love story in this one revolves around Grant McCarthy and the woman his father has running the marina restaurant for the summer, Stephanie. I wasn't sure about this one going in, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

By the end of the story I was rooting for Grant and Stephanie.

Readers were introduced to both Grant and Stephanie in Ready for Love. I have to admit that when I read who Grant was going to be paired up with I was a little skeptical. The last person I could see him with was this spunky, red haired woman with a pierced tongue. The two reminded me of oil and water. I couldn't see them together.

All that changed once I was able to get inside Stephanie's head. After I did, I grew to love her. She's one of those people who has tons of baggage but refuses to accept what she's been given. Her backstory was amazing, and it made her such a well-rounded character.

While Stephanie grew on me pretty quickly, Grant took a bit longer. He was too busy trying to win back his ex that he nearly missed the great relationship he could have with Stephanie. And while I like Abby as a character, it was fairly obvious early on that she wasn't the right person for Grant. He needed someone to challenge him, and Abby wasn't it. 

The only downside to this book, and the reason I chose to give it four stars, is because I'm noticing a trend with this series. With each book we are not only introduced to the new couple, but we are also being kept up with all the previous couples. While in theory this isn't bad, it does create an issue in that there ends up being so many points of view the reader isn't able to connect as well with the main couple. Mac and Maddie are still my favorite couple and I'm beginning to think that's because they were the first. We only got to hear from them and maybe one or two other characters. The book focused on them, and them alone. It was great, and I truly fell in love with them. 

With that said, will I continue with this series? Yes. At least for the short term. I want to see what happens with some of the other couples. My fear, however, is that eventually there are going to be too many points of view and I'm not going to care enough about the next couple to move forward. I'm really hoping that's not the case as I do love this series.

Amazon
B&N



Author Bio


With more than 2.5 million books sold, Marie Force is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 contemporary romances. Her New York Times bestselling self-published McCarthys of Gansett Island Series has sold more than 1 million e-books since Maid for Love was released in 2011. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press, as well as the Treading Water Series and numerous stand-alone books. All You Need is Love, book 1 in her new Green Mountain Series from Berkley Sensation, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller in February. The second book, I Want to Hold Your Hand, will be out in June, and the third book, I Saw Her Standing There, is coming in November. In 2014, Marie will have eight mass-market print releases—the first five Fatal Series books from Harlequin and the first three Green Mountain Series books from Berkley. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two teenagers and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie.

Website

Monday, April 28, 2014

COVER REVEAL: Behind The Scandal by M.A. Stacie

cool TWCS logo
PRESENTS. . .

Cover Reveal

for
Behind the Scandal
by
M.A. Stacie

Behind_the_Scandal_Hi-Res_Cover
Release Date: July 31, 2014

Summary:
Sent to the family ranch to overcome his addiction, Taylor Reese is angry and hurt. Feeling rejected by his father and brother, Taylor throws himself into ranch life to help him forget. He struggles with his addiction, though he refuses help. But it isn’t long before it hits him hard how much his life has spiraled out of control. He begins to question every aspect of his life, and the confusion leaves him floundering and looking for something, or someone, to cling to. Libby Karlin is cautious, wary of Taylor’s presence. His brutal honesty and lack of respect claw at her composure. Her dark past makes her reluctant to let anyone near her family, but when Taylor strikes up a friendship with her son, Libby finds herself drawn to the sadness within him. His experiences are no secret to her. She sees where his world turned upside down and offers him a helping hand. But her own secrets stay buried, locked away until a knock on her door has her gasping for breath. Libby’s fear paralyzes her as she comes face to face with her demons and, determined to stay strong, she battles for a way out. Could dealing with their pasts really give them a future?

Excerpt:
Taylor thought for a moment, intrigued that she never quite made eye contact with him. She looked everywhere but right at him. “I think we should leave that discussion for another time. I was about to say . . . I should apologize for the way I shouted at your kid.”

“You should or you will?”

He rolled his eyes. “Look, if you don’t want the apology, then fine. I gave it to you anyway.” He weaved around her, heading for the door.

“You didn’t,” she said, her voice low. He spun around, the movement causing his hair to flop into his eyes. He blinked. “Excuse me?”

She shifted from one foot to the other, staring over his shoulder. “You never really said sorry. You said you should apologize, but you didn’t say the words.”

He gawked at her, certain he had said it. Hadn’t he? He battled for what to say next, and Libby crossed her arms. The woman might be uncomfortable looking him in the eye, but she did a good impression of acting like he didn’t intimidate her. He was rather impressed.

“I would remember it—if you did say you were sorry. You don’t seem like the kind of person who says it often, so I’d commit it to memory.”

“Sassy,” he said, his brain trying to think of a wittier retort. “And there’s no need to remember me. I’m right here, every wonderful inch.” He wiggled his brows and grinned.
Libby sagged, her eyes rolling upward. “Forget the apology. It wouldn’t be sincere. I doubt you can even feel such a thing.”

“And how do you know that?” he asked. 

“Because there is no room for anything but your damn ego,” she said, her vibrant eyes finally meeting his.

His gut tightened, and this time it wasn’t due to the lack of drugs. The sensation came from something else entirely.

Pushing it aside, he snorted. “You don’t even know me. You’ve been in my presence for what? Ten minutes max?”

“Ten minutes was all it took for me to work out how self-absorbed you are.” She threw her arms out, palms up. “Why am I even wasting my time on you?”

“I don’t know, Blue. I think it’s because you simply can’t help yourself.”

Libby thrust out her chin. She moved toward him, determination shining in her eyes. Her red hair framed her intense expression, one that could kill if he looked too long. Medusa. She was Medusa and he was about to be turned to stone.
Her finger prodded his chest, punctuating each word as she spoke. “Do. Not. Push. Me. My name is Libby.”

“That’s some temper you have . . . Blue.”

Her banshee’s wail was so high pitched it could crack glass, and all he could do was laugh. He’d gotten right under her skin. Maybe his time here wouldn’t be as boring as he’d first thought. A little light sparring would relieve the monotony. That’s if he got out of this one with his balls intact, because Libby looked set to tear them off.

“I know what you’re doing, and you won’t get to me. I love Josh. He is the reason I’m backing away now, so go and thank your uncle.”

He smiled. “You wouldn’t even leave a scratch, pussycat.”
     
mstacie_hi-res  
About the Author:
  M. A. Stacie is never without a book or her eReader. A voracious reader, with a love of sexy, yet angst ridden novels, she adores getting lost in new worlds. Her need to write did not grip her until after her second son was born, when her previous rambles became fully fledged stories. She describes herself as one huge contradiction, and though not the most conventional of hobbies, she counts getting new tattoos as one of hers. Running keeps her sane, along with knitting and listening to loud music.
Connect with M.A. Stacie on:
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Sunday, April 27, 2014

Read An Excerpt From A Flawed Heart by April Emerson


A Flawed Heart

A New Adult Erotic Romance coming from Secret Cravings Publishing in July 2014 
by April Emerson


Summary:

Claire Brighton has just finished college and is abandoning her warm, southern home in favor of gritty New York City. She searches Craigslist for the perfect roommate and finds Lydia Taylor. Lydia lives a life of privilege in her father's Manhattan penthouse, but like Claire, she's ready to go out into the world on her own. 

Claire and Lydia find a little apartment in the hipster mecca of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, not far from Lydia's older brother, Jason. Claire is intrigued by Lydia's stories of Jason, who is the black sheep of the family—and a musician. The minute Claire hears him sing, she falls for him. Though Jason is involved with someone else, Claire and Jason’s attraction is too powerful to be denied.

Claire thrives in her new urban surroundings, treasuring her time with Jason and exploring her new found sexuality, but both Claire and Jason carry shadows with them. They're each fighting to move on from wounds of their past, but they learn that they will need each other to do it.


Excerpt:

Jason takes a seat at the table where Lydia and Kat are chatting. I'm distracted, watching his body move. I don't want to get caught looking, so I focus on my food. When I do look up, Jason's staring at me with a sexy little grin on his face. I feel a current running between us and I wonder why he's affecting me with such intensity. I’ve never felt something like this, for anyone.
 I open my mouth to make small talk with Lydia, but I don't get the chance to get the words out.
"Are you enjoying your sandwich, Claire?" Something about the way his mouth shapes my name is doing things to my body.
 "Yes, thank you." 
watch him as he eats. His lips are big and pouty for a guy. He breaks a piece of the grilled cheese off and pops it in his mouth. Rather than using his napkin he licks his fingers. His jaw bone protrudes as he chews and his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. He slides back in his chair and relaxes as he eats. When he finishes his sandwich, he places his plate in the sink and walks out of the kitchen without looking at me again.
"You mind washing the dishes, Lydia? I can't risk having the dish soap dry out my hands before the show." He calls back at us, and I hear him laughing.
"Dick," Lydia says.
The door opens and in walks a guy wearing a Metalica shirt and green cargo pants. He has short, dark hair, and from where I'm sitting, he looks like he's eight feet tall.
"What up. I'm Ben." He gives me a salute.
"This is my roommate Claire. She's from Georgia," Lydia says.
"Welcome to the jungle." He walks toward the bed rooms.
 "That's Jason’s roommate. You ready to get out of here?”
 I nod. "Alright, yeah, let's go."
 Lydia, Kat and I walk out onto the sidewalk and Skye, Ben, and Jason join us shortly. Jason has his guitar case slung on his back and he's smoking a cigarette. Skye chats with Ben about someone named Alana and Lydia joins them. I reach into my bag and grab my cigarettes but I can’t' find my lighter and I fumble around with the zippers and pockets.
"Hey, let me light that for you."
Jason pulls out a Zippo. His thumb flicks it and it opens with a flame. I wrap my lips around my cigarette, place the tip in the flame and look up at him. He looks from my eyes to my mouth and back to my eyes again. The flame is reflected in his eyes and he still has that sexy grin on his face. I puff and pull away from his light but not his gaze.
"Thanks, Jason."
Lydia grabs my elbow and pulls me along with her, which ends the moment.
"Let's go get wasted." 
She squeals and tugs me along beside her.We walk about ten feet ahead of everyone, her arm linked in mine. I look back over my shoulder and Jason is holding Skye's hand. I feel a lump rise in my throat.
"How long has your brother been dating Skye?" I ask Lydia.
"Like a week. I don't think they're, like, really a thing though. I don't think Jay asked her to go out, or whatever. She's totally into him and she’s like, mentally willing him to be hers or something. I don't trust her. She's a typical groupie. She has a boner for Jason because he's a musician. Maybe she thinks she'll be a rock star's wife one day or something. She's pretty lame, but I'm sure Jason could do worse. Ben, on the other hand, has been talking to Skye's friend Alana. She's awesome. Oh, that reminds me—Alana wanted me to tell them she'll be coming late tonight. I'll be right back."
Lydia frees her arm from mine and runs back toward Ben and Skye. Jason is no longer walking with them. He's walking toward me. He takes long strides and quickly catches up.
"Hey," he says.
"Hey," I reply. 
His pace is even with mine. The wind blows and I get whiff of his cologne. It smells spicy and I recognize this smell from his pillow. blush at the memory, wishing now more than ever that my fantasy had been real.
"So, you moved in today?" he asks.
"Yeah."
"Cool. You have a job yet?"
"No. I was thinking of looking into substitute teaching or something. I was an English major.”
"Really?" he turns his head and looks me up and down. "I had you pegged you for a dancer, what with your legs and everything."
Just then I trip over my own feet. Jason grabs my elbow before I eat the pavement.
"Shit. Yeah, I'm definitely not a dancer. Beauty and grace are not my thing."
His gaze locks with mine and I'm once again caught in that crazy current. He lets go of my elbow and slides his hand onto the small of my back. I startle at the intimacy of his touch, and the closeness of his body. He brings his mouth to my ear, and I feel his hot breath on me as he whispers, "Hmm. I don't know about that."

Connect with April Emerson:



Saturday, April 26, 2014

Read An Excerpt From Need (Finding Anna, Book 2)


I turned the doorknob and walked into my condo. My eyes immediately began to search for Brianna.

She was right where I thought she’d be, just outside the kitchen waiting for me as she had been yesterday. The difference today was that she was looking up at me and smiling. I dropped my keys on the table beside the door and went to her.

I circled my arms around her, bringing her close. I heard a small sigh escape her as my hands traveled up her back and into her hair. 

“How are you feeling?” I whispered before pulling back to look into her eyes.

“Better,” she said, looking just as relieved as I felt.

I wondered if she felt any of the same pull I felt toward her. Even if she did, would it be enough for her to stay? Would she give a relationship between the two of us an opportunity to develop? Or would fear from her past block any chance we had? I didn’t know the answer, and I’m not sure she did either.

With that thought, I closed my eyes and let my lips find hers. She opened up to me and kissed me back. It was not full of heat like our kiss the night before, but it was just as full of emotion. At least, it was for me. I had no idea what Brianna was feeling. Although she was getting better every day, she was still reluctant to share her true feelings with me. I was hoping that would change soon. More than anything, I wanted to know what she was thinking.

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Friday, April 25, 2014

COVER REVEAL: The Certainty of Deception by Jeanne McDonald



the certainty of deception
by Jeanne McDonald

Book 2 in The Truth in Lies Series
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Jada D'Lee Design
Expected release date: June 17, 2014

Love is forgiving, revenge is messy, and the truth will prevail. 

Summary:
     After years of living in the darkness of his past, Andrew Wise, a young attorney working for his family’s law firm in Sarasota, Florida, has finally broken free of the demons that haunt him. Wealth, success, happiness, and true love; everything a man could ever dream of, was right at his fingertips. Or so he thought. But in the blink of an eye, all of that changed. Upon discovering that his ex-girlfriend, Olivia Hamilton, was pregnant, Drew fell back into some old habits, which led to him losing the one person that mattered the most in his life - McKenzie Evans.
     When McKenzie left him and returned to Texas, Drew was beside himself. The night before she left, he made an agreement with her best friend Jared Christopher, that he would give her time and space to come to grips with the fact that he’d fathered her best friend’s child. Now, two months later, he feels as though he held up his end of the bargain, Drew can’t take their separation any longer. With his brother’s wedding mere weeks away, Drew devises a plan to win McKenzie back.
     Under the guise of a bachelor getaway for Gavin, Drew, along with his brother and Jared, jets off on an adventure to the panhandle of Texas. There, he will learn what made McKenzie who she is and will find strength within himself that he never realized existed.
     In this charming sequel to The Truth in Lies, Drew and McKenzie discover that not everything is as it seems, forgiveness is a matter of acceptance, and true love really can conquer all.

About the Author:
     Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event. She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry. She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend.
     Her passions include a "mild" Starbucks addiction, music, reading, quotes, movies, and romance. When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family. 

Where to find Jeanne:
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter
Goodreads   |   Amazon


the truth in lies
Book 1


Summary:
     Life is a sequence of choices. Some are deliberate, others are forced upon you. This was a lesson that McKenzie Evans knew all too well. After the miscarriage of her son, she made the hard decision to leave her absentee boyfriend and move in with her former college roommate, Olivia Hamilton. That’s when she was introduced to Andrew Wise, a brilliant attorney, working for his family’s law firm in Sarasota, Florida.
      To McKenzie, Drew became her salvation. He had a way of understanding her when no one else could. The closer they became, the more McKenzie found herself falling in love with Drew. He was everything she ever dreamed of in a man, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly alive. There was only one problem. Drew was dating Olivia.
      With the help of fate and circumstance, Drew and McKenzie journey down a path of unrequited love and denied feelings. In the end, they must make a choice between their hearts or their consciences. In this one decision they discover that there’s always a glimmer of truth to a lie, that there’s a fine line between love and friendship, and sometimes you have to risk everything to gain everything. 



Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Another Point of View Anyone?

Let's talk points of view. 

I was reading a book recently, and about halfway through the story I realized something. There were just too  many points of view in the book. Why, do I say this? Because the book I was reading is classified as a romance. It's part of a series, and each book in the series is supposed to be dedicated to an individual couple..only it wasn't. By the time we caught up with all the other characters from past books and introduced new ones who's romances will be upcoming, the emotional connection that I was supposed to feel to the books hero and heroine was lost.

How many points of view in a book is too much? That, is the million dollar question.

If you ask ten different people, you will probably get ten different answers. Ultimately, however, it comes down to the author and what they feel is needed in order to best tell the story.

Over the last few months I've been going back through my first novel. It had been more than three years since I'd read through the story, and I've grown considerably as an author since then. In that book I had six different points of view. Looking at it now, I can say with confidence that it was too many. Would that have meant cutting out certain aspects of the book? Yes, it would. But in the end telling every little detail isn't what's important. It's the story itself...as a whole.

Genre is also important as well. I write romance which means the story typically revolves around the main characters. Fantasy, for instance, might require many more points of view in order to build the world and the story.

I posed the question about how many points of view is too much to one of my Facebook groups. Their answers varied greatly. I got everything from anything more than 2 or 3 is too much, to 'it all depends on the book'.

What do you think? How many points of view do you like to read in a book? Does genre matter? And when does it become too much?

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

REVIEW: The Love List by Jean Joachim


Title: The Marriage List
Author: Jean C. Joachim
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Amazon

This is the first book in Jean Joachim's New York Nights series. Grey wants to find the right woman. He's figured out the best way to do this is to make a list...a marriage list...with all the qualities he feels his perfect mate should have. 

This was a cute romance.

I loved the concept of this book. It was unique, and well thought out. Grey's dedication to finding not only a woman to share his life with, but the one that would fit what he felt were necessary qualities, was admirable. Untraditional, yes, but if more people would approach life and love with a plan like Grey did, we might all be better off. He knew what he wanted, and he went after it.

I enjoyed Grey and Carrie's love story. Things moved quickly, but not so much that it felt rushed. 

There were a few editing issues in the book, but most were minor, and it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

This was my first book by this author. I will most likely be picking up another one of her titles in the future.  

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords



Author Bio



Jean Joachim, wife and mother of two sons, is owned by a rescued pug, named Homer. She’d been writing non-fiction for what seemed like forever until she got up the nerve to try fiction. It was love. Now she spends her days in New York City in the company of her characters, with a cup of tea and a secret stash of black licorice.
Watch for her radio interviews on “The Book Club” with John Austin.

Website

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Sneak Peek Sunday: How To Get Ainsley Bishop To Fall In Love With You

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Today, we get a sneak peek at the fun upcoming release from T.M. Franklin!

Ainsley-3D-Paperback.png

Summary

Seventeen-year-old Oliver Wendell Holmes (Yes, his parents are just that peculiar, but his brother’s name is Sherlock, so it could have been worse) knows that he’s different. He’s quirky, awkward, and he’s okay with that. Oliver also likes making lists—meticulous procedures for achieving his goals, step-by-step. Whether it’s “How to Get an A in Chemistry” or “How to Get Accepted to MIT,” he has a process, and it’s worked for him so far. He doesn’t even care that the popular kids mock him. Oliver’s got his eye on the prize.

So when he decides it’s time to declare his feelings for Ainsley Bishop, the girl of his dreams, it’s only natural for him to make a list—a point-by-point strategy to win her heart. He knows it will take a grand gesture for her to see all he has to offer, and her approaching birthday provides the ideal opportunity for Oliver to put his plan into action.

Finding the perfect gift is a challenge Oliver meets with his usual dogged determination. He’ll need to watch her carefully for clues to pinpoint exactly what he should give her. And along the way, he might just learn that what Ainsley really needs is not quite what he expected.

Excerpt

I hesitated for a moment, scanning the parking lot as I tried to decide whether I should approach her or continue on. On the one hand, it was a chance to interact with Ainsley without interruption. On the other hand, it was a chance to interact with Ainsley without interruption. I gulped, my mouth suddenly dry. After all, it was one thing to have a list, a plan of action. It was often another thing to implement that plan when the object of your affection made you feel like you might throw up at any moment.
I was pretty sure that would not aid my cause.
On the other hand, she was sitting there all alone and looking a little sad, if I wasn’t mistaken. And yes, I realized that was three hands, but I was kind of panicking a bit and unsure what to do and counting hands was a low priority at that moment.
“Oliver?” Ainsley looked up and waved, effectively making the decision for me.
I took a deep breath in a fruitless attempt to calm my racing heartbeat and put on what I hoped was a casual, yet friendly, expression as I made my way to her. She smiled, and I remembered that might be a good idea. To smile. So I did.
“Hi,” I said, my voice cracking. It always chose the most inopportune times to do that.
Ainsley was too nice to point it out, though. “Hi,” she said.
“Are you, uh . . .” I could do this. I could be brave. I could take the bull by the horns or the girl by the . . . whatever. “Do you need a ride or, uh, something?”
Good. That was good. Not too pushy, but helpful. I was a helpful guy. I could be helpful. Of course, then she’d be in the cab of my truck with me. A closed-in area where I’d have to make conversation without making a fool of myself. I felt the panic edging up again.
“Oh, no, that’s okay,” she said, waving a hand toward the football field. “I’m waiting for Ian. He’ll be done soon.”
Oh. I wasn’t sure if I felt disappointed or relieved. Disappointed. A little relieved. But mostly disappointed. “Okay then. I’ll just . . .” I made a vague gesture over my shoulder as I started to back away. I really needed to practice these interactions in front of the mirror or something.
“I was surprised to see you at practice,” she said, stopping me in my tracks. “I mean, no offense, but Drama Club doesn’t really seem like your kind of thing.”
Despite my strongest efforts to keep it down, a flush inched its way up my neck. “Oh . . . no. Yeah. It’s totally. My thing that is. Drama Club. Very Drama-clubby. I am. I mean.” I reached up to tug at my hair. Why couldn’t I form complete sentences? “I like plays,” I said finally, pleased that at least that made some kind of sense.
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How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You by T.M. Franklin

How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You

by T.M. Franklin

Giveaway ends April 22, 2014.
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Ainsley will be released JUNE 12, 2014!!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Excerpt from Behind Closed Doors (Daniels Brothers #1)



Since he had time, he went into the kitchen to make breakfast. He pulled out all the stops, fixing bacon, eggs, pancakes, and even frying up some hash browns. Just as he was ready to plate the eggs, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. She was standing there in one of his T-shirts and a blanket wrapped around her.
It was only with great effort that he managed not to drop the eggs. Trying to distract himself he said, “I made breakfast. Hope you’re hungry.” When he looked up, she smiled and his heart slammed against his chest, making it difficult to breathe. If he thought she’d been nearly irresistible before . . .
Knowing he had to get out of there and soon, he set the plates down on the counter. “Everything’s ready. Help yourself. I’m going—I’m going to grab a shower first.” Then he quickly brushed past and locked himself in his bedroom.
The problem was his bedroom was no longer safe. He could smell her everywhere, and that was before he noticed the tangled sheets.
It had been over three years since he’d been with a woman. After seeing Carol in bed with his best friend, the last thing he wanted was any type of female companionship. He’d been tempted, sure, but even the thought of reliving what he’d been through with his ex-wife had turned his stomach and easily quashed any desire he had. He could honestly say he’d never been tempted like this. Elizabeth Marshall was something he’d never experienced before, and he wasn't sure that was a good thing.
He wanted her. There was no doubt about that. The physical attraction had been obvious from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. But he’d dealt with that before. This . . . was something else, and he had no idea what he was doing. All he knew was it was driving him insane.

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Friday, April 18, 2014

VOTE For Your Favorite Book Trailer

During the month of April, I'm running a book trailer contest. The winners will be decided upon by public vote. Please take a look at the videos below, and vote on your favorite. The one with the most votes will win a signed box set of the Finding Anna Series. They are counting on your votes!

Entry #1


Entry #2


Entry #3



Leave a comment letting me know your favorite.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

My Book Is Written. I'm Done, right?

Most new authors I encounter are under the impression that after they write the book their work is done.They either turn it over to a publisher, or publish it themselves, and the work is done, right? Wrong. Writing the book is only the first step in a very long process.

Most experienced authors can tell you that after the book is written the real work begins.

First, there is editing, editing, and more editing. I remember when I received the edits back on my first novel. It was covered in red marks, and I wondered how in the world I'd ever get through it. The process can be discouraging, but the whole point of edits is to make the story the best it can be. This means shaving off all the stuff that isn't needed, and polishing up the rest.

Once you've made your novel all polished and ready for readers, it's time to market.

This is the part that usually leaves a lot of authors scrambling. Editing they understand. While writing most writers are constantly tweaking things. It could be as simple as a word change, or as complex as rewriting an entire scene. Either way, editing is something we can latch on to, no matter how painful it can sometimes be.

Marketing, however, is a completely strange and somewhat scary monster. 

In a lot of ways, marketing is a crap shoot. I've spoken to authors who've been doing this professionally for years and as with most things there is no one right way of marketing your book. A lot of it is genre specific, and sometimes even author specific. Each author has to figure out what works best for them...what is most effective...and focus their energy on that.

My best advice to new authors is to make friends with other authors...especially those who write the same genre you do...and learn from them. Find out what they're doing that works, and try it for yourself. Don't latch onto these authors clamoring for them to read and review your book. Chances are, that isn't going to happen. Authors are busy people, especially those who've been at it for an extended period of time. They have multiple books to promote, plus whatever it is they are currently working on. Most authors, however, are more than willing to share little tidbits of advice. Make friends and keep your eyes and ears open.

Also, whatever you do, don't get discouraged if your book doesn't make a huge splash right out of the gate. Being an author is hard work. It's rare to write a single novel and have it make enough to pay the bills, let alone the New York Times Bestseller List. If you want to do this long term, concentrate on putting out good stories that are well edited, and have a professional looking cover. Then, work on building your fan base. Remember this is a business like any other. It takes a lot of work and perseverance, but in the end only the author can decide if it's worth it.

Time to tell me what you think. What's the best advice you've received as an author when it comes to marketing your books?